Ecology can simply be defined as the study of organisms, environment and how different organisms interact and relate with one another as well as their environment. It can be described at an organismal, population, community, biosphere or even at an ecosystem level. The primary goal of understanding ecology is to improve on the understanding of different life processes, organisms’ adaptations and habitats, their interactions and biodiversity. The knowledge of ecology enables scientists and human beings at large to understand how their actions affect the environment, such as the damage caused to the environment. The article outlines the types of ecology.
Types of Ecology
Molecular
The basic unit of living things is based on protein molecules, including their production and existence. Molecular ecology concentrates on how the proteins affect the organisms and their relationship with the environment. It is the DNA that gives rise to the proteins that can interact with other proteins in the surroundings, and the result of the interactions is what forms organisms that are complex.
Organismal
This refers to the study of individual organisms’ morphology, conduct, physiology, among others, regarding how they respond to the changes and challenges in their environment. Thus, it studies how such organisms live with the biotic and abiotic components of their surroundings.
Population ecology
A group of organisms of a similar species and living in a given place at a particular time form a population. Population ecology, therefore, studies the factors that impact on the change in the size and genetics of a group of organisms. The principal interest is on the changes in the number of organisms, growth of the population and other factors related to the population relationship with the environment such as the distribution and density.
Community ecology
Whenever different populations of organisms exist in a given place at a particular time, they consist of a community. Thus, community ecology is the study of the community structure and it changes due to the interactions between and among the organisms. For example, the ability of different populations to coexist in each geographical area is an area of interest to the community ecologists.
Ecosystem ecology
An ecosystem is a community of organisms and their nonliving components and how they interact with both the living and the non-living components of their surroundings. Ecosystem ecology is the study of the whole ecosystem containing different communities of organisms and how they relate and interact with one another and their non-living features of the environment.
Global ecology
Global ecology refers to the study of the interactions between and within the earth’s ecosystems, oceans, land and atmosphere. Thus, the study helps in comprehending the interactions at a large-scale level and the impacts on the planet.
Ecology centers operate within the concept and understanding of the types of ecologies. This ensures proper conservation of the environment and maintenance of the ecosystem for both animals and plants to live and coexist without out-competition from the equation. The knowledge is very critical to conservationists and resource managers to help in making relevant decisions.