{"id":3095,"date":"2017-02-09T23:04:59","date_gmt":"2017-02-09T23:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology2\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=3095"},"modified":"2024-04-26T02:47:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T02:47:05","slug":"levels-of-ecological-research","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology2\/chapter\/levels-of-ecological-research\/","title":{"raw":"Levels of Ecological Research","rendered":"Levels of Ecological Research"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Define ecology and the four levels of ecological research<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<section id=\"fs-idp328287056\" data-depth=\"1\">\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp98015680\">When a discipline such as biology is studied, it is often helpful to subdivide it into smaller, related areas. For instance, cell biologists interested in cell signaling need to understand the chemistry of the signal molecules (which are usually proteins) as well as the result of cell signaling. Ecologists interested in the factors that influence the survival of an endangered species might use mathematical models to predict how current conservation efforts affect endangered organisms.<\/p>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp98015681\">To produce a sound set of management options, a\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">conservation biologist<\/em>\u00a0needs to collect accurate data, including current population size, factors affecting reproduction (like physiology and behavior), habitat requirements (such as plants and soils), and potential human influences on the endangered population and its habitat (which might be derived through studies in sociology and urban ecology). Within the discipline of ecology, researchers work at four general levels, which sometimes overlap. These levels are organism, population, community, and ecosystem (Figure 1).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"fig-ch44_01_01\" class=\"os-figure\">\r\n<figure class=\" \" data-id=\"fig-ch44_01_01\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"600\"]<img id=\"4\" src=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/resources\/11850960ebc1b129e74066cb19f4ec1a70fc3281\" alt=\"A flow chart of three boxes shows the hierarchy of living organisms. The top box is labeled Organisms, and a picture of a tree is shown; then populations, and a picture of a forest is shown; and then communities, and a picture of a marmot is shown. The second box is labeled ecosystems; and has a photograph of a body of water, behind which is a stand of tall grasses developing into more dense vegetation and trees as distance from the water increases. The third box is labeled as the biosphere; and shows a drawing of planet Earth.\" width=\"600\" height=\"1085\" data-media-type=\"image\/png\" \/> Figure\u00a01.\u00a0Ecologists study within several biological levels of organization. (credit \u201corganisms\u201d: modification of work by yeowatzup\u201d\/Flickr; credit \u201cpopulations\u201d: modification of work by \"Crystl\"\/Flickr; credit \u201ccommunities\u201d: modification of work by US Fish and Wildlife Service; credit \u201cecosystems\u201d: modification of work by Tom Carlisle, US Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters; credit \u201cbiosphere\u201d: NASA)[\/caption]<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><section id=\"fs-idp77553120\" data-depth=\"1\">\r\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Organismal Ecology<\/h3>\r\n<div id=\"fig-ch44_01_02\" class=\"os-figure\">\r\n<figure class=\" \" data-id=\"fig-ch44_01_02\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\"]<img id=\"5\" src=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/resources\/7bdd44e24bd05f00c1b0faedc2848bd4c4dedff3\" alt=\"Photo depicts a Karner blue butterfly, which has light blue wings with gold ovals and black dots around the edges.\" width=\"400\" height=\"285\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpg\" \/> Figure\u00a02.\u00a0The Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) is a rare butterfly that lives only in open areas with few trees or shrubs, such as pine barrens and oak savannas. It can only lay its eggs on lupine plants. (credit: modification of work by J &amp; K Hollingsworth, USFWS)[\/caption]<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp204742976\">Researchers studying ecology at the organismal level are interested in the adaptations that enable individuals to live in specific habitats. These adaptations can be morphological, physiological, and behavioral. For instance, the Karner blue butterfly (<em data-effect=\"italics\">Lycaeides melissa samuelis<\/em>) (Figure 2)\u00a0is considered a specialist because the females only\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">oviposit<\/em>\u00a0(that is, lay eggs) on wild lupine (<em data-effect=\"italics\">Lupinus perennis<\/em>). This specific requirement and adaptation means that the Karner blue butterfly is completely dependent on the presence of wild lupine plants for its survival.After hatching, the (first instar) caterpillars emerge and spend four to six weeks feeding solely on wild lupine (Figure 3). The caterpillars pupate as a chrysalis to undergo the final stage of metamorphosis and emerge as butterflies after about four weeks. The adult butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers of wild lupine and other plant species, such as milkweeds. Generally there are two broods of the Karner blue each year.<\/p>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp204742977\">A researcher interested in studying Karner blue butterflies at the organismal level might, in addition to asking questions about egg laying requirements, ask questions about the butterflies\u2019 preferred thoracic flight temperature (a physiological question), or the behavior of the caterpillars when they are at different larval stages (a behavioral question).