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05.09.2014 ECOLOGY Nazarenko Olga Bronislavovna D.Sc., professor Department of Ecology and Base Safety 155 room, 8 building Introduction. The problems of interaction between society and nature Definition of Ecology. History of Ecology. Ecological Organization. Main Forms of Ecology. Modern Ecology as a Multidisciplinary Science. Relationship between Human and Nature. Ecological Problems and Solutions. Definition of Ecology Ecology is the study of the relationships and interactions between living organisms and their natural or developed environment. Ernest Haeckel, German scientist, 1866 «Generelle Morphologie der Organismen» • οικος — home, place to live • λόγος — discussion, study of… • Ecology is the study of organisms “at home” in their native environment Ecology is the science of how to live in your own home, what we should do if we want to survive on our own planet History of Ecology 3 stages 1. The origin and formation of ecology as a science • … to 60s. XIX century • the data on the relationship of organisms with their environment were accumulated; the first scientific generalizations were made Ancient Greek philosophers Aristotle (384–322 BCE) “History of Animals” observations on more than 500 species of animals Theophrastus (371–287 BCE) “Historia Plantarum” It described plants by their uses, but also attempted a biological classification based on how they reproduced. • Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) developed the binomial nomenclature for classifying plants and animals • Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744–1829) evolution occurred and proceeded in accordance with natural laws • Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was the first to analyze the association among organisms and their environment Krasheninnikov Stepan Petrovich (1711–1755) "Description of the Land of Kamchatka“ (“History of Kamtschatka” ) Krasheninnikov volcano, Kamchatka, Russia 2. Formation of ecology as an independent branch of knowledge (60s. XIX century – 50s. XX century) Charles Darwin (1809-1882) On the Origin of Species (1859) Evolution resulted from a process of natural selection The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871) • Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919) • Karl Mobius (1825–1908) biocenose • Vasily Dokuchaev (1846–1903) soil science ecology Edward Suess (1831–1914) biosphere The biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Vladimir I. Vernadsky (1863–1945) "The biosphere" (1926) Arthur Tansley (1871-1955) Ecosystem (1935) An ecosystems is the interactive system established between the biocenosis (the group of living creatures), and their biotope, the environment in which they live. A community or biocenosis is an association of populations of two or more different species occupying the same geographical area and in a particular time. Biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals Material and energy exchange Ecosystem = biocenosis + biotope Ecosystem Biogeocenosis Vladimir Sukachev (1880–1967) Stage 3. The present stage - the transformation of ecology into complex science (50s. XX century – To date) The present stage associated with progressive environmental pollution and a sharp increase in human impact on nature. The feature of environmental studies are widespread use of mathematical modeling of the processes in the biosphere, in order to maintain its stability, as well as the need to develop engineering solutions aimed at improving the quality of the environment. Eugene Odum (1913–2002) Nikita Nikolayevich Moiseyev (1917–2000) Hermann Remmert (1931–1994) Remmert: We have to remember that the Earth’s ecosystems have not always been hospitable for humans, and most likely will not be at some time in the future. We are but just a ‘blip’ on the evolutionary landscape. It will be a daunting task to sustain the Earth’s ecosystems in a way that will sustain human life on earth. Our understanding of Ecology will have to be a lot better than it is now. Ecological organization Hierarchy of levels in the organization of living organisms and nonliving matter Ecological hierarchy Levels of Ecological Organization 1. Organism individual living things 2. Population all the organisms of one species living in one area 3. Community all the organisms of the different interacting species in an area 4. Ecosystem all the organisms of a community plus the abiotic (physical) factors influencing them 5. Biome large scale areas of similar vegetation and climatic characteristics 6. Biosphere entire region of the earth where living things may be found Main forms of ecology Autecology deals with the study of the individual organism or an individual species. Demecology / Population ecology deals with the dynamics of populations of species and the interaction of these species with the environment. Synecology deals with the study of groups of organisms which are associated together as a unit. Classification of Ecology Specialized branches of ecology The relationship between human and nature • Modern humans Homo sapiens • more than 100 000 years ago 1. Hunter-gatherer societies relatively small impacts on natural ecosystems population density is low Ecological influence: overhunting altering the landscape through extensive use of fire 2. Agrarian societies • 10 000 years ago • horticultural societies focus on planting • herding or pastoralist societies focus on livestock Domesticated animals Horses and oxen are used to pull plows Beasts of burden are used to mill grains, along with water and wind mills Dog 30000 BCE Sheep 10000 BCE Pig 9000 BCE Goat 8000 BCE Cow 8000 BCE Cat 7500 BCE Chicken 6000 BCE Horse 4000 BCE Goose 