GENERAL ZOOLOGY

UNIT II. ECOLOGY

Ecology
the scientific study of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment.
Environment
all the things around us, whether living or non-living.
Biome
an aggregate of biotic communities, considered as the largest ecologic unit
Major Community
the smallest ecologic unit that is self-sustaining and self-regulating
Example: pond or forrest
Minor Communities
smaller communities that make up a major community and which may not be altogether
self-sustaining.
Ecological Niche
the special place (role or function) that an organism has in a community in relation to its
food and enemies.
Habitat
the place where plants and animals live.

Types of Animals According to their Habitat

1. Aquatic water-dwelling animals
2. Terrestrial land-dwelling animals
3. Amphibian stays on land as well as in water
4. Aerial or Arboreal lives in the air or tress
Types of Environment
A. Physical Environment the non-living part of the environment
The physical factors that affects plants and animals
a. Sunlight
i. almost all the energy used by organisms is derived from the sun
ii. green plants absorb the radiant energy from the sun and, by the
photosynthetic action of chlorophyll in their cells, they produce
carbohydrates from carbon and water, they also synthesis protein and fats.
The energy stored in these compounds is the ultimate source used by all
animals.
b. Temperature
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i. temperature influences the growth, fruiting and survival of the plants upon
which various animals depends for food.
1. A prolonged cold spring can delay development of grasses used as
food by animals growth of animals are affected
2. Reptiles, fishes, amphibians and insects have little or no internal
regulation of body temperature hence growth and activities are
affected directly by environmental temperatures, speeded by
warmth and slowed by cold.
3. Birds and mammals, having insulated bodies and closely regulated
temperatures, are much less affected by change in environmental
temperature, but excessive winter cold or summer heat may impose
stress and reduce food supply.
c. Water
i. Severe floods modify the character of the bottom part of rivers, covering
gravel beds with silt, and the rushing waters may actually destroy many
creatures.
ii. Reduction of creeks to scant flow or scattered pools exposes the aquatic
animals to attack by predators.
iii. Certain insects breeds in transient rain pools, and if rain is scant
animals may lack spawning places death of offspring
d. Pressure
i. animals of the land experience differences in atmospheric pressure at
elevations above sea level, because the density of the air decreases with
altitude.
ii. people living in high mountains have larger hearts and more red blood
cells to compensate for the lesser oxygen supply.
iii. water pressure increases regularly with depth.
e. Chemicals
i. Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Minerals
B. Biological Environment the living part of the environment
a. Food
i. animal food, of whatever kind, is derived ultimately from plants.
ii. each species of animal requires a certain amount of food of the right kinds.
iii. many species are more specialized and can exist only where and when
their particular foods are available.
Female mosquito blood of mammals
Beaver inner bark of willows and poplars
iv. plant-eating animals are the primary consumers in any animal community.
They in turn serve as food for other animals (secondary consumers), which
are eaten by still others.
v. Food Web all the feeding relationships among and between the species
of a biotic community. It is composed of many interlocking Food Chains
which represent single pathway up to the web.
b. Shelter and Breeding Places

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i. availability of suitable cover, shelter and breeding places is important in

regulating the number of a species that can live in an area.
ii. if housing is in short supply, few can be accommodated and the others
are exposed to weather and predators.
c. Niche and Competition
i. ecological niche is the way species population is specialized within a
natural community to gain the resources needed for its existence.
ii. it reduces or eliminates competition and permits two or more species to
coexist as members of the same community, for each is assured of needed
resources.
Types of Animal Association
1. Mutualism
o both individuals derive benefit from each other but when separated, both will die
or will not be able to survive
Ex. Termites and Trichonympha (flagellate);
Termites eat wood but cannot digest cellulose, but the flagellate in
the termites GUT can, so food is available for both.
2. Protocooperation
o several individuals derive benefit from each other but when separated, all will
survive.
Ex. Relationship between the carabao and bird
3. Parasitism
o one animal, called the parasite, derives all the benefits and even does harm to the
other animal, called the host.
Ex. Relationship between human and parasites like ascaris, tapeworm,
hookworm, mosquitoes and lice.
4. Predation
o animal that consumes another animal is called predator, and the animal eaten is
prey.
o any that consumes members of its own species is termed cannibalistic and one
that eats dead animals is a scavenger.
o predation differs from parasitism in that a predator destroys its prey outright
whereas a parasite usually continues to feed on its living host.
Ex. Relationship between frog and insect
5. Cannibalism
o an animal feeds on one of its kind or species (a kind of predation)
Ex. Ants eating ants; man eating man
6. Amensalism
o one organism inhibits the growth of another although the former is not affected by
the latter
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Ex. Pennicillum (a mold) and bacteria

7. Neutralism
o both animals live together but are unaffected by one another
Ex. Cows and horses; butterflies and bees

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