生态学(英文版).docVIP

Ecology (生態學) Introduction Ecology  __________________________________________________________ Concept of the ecosystem - The biosphere and biomes Bioshpere 生物圈 The part of the Earth and its atmosphere inhabited by life is called biosphere Thus, the oceans, land surface and lower parts of the atmosphere all form parts of the biosphere. Biome 生物群落 The biosphere can be divided into biomes which are linked by a common type of vegetation. Forests, deserts and grasslands are the examples of biomes. Each biome consists of many ecosystems in which communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors throughout the biome. A. The Ecosystem 生態系統 An ecosystem is defined as a complex formed by the living community of different species interacting with one another and with their non-living environment of matter and energy to result in a stable and self-sustainable system. Components of an ecosystem : living community and nonliving component A population 種群consists of all members of the same species occupying a given area at the same time. A community 群落consists of Populations of all the different species interacting with one another A habitat 生境is a small specific place where an organism lives.  types of habitats : terrestrial habitat ---- forest, ___________________ aquatic habitat ---- fresh water : pond, lake, reservoir, __________ marine : sandy shore, muddy shore, ___________________ A habitat can divide into numerous microhabitats小生境, each with________________ _____________________________________________________________________ The niche生態位 of a species describes the role of specific species in its community. Niches are sometimes distinguished from habitats by saying that the habitat of an organism is its address, while its niche is its role in the community. e.g. on a tree : caterpillars (feed on leaves), beetles (burrow into trunk) they live on same place bu