Community ecology
Community ecology
Community ecology (pronounced: kuh-MYOO-ni-tee ee-KAW-loh-jee) is a subfield of ecology that deals with the study of interactions among species within a community and how these interactions shape the structure and dynamics of the community. The term is derived from the Latin communitas meaning "community" and the Greek oikos meaning "house", and logos meaning "study of".
Definition
In biology, a community is defined as a group of interacting species that inhabit the same area. Community ecology, therefore, is the study of the patterns and processes involving these collections of species. It involves understanding the biodiversity, species richness, species diversity, and species interactions within a community.
History
The concept of community ecology emerged in the early 20th century, with ecologists such as Frederic Clements and Henry Gleason contributing significantly to its development. Clements proposed the idea of the community as a superorganism, while Gleason argued for a more individualistic concept of community structure.
Key Concepts
Community ecology encompasses several key concepts, including:
- Competition: This refers to the struggle between individuals or species for limited resources. It can occur within a species (intraspecific competition) or between different species (interspecific competition).
- Predation: This is a biological interaction where one organism (the predator) kills and consumes another (the prey).
- Symbiosis': This is a close and long-term interaction between two different biological organisms. It includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
- Succession: This is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.
- Disturbance: This refers to a temporary change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Community ecology
- Wikipedia's article - Community ecology
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