Ecology and Environment
Knowing Ecology vs Environment will become easier if we understand ecology meaning and environment meaning. Ecology is a study of the biosphere, whereas ecosystems are created by the interconnections between the living organisms and the physical environments they inhabit which can be water, land, or air. Ecosystems need a source of energy i.e. light from the sun enables them to be able to work.
What is Ecology?
Reiter used the word ‘Ecology’ in the year 1865 and Ernst Hackel explained it more profoundly in the year 1869. Ecology is the study of relationships between living organisms (plants, animals, bacteria, humans) and the environment. Its major components are individual or organisms, species, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere. All of the components are interrelated and can be determined on the basis of the composition and distribution of a variety of resources like heat, sunlight, nutrients and water.
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Ecology is divided into two main branches, (i) autecology, and (ii) synecology.
Autecology deals with species or an organism, its adaptations, and its interaction with its environment.
Synecology deals with the study of different species living in a community and their relation with the surrounding. Examples of aquatic ecology include freshwater, marine, etc. It is further classified into two branches, aquatic and terrestrial ecology.
Aquatic ecology deals with aquatic ecosystems, whereas terrestrial ecology deals with terrestrial ecosystems. For example, desert, forest, grassland, and so on. System ecology, applied ecology, and genecology are the modern branches of ecology.
What is the Environment?
Environment is the totality of the surroundings that we live in. It is the combination of physical and biological components such as animals, plants, air, water, sunlight; we can study the effect of all organisms and the effects of their way of living on the environment. Climate and weather changes take place due to different impacts on the environment and hence can alter the natural cycles.
As a result, if a healthy environment is disturbed, there can be disturbance in ecology too as disturbances in various ecosystems take place. Due to too hot/too cold or humid conditions, organisms may not survive and there can be decrease in the population, community or species. For example, when an uncontrollable wild forest fire, bush fire or grassland fire takes place, many living organisms including plants, animals and vegetation may die and result in the loss of an ecosystem. It ultimately affects the ecology. This is how we can portray the difference between environmental biology and ecology.
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Components of the Environment
There are two main components of the environment, biotic and abiotic.
The biotic components of the environment are all organisms like human beings, animals, birds, reptiles, including the microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, algae, and so on.
The abiotic components of the environment include land, river, air, soil, mountain, cloud, and physical components like humidity, temperature, and so on.
With the help of the below tabular chart, we will make you understand the ecology and environmental science differences.
Difference Between Environmental Biology and Ecology
Different Levels of Organisms within Ecology
1.Organism
When an individual living thing is capable of responding to stimuli, growing, reproducing and maintaining homeostasis. Example, a plant, animal or human.
2.Population
A population is the sum of all of the individuals of the same species living within an ecological community.
3.Community
Community ecology, also known as synecology, includes the study of the interactions between species in communities on many spatial and temporal scales. It also involves the distribution, abundance, structure, demography, and interactions between all coexisting populations.
4.Ecosystem
It consists of a large community of living organisms including plants, animals and microbes in a particular area. It can be of any size but exist in a particular place. The living and physical components of an ecosystem are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
Energy pyramids can be drawn to show the interdependence of organisms on one another and how energy flow takes place in any ecosystem. Variety of food chains or versatility of food chains in an ecosystem leads to its strong foundation. Environment pollution and deforestation are major problems for ecosystem sustenance.
5.Biosphere
It is one of the four layers surrounding the Earth along with other layers. The other layers are lithosphere (rocky area), hydrosphere (water bodies) and atmosphere (air) and it is the sum of all the ecosystems.
Ecosystem
The ecosystem is termed as the structural and functional unit of ecology, where the living and nonliving components of the environment are in continuous interaction. The ecosystem is defined as the chain of interactions taking place between living organisms and the environment, which can be small or huge. In other words, itI can be an oasis in the desert or an ocean that covers thousands of miles.
The ecosystem is responsible for maintaining stability within the environment. It is either aquatic or terrestrial. Aquatic exists in the water, whereas terrestrial refers to the land-based ecosystems. Forest, desert, grassland, and tundra are different land-based ecosystems. All biotic and abiotic components are interconnected in an ecosystem. The ecosystem is always in the state of continuous evolution.
Important Points
Ecology is generally termed as studying the interactions and other properties of biological organisms and non-biological items in the environment. Contradictorily, an environment is termed as a surrounding containing living and nonliving things that coexist.
For the first time, Reiter invented the term ‘ecology’, and Ernst Haeckel defined the term. Ramdeo Misra is renowned as the ‘Father of Ecology’ in India.
The environment of an organism changes when it moves from one location to another, whereas an ecology does not change and stays the same for an organism no matter where it goes.
Ecology provides an interrelation between the elements, whereas an environment allows the elements to exist.
It is often believed that an environment and ecology are the same things. However, they differ in terms of functions, their habitat, and qualities, as well as other significant characteristics. Ecology and environment, both are major components that are observed in our surroundings.
FAQs on Difference Between Environment and Ecology
1. What is the fundamental difference between environment and ecology?
The fundamental difference is that the environment refers to the surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives, while ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. Essentially, the environment is the setting, and ecology is the study of what happens in that setting.
2. What are the main components that make up an environment?
An environment is composed of two main types of components as per the CBSE curriculum for the 2025-26 session:
- Biotic Components: These include all living organisms, such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms (like bacteria and viruses).
- Abiotic Components: These include all non-living physical and chemical factors, such as sunlight, temperature, water, soil, air, and mountains.
3. What are the key levels of organisation studied in ecology?
Ecology studies life at various levels of organisation, which build upon each other:
- Organism: A single living individual.
- Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.
- Community: All the different populations of species that live and interact in an area.
- Ecosystem: The community of living organisms interacting with their non-living (abiotic) environment.
- Biosphere: The sum of all ecosystems on Earth.
4. How does an ecosystem differ from both an environment and ecology?
These three terms are closely related but distinct. The environment is the broadest term, representing the physical, chemical, and biological surroundings. An ecosystem is a more specific functional unit within an environment where living organisms (biotic) and non-living components (abiotic) interact through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Ecology is not a place or a system, but the scientific discipline that studies these ecosystems and the relationships within them.
5. How are ecology and environmental science related but different fields of study?
Ecology and environmental science are related but have different scopes. Ecology is a specific branch of biology focused on the interactions between organisms and their environment. In contrast, environmental science is a much broader, interdisciplinary field that includes ecology but also incorporates geology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences to understand environmental problems and the impact of human activities on the planet.
6. Can a change in the environment directly impact ecology? Explain with an example.
Yes, a significant change in the environment directly impacts ecology by altering the interactions and survival of organisms. For example, a drastic environmental event like a wildfire (a change in the abiotic environment) destroys habitats and food sources. This leads to a sharp decline in plant and animal populations, disrupts food chains, and can cause the collapse of an entire ecosystem, which is a direct and severe ecological consequence.
7. Who is known as the 'Father of Ecology' in India?
Professor Ramdeo Misra is widely regarded as the 'Father of Ecology' in India for his pioneering work in understanding tropical ecosystems and establishing ecology as a formal discipline of study in the country.
