Environment – Ecosphere is divided into: Biosphere (World of Nature and Natural Resources) and Technosphere (human settlements, infrastructure).

The biosphere is a whole integrated nature that combines all ecosystems, biomes and biocycle, and represents an giant ecosystem.

Biomes – several units of different ecosystems such as deciduous forests, coniferous forests…

Biocycle – comprise more unified biomes; oceans, seas, fresh water…

The concept of ecology was first used and introduced into science German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1886. Derived from the Greek word “oikos” – home, habitat, and “logia” – knowledge, learning, teaching. Ecology is the science that deals with the relationships between living organisms and their environment and transport of matter and energy in ecosystems.

Ecological processes

Two general processes permeate all branches of ecology:

The first relates to the feedback system. In the feedback system one component affects another component which in turn affects the first component. These loops underlying the majority of ecological processes.

When one component stimulates another, and inhibitors of the first, we call this negative feedback. Example predators and prey.

In the positive feedback system, one component stimulates another, which in turn stimulates the first. Example reproduction of parents in order to increase the number of offspring that grow and increases the number of parents.

Ecological factors

Living conditions of which depend on all living organisms are divided into:

Abiotic factors (climate, edaphic, orographic).

Biotic factors (plants, animals, humans).

Although the man and his fact belong biotic factor, due to the special nature and extent recommend it as an anthropogenic factor.

Abiotic factors are classified into 3 groups:

Climate – temperature, air movement and rainfall.

Edaphic factors – physical properties of soil, temperature, porosity (water absorption).

Orographic – the slope, exposure, terrain hypsometry.

Biotic factors

Represent the mutual influences of plants, animals and humans. Because they are ecologically diverse and variable factors, one organic species can’t be on all of them simultaneously adjusted. The extent to which species adapts to environmental conditions, depends on the ecological valence.

According to ecological valences, there are two types of organisms:

Eurivalent – organisms with a wide ecological valence.

Stenovalent – have narrow ecological valence.

Ecological valence

There are three values:

optimum

maximum

pesimum

Ecological valence represents the fluctuation of certain environmental factors where possible the survival of a species.

Features basic environmental factors

Operate complex (as a whole)

Continuous change in time and space

Are interdependent