1. Ecology oikos, “house, household” + logia “study of”
The study of the interactions between organisms (biota) and their environments (including abiotic factors); the study of ecosystems
Grew out of interests in natural history, U.S. land acquisition, exploration
John Wesley Powell John Muir

2. Activism 20th century: increasing environmental awareness:
• Green (agricultural) revolution >
use of pesticides
(i.e. DDT)
whooping crane, bald eagle populations threatened
• 1966 Endangered Species Protection>Act

3. Activism • 1970 Environmental Protection Agency
• 1972 Clean Water Act in response to the burning
of the Cuyahoga (OH) river
then…and now
00:22 – 2:19
• Clean Air Act follows

4. These nation-wide reformations often result from individuals activism
Example: Bill Kortum, a veterinarian who helped lead the battle to protect public access to the California coast, preserve open space in Sonoma county.

5. Hierarchy Levels of organization in ecology
Biomes are global ecosystems
All the biota
One species
An earth system scientist defines biosphere a bit different than a biologist
Biology defines biosphere as the zone of life on Earth (ESS defines biosphere as only the life)

6. Species Members of a population all belong to the same species
Successfully interbreed, producing viable, fertile offspring
Lynx rufus
Animalia
Mammalia
Carnivora x
Lynx
rufus
The most specific taxonomic group

7. Habitat
Where in the ecosystem the organism lives

8. Niche The specific set of requirements, and the role, of each organism
25-30 mi2 territory
prey control
single mate
several dens