topic4.1

​Module 2
Topic 4.1

By yess parera

4.1 Ecology, a multidisciplinary science

What is ecology?

Ecology is the science that studies the relationship between living things and their environment. Its name comes from the Greek oikos (house) and logos (study), which literally means "the study of our home", that is, the Earth.

For millions of years, when the first living beings inhabited the planet, survival depended on knowledge of the environment: the places conducive to hunting, the medicinal and nutritional properties of plants and the observation of natural cycles. In a way, these early humans already practiced ecological practices, as understanding their environment was indispensable to survive, which also applies to us today.

During the Renaissance (XV-XVII centuries), scientific vision gained momentum with thinkers like René Descartes, who raised that nature should be understood through reason, affirming that truth is achieved through logical reasoning.

For its part, Francis Bacon held that knowledge should be based on experience and evidence obtained through the senses. In this same period, Carlos Linnaeus (1707-1778) developed a system of species classification, a method that is still in force and that allowed the organized study of living beings.

Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution

The need to understand the environment has accompanied humanity since its inception. An example of this is the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), who was one of the first to record detailed observations on plants and animals, leaving works that laid the foundations for the study of nature.

During the Roman Empire, the first environmental norms emerged, recognizing natural resources as res communis, that is, common goods for all of society.

Old origins

Although there were previous contributions to the study of the environment, ecology was consolidated as a science in the nineteenth century thanks to Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919). This German zoologist coined the term ecology in 1869 to describe the study of relationships between living things and their environment.

At the same time, Charles Darwin transformed the understanding of the natural world with his work "The Origin of Species" (1859), establishing the relationship between evolution and ecology.

Towards the end of the 19th century, scientists such as Henry Chandler Cowles investigated the dynamics of ecological communities, explaining how they change and evolve in time and space.

The 20th century and the diversification of ecology

At the beginning of the 20th century, ecology was consolidated as an independent discipline. The expedition of the British ship HMS Challenger collected detailed information on oceans and seas from around the world, incorporating knowledge of paleontology, oceanography and geology. These studies were key to understanding the global functioning of the planet.

Scientists such as Frederic E. Clements introduced fundamental terms, such as ecological community, while Arthur George Tansley coined the concept of ecosystem in 1935, defining it as the interaction between living beings and physical factors in a given environment.

Ecology as a science

Today, several scientists have excelled for their significant contributions.

Open Ended

what is ecology

Multiple Choice

Was one of the first to record detailed observations on plants and animals, leaving works that laid the foundations for the study of nature.

• Linneo

• Aristotle

• René Descartes

• Francis Bacon

Multiple Choice

Developed a system of species classification, a method that is still in force and that allowed the organized study of living beings.

• Linneo

• Francis Bacon

• Rene Deescartes

• Charles Darwin

Multiple Choice

This german zoologist coined the term ecology in 1869 to describe the study of relationships between living things and their environment.

• Charles Darwin

• Henry Chandler

• Frederic E. Clements

• Ernst Haeckel

Multiple Choice

Coined the concept of ecosystem in 1935, defining it as the interaction between living beings and physical factors in a given environment.

• Arthur George Tansley

• Charles Darwin

• Frederic E. Clements

• Eugene P. Odum

Multiple Choice

Considered the father of modern ecology, explained how ecosystems maintain their equilibrium.

• Rachel Carson

• Jacques Cousteau

• Eugene P. Odum

A multidisciplinary science

Ecology is a holistic and interdisciplinary science, combining diverse disciplines to understand life-related phenomena on the planet.

According to Fernández (2020), its holistic approach lies in the integration of different branches of biology, such as botany, zoology, physiology, microbiology and genetics. Its interdisciplinary nature is due to the need for support from other sciences, such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, geography and even economics, to expand the scope of its studies and objectives.

For example, now that you know about geography, you can understand much better phenomena such as climate change and its impacts in different regions, since you have previous knowledge about the atmosphere and climate.

Examples of interdisciplinarity in ecology

A current case is the monitoring of global warming, which integrates various disciplines to understand its impact and propose solutions.

• Physics: analyzes energy processes in the atmosphere and the greenhouse effect.

• Chemistry: studies the composition of air and pollutant emissions.

• Math: develops predictive models on climate change.

• Economics: evaluates the impact of environmental policies on society and markets.

Open Ended

Write an example (small case or situation) where ecology and biology work together to solve problems.

Open Ended

Write an example (or a situation) where geography and ecology work together to solve a problem.