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"fig-ch44_01_03\" class=\"os-figure\">\r\n<figure class=\"span-class\" data-id=\"fig-ch44_01_03\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<img id=\"6\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/resources\/e115b3ae8e0104f526be17a3795e5249eb7fb15d\" alt=\"This photo depicts a wild lupine flower, which is long and thin with clam-shaped petals radiating out from the center. The bottom third of the flower is blue, the middle is pink and blue, and the top is green.\" width=\"300\" height=\"534\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpg\" \/> Figure\u00a03.\u00a0The wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) is the only known host plant for the Karner blue butterfly.[\/caption]<\/figure>\r\n<div class=\"os-caption-container\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><section id=\"fs-idp94955104\" data-depth=\"1\">\r\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Population Ecology<\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp294320048\">A\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2194\" data-type=\"term\">population<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is a group of\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">interbreeding organisms<\/em>\u00a0that are members of the same species living in the same area at the same time. (Organisms that are all members of the same species are called\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2195\" data-type=\"term\">conspecifics<\/span><\/strong>.) A population is identified, in part, by where it lives, and its area of population may have natural or artificial boundaries. Natural boundaries might be rivers, mountains, or deserts, while artificial boundaries may be mowed grass, manmade structures, or roads. The study of\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">population ecology<\/em>\u00a0focuses on the number of individuals in an area and how and why population size changes over time.<\/p>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp294320049\">For example, population ecologists are particularly interested in counting the Karner blue butterfly because it is classified as a federally endangered species. However, the distribution and density of this species is highly influenced by the distribution and abundance of wild lupine, and the biophysical environment around it. Researchers might ask questions about the factors leading to the decline of wild lupine and how these affect Karner blue butterflies. For example, ecologists know that wild lupine thrives in open areas where trees and shrubs are largely absent. In natural settings, intermittent wildfires regularly remove trees and shrubs, helping to maintain the open areas that wild lupine requires. Mathematical models can be used to understand how wildfire suppression by humans has led to the decline of this important plant for the Karner blue butterfly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section><section id=\"fs-idp217491760\" data-depth=\"1\">\r\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Community Ecology<\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp293993984\">A\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2196\" data-type=\"term\">biological community<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0consists of the different species within an area, typically a three-dimensional space, and the interactions within and among these species. Community ecologists are interested in the processes driving these interactions and their consequences. Questions about\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">conspecific<\/em>\u00a0interactions often focus on competition among members of the same species for a limited resource. Ecologists also study interactions between various species; members of different species are called\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2197\" data-type=\"term\">heterospecifics<\/span><\/strong>. Examples of heterospecific interactions include predation, parasitism, herbivory, competition, and pollination. These interactions can have regulating effects on population sizes and can impact ecological and evolutionary processes affecting diversity.<\/p>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp235566208\">For example, Karner blue butterfly larvae form mutualistic relationships with ants (especially\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">Formica<\/em>\u00a0spp).\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2198\" data-type=\"term\">Mutualism<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is a form of long-term relationship that has coevolved between two species and from which each species benefits. For mutualism to exist between individual organisms, each species must receive\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">some<\/em>\u00a0benefit from the other as a consequence of the relationship. Researchers have shown that there is an increase in survival when ants protect Karner blue butterfly larvae (caterpillars) from predaceous insects and spiders, an act known as \u201ctending.