Category 1 · Environment & Ecology

Basic Concepts of Ecology

13 micro topics in Environment & Ecology for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Origin of Life Forms and Life on Earth; Types and Scope of Ecology; and 11 more.

1.1

Origin of Life Forms and Life on Earth

The origin of life on Earth refers to the processes by which non-living matter gave rise to the first living cells. The Earth formed about 4.54 billion years ago, and the oldest accepted evidence of life,…
1.2

Types and Scope of Ecology

Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between living organisms and their physical and biological environment. The word was coined by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1866 from the Greek words oikos, meaning house,…
1.3

Ecological Hierarchy

The ecological hierarchy is the arrangement of living systems in levels of increasing size and complexity, each level having properties that the lower level lacks. The usual sequence is the individual organism, the population of one…
1.4

Habitat and Ecological Niche

A habitat is the physical place where an organism or a population lives, with its set of environmental conditions, and it is often called the address of the species. An ecological niche is the role and…
1.5

Deep Ecology vs Shallow Ecology

Deep ecology and shallow ecology are two environmental philosophies. The Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess coined the terms in 1973. Shallow ecology is anthropocentric, human-centred: it values nature only for its use to people and tries to…
1.6

Ecological Principles

Ecological principles are general rules that describe how organisms respond to their environment and how populations, communities and ecosystems work. Liebig's law of the minimum, stated by Justus von Liebig in 1840, says that growth is…
1.7

Structure and Characteristics of an Ecological Community

An ecological community is an assemblage of populations of different species living together in an area and interacting with one another. Its structure refers to its species composition and the way they are arranged, and its…
1.8

Stratification, Ecotone and Ecological Dominance

Stratification is the vertical arrangement of a community into layers, each with its own set of species and microclimate. In a tropical forest the layers are the emergent trees, the canopy, the understorey, the shrub layer…
1.9

Seasonal and Diurnal Fluctuation, Periodicity, Turnover, Interdependence

Communities are not static; they change in regular cycles and show certain characteristic processes. Diurnal fluctuation is the change over a 24 hour day, as plankton move up and down and nocturnal animals become active. Seasonal…
1.10

Ecological Succession: Types and Process

Ecological succession is the orderly, gradual and predictable change in the species composition of a community over time, leading to a more stable community. It begins with pioneer species that colonise a bare area, followed by…
1.11

Climax Community

A climax community is the final, relatively stable stage of ecological succession, in which the community is in balance with the climate, soil and other conditions and can maintain itself indefinitely unless disturbed. It has high…
1.12

Range of Tolerance and Maximum Range

The range of tolerance is the span of values of an environmental factor, such as temperature, salinity, light or moisture, within which a species can survive, grow and reproduce. It extends from a minimum limit, through…
1.13

Distinction Between Ecology, Environment and Ecosystem

Ecology, environment and ecosystem are related but different terms. Ecology is a branch of science: the study of the relationships between living organisms and their surroundings, named by Ernst Haeckel in 1866. Environment is the sum…

← All Environment & Ecology categories

Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Basic Concepts of Ecology?

Basic Concepts of Ecology has 13 micro topics in Environment & Ecology: Origin of Life Forms and Life on Earth; Types and Scope of Ecology; Ecological Hierarchy; Habitat and Ecological Niche; Deep Ecology vs Shallow Ecology; Ecological Principles; Structure and Characteristics of an Ecological Community; Stratification, Ecotone and Ecological Dominance; Seasonal and Diurnal Fluctuation, Periodicity, Turnover, Interdependence; Ecological Succession: Types and Process; Climax Community; Range of Tolerance and Maximum Range; Distinction Between Ecology, Environment and Ecosystem.

Is Basic Concepts of Ecology important for UPSC Prelims?

Basic Concepts of Ecology is a part of the UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 13 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.