1. ECOLOGY
Biology encompasses numerous areas of study such as zoology, botany, mycology, microbiology and genetics . However, no species exists in isolation, no matter which area of life we focus on, we will invariably stray into the realms of ecology.
Ecology = Relationships of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings
Above is the Imperial White butterfly Delias harpalyce on Common Heath Epacris impressa in the Wombat Forest. The Imperial White is feeding on nectar from the flowers, which transfers pollen to other flowers improving pollination and seed production for the Common Heath. The Common Heath has mutualistic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi that enables the plant to better extract nutrients from infertile soils and to which the Common Heath in turn provides sugars.
Imperial White butterfly specifically require mistletoe plants (Loranthaceae family) on which their caterpillars feed exclusively. Mistletoes are parasitic plants attaching themselves to the branches of trees and are reliant on a select few species of birds (mainly the Mistletoebird) to spread their seed.
So we have interactions between a plant, fungi, insect, parasitic plants (requiring particular trees as hosts) and a bird. This is not the end of the web, we could continue to explore further relationships. And this is not an unusual example, complex interactions are the norm in the natural world. These relationships are what ecologists seeks to explore.
RELATED TERMS
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A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home. A habitat meets all the environmental conditions an organism needs to survive. For an animal, that means everything it needs to find and gather food, select a mate, and successfully reproduce.
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Biodiversity is the variety of all living things; the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genetic information they contain and the ecosystems they comprise.
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An ecosystem is a community of organisms and their physical environment interacting together. An ecosystem can cover a large area, such as a whole forest, or a small area, such as a tree trunk.
Right: A moss covered hollow log in the Wombat Forest. Logs are a critical habitat component in forest ecosystems, providing shelter or substrate for various fungi, flora and fauna. Logs thereby support biodiversity within the forest.