\u201d This might be because the larvae spend less time in each life stage when tended by ants, which provides an advantage for the larvae. Meanwhile, to attract the ants, the Karner blue butterfly larvae secrete ant-like pheromones and a carbohydrate-rich substance that is an important energy source for the ants. Both the Karner blue larvae and the ants benefit from their interaction, although the species of attendant ants may be partially opportunistic and vary over the range of the butterfly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section><section id=\"fs-idp219108176\" data-depth=\"1\">\r\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Ecosystem Ecology<\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp217223040\"><strong><span id=\"term2199\" data-type=\"term\">Ecosystem ecology<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is an extension of organismal, population, and community ecology. The ecosystem is composed of all the\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2200\" data-type=\"term\">biotic<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0components (living things) in an area along with the\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2201\" data-type=\"term\">abiotic<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0components (nonliving things) of that area. Some of the abiotic components include air, water, and soil. Ecosystem biologists ask questions about how nutrients and energy are stored and how they move among organisms and through the surrounding atmosphere, soil, and water.<\/p>\r\n<p id=\"fs-idp199797600\">The Karner blue butterflies and the wild lupine live in an oak-pine barren habitat. This habitat is characterized by natural disturbance and nutrient-poor soils that are low in nitrogen. The availability of nutrients is an important factor in the distribution of the plants that live in this habitat. Researchers interested in ecosystem ecology could ask questions about the importance of limited resources and the movement of resources, such as nutrients, though the biotic and abiotic portions of the ecosystem.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">\r\n\r\nWatch this video for\u00a0another introduction to\u00a0ecology:\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/izRvPaAWgyw\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\r\n<h3>Dividing Ecological Study<\/h3>\r\nEcology can also be classified on the basis of:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>the primary kinds of organism under study (e.g. animal ecology, plant ecology, insect ecology)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>the biomes principally studied (e.g. forest ecology, grassland ecology, desert ecology, benthic ecology, marine ecology, urban ecology)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>the geographic or climatic area (e.g. arctic ecology, tropical ecology)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>the spatial scale under consideration (e.g. macroecology, landscape ecology)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>the philosophical approach (e.g. systems ecology which adopts a holistic approach)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>the methods used (e.g. molecular ecology)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/f4310ab5-79da-4690-ab58-4001f9672669\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Define ecology and the four levels of ecological research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"fs-idp328287056\" data-depth=\"1\">\n<p id=\"fs-idp98015680\">When a discipline such as biology is studied, it is often helpful to subdivide it into smaller, related areas. For instance, cell biologists interested in cell signaling need to understand the chemistry of the signal molecules (which are usually proteins) as well as the result of cell signaling. Ecologists interested in the factors that influence the survival of an endangered species might use mathematical models to predict how current conservation efforts affect endangered organisms.<\/p>\n<p id=\"fs-idp98015681\">To produce a sound set of management options, a\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">conservation biologist<\/em>\u00a0needs to collect accurate data, including current population size, factors affecting reproduction (like physiology and behavior), habitat requirements (such as plants and soils), and potential human influences on the endangered population and its habitat (which might be derived through studies in sociology and urban ecology). Within the discipline of ecology, researchers work at four general levels, which sometimes overlap. These levels are organism, population, community, and ecosystem (Figure 1).<\/p>\n<div id=\"fig-ch44_01_01\" class=\"os-figure\">\n<figure class=\"\" data-id=\"fig-ch44_01_01\">\n<div style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"4\" src=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/resources\/11850960ebc1b129e74066cb19f4ec1a70fc3281\" alt=\"A flow chart of three boxes shows the hierarchy of living organisms. The top box is labeled Organisms, and a picture of a tree is shown; then populations, and a picture of a forest is shown; and then communities, and a picture of a marmot is shown. The second box is labeled ecosystems; and has a photograph of a body of water, behind which is a stand of tall grasses developing into more dense vegetation and trees as distance from the water increases. The third box is labeled as the biosphere; and shows a drawing of planet Earth.\" width=\"600\" height=\"1085\" data-media-type=\"image\/png\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure\u00a01.\u00a0Ecologists study within several biological levels of organization. (credit \u201corganisms\u201d: modification of work by yeowatzup\u201d\/Flickr; credit \u201cpopulations\u201d: modification of work by &#8220;Crystl&#8221;\/Flickr; credit \u201ccommunities\u201d: modification of work by US Fish and Wildlife Service; credit \u201cecosystems\u201d: modification of work by Tom Carlisle, US Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters; credit \u201cbiosphere\u201d: NASA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"fs-idp77553120\" data-depth=\"1\">\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Organismal Ecology<\/h3>\n<div id=\"fig-ch44_01_02\" class=\"os-figure\">\n<figure class=\"\" data-id=\"fig-ch44_01_02\">\n<div style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"5\" src=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/resources\/7bdd44e24bd05f00c1b0faedc2848bd4c4dedff3\" alt=\"Photo depicts a Karner blue butterfly, which has light blue wings with gold ovals and black dots around the edges.