1.Organismal Ecology-the study of individual organisms' behavior, physiology, morphology, etc. in response to environmental challenges
Scale: at several scales
2.Population Ecology-the dynamics of species populations and how these populations interact with the environment--density and growth, (demographics)
Scale: at several scalesQuestion asked:Why does it live in these areas? What are the resources it uses?
Predicts:New range, Invasion, Reintroduction
*****Example*** : Salmon migrate from saltwater to freshwater environments to breed
Question asked: How do populations grow?
Predicts: How populations will change
*****Example***: Each Salmon produces eggs, but only few will survive to reproduce
3.Community Ecology- species interactions
Scale: at several scales
Question asked: How do species interact, and what are the consequences?
Predicts: Consequences of changes to the community
*****Example***: Salmon are prey as well as predators
4.Ecosystem Ecology- cycling of energy and matter
Scale:several scales
Question asked: How does energy flow and how do nutrients cycle through the local environment?
Predicts: Predictive in dynamic (changing) systems
Ex. Food Web
5. Biosphere (Global) Ecology- Quantifies the effects of human impacts on the biosphere.
Scale:
Question asked: How is the biosphere affected by global changes in nutrient cycling and climate?
Predicts: global changes