3000 BCE Irrigation systems Irrigation has been an important base for agriculture in dry areas with low rainfall Influences on natural ecosystems The impacts of agrarian societies on wildlife and natural ecosystems: o intensive grazing by livestock o desertification o salinization o deforestation o erosion of soils Overgrazing Overgrazing by livestock can lead to land degradation, desertification and erosion 10 000 years ago the Sahara was a savanna. People have transformed savanna in the desert by overgrazing of cattle and sheep Salinization Soils in dry irrigated areas tend to become salinized Ecological crisis in ancient Mesopotamia, in the basins of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates (2000 BCE) Deforestation The high population densities of late agrarian societies have high demands for firewood and timber; it caused deforestation and as result accelerated erosion of soil Despite the changes in ecosystems at the local scale, human activities fit into the biogeochemical cycling of matter and did not change the flow of energy in the biosphere. The biodegradable plant materials (wood, straw) and metals were mainly used in human activity; self-purification of water and land was fully implemented. 3. Industrial Societies Industrial Revolution in the 18th–19th centuries: Innovations in transport, such as the railway and automobile; energy development, such as coal and electricity; Advanced technologies; Urbanization; Professional specialization. The benefits of industrial society Urban Development Improving health care Improving the quality of food High level of education As a result of the technologies development, people's living standards rises, the life expectancy increases. The negative effects of industrial civilization Human population explosion; large loss in biodiversity; the cycling of matter is broken; energy consumption increases – shortage of energy resources Scheme of social metabolism and energy exchange between society and nature At all stages of interaction between society and nature environmental pollution occurs Annual consumption per person Characteristics of the current state of the biosphere The biosphere changes: deforestation; depletion of mineral resources; creation of new water reservoirs; creation of agrocenosis on the place of the primary biocenosis. Chemical and physical composition of air, water and soil changes. The biosphere polluted with pesticides, fertilizers, industrial wastes, radioactive substances The main waste can not be used by microorganisms. The rate of the natural process of biological treatment, the of self-purification process decreased. Ecological crisis Ecological crisis is the stage of interaction between society and nature, in which the contradictions between the economy and ecology are extremely aggravated, and the ability of self-regulation of ecosystems under anthropogenic impact significantly undermined. Modern Problems of Ecology demographic problem; depletion of natural resources; energy problems; pollution of the biosphere: acid rain, ozone depletion, greenhouse effect, etc. human health problems. • Experience of humanity shows that aspiration of people to material benefits and unlimited consumption of resources is a natural human feature. From ecological position the economic growth is a constant increase in the consumption of natural resources. At the same time progress can not be forbidden - it will always accompany human. Directions to get out of the ecological crisis 1. ecologization of technologies; 2. economization of industries; 3. administrative and legal action; 4. ecological education; 5. international legal protection. The main goal of ecology is to lead humanity out of global ecological crisis on the path of sustainable development, at which the satisfaction of the vital needs of the present generation is achieved without depriving future generations of such a possibility. Sustainability is a property of a human society in which ecosystems (including humans) are managed such that the conditions supporting present day life on Earth can continue Scientific principles of sustainability Reliance on solar energy Biodiversity Population control Nutrient recycling Copy Nature: In nature, nothing is wasted because everything has a use or a purpose Solutions How nature works Runs on renewable solar energy Recycles nutrients and wastes. There is little waste in nature Uses biodiversity to maintain itself and adapt to new environmental conditions Lessons for us Rely mostly on renewable solar energy Prevent and reduce pollution and recycle and reuse resources Preserve biodiversity by protecting ecosystem services and habitats and preventing premature extinction Controls a species’ population Reduce human births and size and resource use by wasteful resource use to prevent interactions with its environment environmental overload and and other species depletion and degradation of resources Ecology and global policy 1971, UNESCO – “Man and Biosphere” 1972, Stockholm, the Ist International Conference on the Human Environment – “Think Globally, Act Locally” 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Earth Summit (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development UNCED) - Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Climate Change Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity 1997, Kyoto Protocol 2002, Johannesburg, Earth Summit 2002 (Rio+10) Earth Summit 2012 - “The Future We Want” Ecological knowledge allow us to understand how the human impact on the environment occurs, and to find those limits changes in the conditions that will prevent environmental crisis. Only ecological knowledge will help to stop the spontaneous development.