\" width=\"400\" height=\"285\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure\u00a02.\u00a0The Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) is a rare butterfly that lives only in open areas with few trees or shrubs, such as pine barrens and oak savannas. It can only lay its eggs on lupine plants. (credit: modification of work by J &amp; K Hollingsworth, USFWS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"fs-idp204742976\">Researchers studying ecology at the organismal level are interested in the adaptations that enable individuals to live in specific habitats. These adaptations can be morphological, physiological, and behavioral. For instance, the Karner blue butterfly (<em data-effect=\"italics\">Lycaeides melissa samuelis<\/em>) (Figure 2)\u00a0is considered a specialist because the females only\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">oviposit<\/em>\u00a0(that is, lay eggs) on wild lupine (<em data-effect=\"italics\">Lupinus perennis<\/em>). This specific requirement and adaptation means that the Karner blue butterfly is completely dependent on the presence of wild lupine plants for its survival.After hatching, the (first instar) caterpillars emerge and spend four to six weeks feeding solely on wild lupine (Figure 3). The caterpillars pupate as a chrysalis to undergo the final stage of metamorphosis and emerge as butterflies after about four weeks. The adult butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers of wild lupine and other plant species, such as milkweeds. Generally there are two broods of the Karner blue each year.<\/p>\n<p id=\"fs-idp204742977\">A researcher interested in studying Karner blue butterflies at the organismal level might, in addition to asking questions about egg laying requirements, ask questions about the butterflies\u2019 preferred thoracic flight temperature (a physiological question), or the behavior of the caterpillars when they are at different larval stages (a behavioral question).<\/p>\n<div id=\"fig-ch44_01_03\" class=\"os-figure\">\n<figure class=\"span-class\" data-id=\"fig-ch44_01_03\">\n<div style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"6\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/resources\/e115b3ae8e0104f526be17a3795e5249eb7fb15d\" alt=\"This photo depicts a wild lupine flower, which is long and thin with clam-shaped petals radiating out from the center. The bottom third of the flower is blue, the middle is pink and blue, and the top is green.\" width=\"300\" height=\"534\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure\u00a03.\u00a0The wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) is the only known host plant for the Karner blue butterfly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"os-caption-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"fs-idp94955104\" data-depth=\"1\">\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Population Ecology<\/h3>\n<p id=\"fs-idp294320048\">A\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2194\" data-type=\"term\">population<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is a group of\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">interbreeding organisms<\/em>\u00a0that are members of the same species living in the same area at the same time. (Organisms that are all members of the same species are called\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2195\" data-type=\"term\">conspecifics<\/span><\/strong>.) A population is identified, in part, by where it lives, and its area of population may have natural or artificial boundaries. Natural boundaries might be rivers, mountains, or deserts, while artificial boundaries may be mowed grass, manmade structures, or roads. The study of\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">population ecology<\/em>\u00a0focuses on the number of individuals in an area and how and why population size changes over time.<\/p>\n<p id=\"fs-idp294320049\">For example, population ecologists are particularly interested in counting the Karner blue butterfly because it is classified as a federally endangered species. However, the distribution and density of this species is highly influenced by the distribution and abundance of wild lupine, and the biophysical environment around it. Researchers might ask questions about the factors leading to the decline of wild lupine and how these affect Karner blue butterflies. For example, ecologists know that wild lupine thrives in open areas where trees and shrubs are largely absent. In natural settings, intermittent wildfires regularly remove trees and shrubs, helping to maintain the open areas that wild lupine requires. Mathematical models can be used to understand how wildfire suppression by humans has led to the decline of this important plant for the Karner blue butterfly.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"fs-idp217491760\" data-depth=\"1\">\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Community Ecology<\/h3>\n<p id=\"fs-idp293993984\">A\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2196\" data-type=\"term\">biological community<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0consists of the different species within an area, typically a three-dimensional space, and the interactions within and among these species. Community ecologists are interested in the processes driving these interactions and their consequences. Questions about\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">conspecific<\/em>\u00a0interactions often focus on competition among members of the same species for a limited resource. Ecologists also study interactions between various species; members of different species are called\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2197\" data-type=\"term\">heterospecifics<\/span><\/strong>. Examples of heterospecific interactions include predation, parasitism, herbivory, competition, and pollination. These interactions can have regulating effects on population sizes and can impact ecological and evolutionary processes affecting diversity.<\/p>\n<p id=\"fs-idp235566208\">For example, Karner blue butterfly larvae form mutualistic relationships with ants (especially\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">Formica<\/em>\u00a0spp).\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2198\" data-type=\"term\">Mutualism<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is a form of long-term relationship that has coevolved between two species and from which each species benefits. For mutualism to exist between individual organisms, each species must receive\u00a0<em data-effect=\"italics\">some<\/em>\u00a0benefit from the other as a consequence of the relationship. Researchers have shown that there is an increase in survival when ants protect Karner blue butterfly larvae (caterpillars) from predaceous insects and spiders, an act known as \u201ctending.\u201d This might be because the larvae spend less time in each life stage when tended by ants, which provides an advantage for the larvae. Meanwhile, to attract the ants, the Karner blue butterfly larvae secrete ant-like pheromones and a carbohydrate-rich substance that is an important energy source for the ants. Both the Karner blue larvae and the ants benefit from their interaction, although the species of attendant ants may be partially opportunistic and vary over the range of the butterfly.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"fs-idp219108176\" data-depth=\"1\">\n<h3 data-type=\"title\">Ecosystem Ecology<\/h3>\n<p id=\"fs-idp217223040\"><strong><span id=\"term2199\" data-type=\"term\">Ecosystem ecology<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is an extension of organismal, population, and community ecology. The ecosystem is composed of all the\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2200\" data-type=\"term\">biotic<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0components (living things) in an area along with the\u00a0<strong><span id=\"term2201\" data-type=\"term\">abiotic<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0components (nonliving things) of that area. Some of the abiotic components include air, water, and soil. Ecosystem biologists ask questions about how nutrients and energy are stored and how they move among organisms and through the surrounding atmosphere, soil, and water.<\/p>\n<p id=\"fs-idp199797600\">The Karner blue butterflies and the wild lupine live in an oak-pine barren habitat. This habitat is characterized by natural disturbance and nutrient-poor soils that are low in nitrogen. The availability of nutrients is an important factor in the distribution of the plants that live in this habitat. Researchers interested in ecosystem ecology could ask questions about the importance of limited resources and the movement of resources, such as nutrients, though the biotic and abiotic portions of the ecosystem.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox\">\n<p>Watch this video for\u00a0another introduction to\u00a0ecology:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-1\" title=\"Ecology - Rules for Living on Earth: Crash Course Biology #40\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/izRvPaAWgyw?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\n<h3>Dividing Ecological Study<\/h3>\n<p>Ecology can also be classified on the basis of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the primary kinds of organism under study (e.g. animal ecology, plant ecology, insect ecology)<\/li>\n<li>the biomes principally studied (e.g. forest ecology, grassland ecology, desert ecology, benthic ecology, marine ecology, urban ecology)<\/li>\n<li>the geographic or climatic area (e.g. arctic ecology, tropical ecology)<\/li>\n<li>the spatial scale under consideration (e.g. macroecology, landscape ecology)<\/li>\n<li>the philosophical approach (e.g. systems ecology which adopts a holistic approach)<\/li>\n<li>the methods used (e.g. molecular ecology)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_f4310ab5-79da-4690-ab58-4001f9672669\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/f4310ab5-79da-4690-ab58-4001f9672669?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_f4310ab5-79da-4690-ab58-4001f9672669\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-3095\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Biology 2e. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: OpenStax. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@10.8\">http:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@10.8<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Access for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/biology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction<\/li><li>Ecology (disciplines). <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Wikipedia. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ecology_(disciplines)\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ecology_(disciplines)<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":17,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Biology 2e\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"OpenStax\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@10.8\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Access for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/biology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Ecology (disciplines)\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Wikipedia\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ecology_(disciplines)\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"aed5807d-8b23-4188-a59f-14003a7a0f9c, 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