Earth - little blue jewel lost in the endless cold realms of outer space and has become home to billions of living beings.Life is permeated virtually all the space of our world: water, earth, air.
And all this diversity of life forms, starting with the simplest organisms and ending with the pinnacle of evolution - Homo sapiens - is able to provide the most direct impact on the life of the planet.Ecology - the science that studies the interaction of all living organisms that inhabit the Earth, as well as their many communities, both among themselves and with their environment.
little history
Many people today do not know that the environment began to develop as a separate branch of science only in the middle of the XX century.Until that time, it is only part of biology.A founder of ecology was an ardent follower and supporter of Darwin's theory, a talented scientist and biologist - German Ernst Haeckel.
on the formation of ecology as a separate science was influenced on the one hand - in the XX century, strengthening of scientific and technological progress, but on the other - the rapid growth of the population of our planet.The development of technology and industry has led to repeated increase of consumed natural resources, which, in turn, has had a detrimental effect on the environment.
While the number of people quickly multiply, the number of other creatures became steadily decrease.NTP has allowed people to equip their mestopribyvanie on the planet as comfortable as possible, but at the same time served as a fatal factor in nature.There was an urgent need for an early learning and research environment.Communication with other sciences of ecology has become inevitable.
Fundamentals of Science Ecology
Fundamentals of Ecology includes the study of the interaction with the environment of objects, organized at the species, the biosphere, and biocentric organismal levels.Thus there are several major sections, which include general ecology:
- autecology or ecology of organisms - the section that deals with the study of individual relationships to the environment as a specimen of each individual species and organisms of the common species group.
- population ecology, and population ecology.The objectives of this section are the study of natural mechanisms responsible for regulation of the number of different living organisms, their optimum density, as well as identifying the boundaries of permissible withdrawal of different species and populations.
- synecology or community ecology studies in detail the interaction of ecosystems and populations with the natural environment, as well as the mechanisms and structure biogeocenosis.
Methods of environmental studies
Modern Ecology uses a variety of methods for research.However, they can be divided into two categories: field and laboratory methods.
As the very name you can see that all the field research carried out directly in the natural environment.They, in turn, can be divided into:
- stationary.These studies include both long-term monitoring of natural objects and the measurements, a detailed description, as well as an instrumental record.
- Route.Conducted direct observation of the object, assess his condition, the measurement is made, description, maps and charts are drawn up.
- Descriptive - on initial acquaintance with the object of study.
- experimental.Here the main thing - the experience and experiment, a variety of chemical analysis, quantification and others.
Laboratory methods are based on studies in laboratory conditions.Since ecology - the science that studies the set of the myriad factors that special place in the practical study of biological objects given to the method of modeling.
living environment of living organisms
In order to better understand the effect of certain environmental factors on different kinds of living, you must first understand the relationship of the environment and the lives of various objects.A variety of environmental conditions encountered on Earth - water, land, air, soil, organism - are living environment for various species of plants and animals.It is from among all living things to acquire the necessary substances for life.And coming back to the same products of metabolism of living organisms.
very first habitat for the finest people in the world have become ponds.That life originated in water in the form of tiny bacteria - to master the then ground-air and soil protection.A organismal successfully settled parasites and symbionts.
Thus, it is a difference in the conditions of existence of different environments has made it possible to work out in different organisms aggregate number of specific physiological, morphological, behavioral and other various properties to help them as much as possible to adapt to the difficult conditions of life.
Environmental factors
Fundamentals of Ecology as a science attach great importance to individual environmental factors.Under the latter should be understood any element or environmental conditions that cause these or other organisms to adapt to them and adapt.There are only three groups of environmental factors:
- biotic;
- abiotic;
- anthropogenic.
The biotic factors include various properties of nature.They are able to induce adaptive responses in plants (Phytogenic) and in animals (zoogenic) and fungi (mikogennye).
Abiotic, by contrast, are components of nature inanimate: geology (the movement of glaciers, volcanic activity, radiation, etc.), Climate (temperature, light, wind, humidity, pressure, and so on. D.), Soil (structure, density and compositionsoil) and hydrological factors (water, pressure, salinity, current).
Ecology Anthropogenic factors are human activities.I must say that it is man who is very serious shifts in ecosystems.And for some species it becomes favorable, but not for others.
environmental problems of our time
Today's environmental problems are mainly associated precisely with human influence on nature.Global Ecology announces the following serious dangers: acid rain, ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect, pollution of the world and the problem of disposal of human waste, soil degradation and erosion, desertification, widespread tree felling, extinction of animals, changes in climate, a general weakening of the immunity of people, depletion of resources (water, gas, oil and other natural resources), photochemical smog and other fatal changes.
All this is largely triggered by the active intervention of humans in natural processes and unreasonable implementation of recreational, military, economic and other plans that alter the natural environment.
Pollution
Ecology - the science that studies including the contamination of the environment (biosphere).This is meant by pollution active entry into the biosphere energy or materials, number, location or properties of which can adversely affect the habitat of the various living species.
Industry and worldwide urbanization lead to contamination of the surrounding area is not only solid, liquid and gaseous substances and micro-organisms, but also different energies (sounds, noise, radiation), which adversely affect the various ecosystems of the planet.
There are two types of pollution of the biosphere, differing by origin: natural (natural) - occurs without the participation of the people, and anthropogenic.The latter is much more dangerous, because people have not yet learned to restore their environment.
Nowadays, pollution is appalling rate and concerns of air, ground and surface water sources, soil.Humanity has contaminated even the near-Earth space.All of this does not add optimism to people and could trigger a global ecological catastrophe.The early development of ecology as a science gives humanity a chance to avoid the threat.
Soil
a result of reckless, irrational human activities soil around the big cities and territories where there are large industrial steel plants, power plants, machine building, turned out to be contaminated by vast distances.
heavy metals, oils, sulfur compounds and lead together with household waste - this is what the habitat is saturated with modern civilized man.Any Institute of Ecology confirms that in addition to the above substances in the soil in abundance contains various carcinogens, have the ability to make people fearful of the disease.
land that feeds us, not only exposed to erosion and pollution by harmful chemical elements, but also a swamp, salinization, confiscated for the construction of various facilities.And if the natural destruction of the fertile layer of the surface may be very slow, the erosion caused by human activities, impresses with its fast pace.
Agriculture with abundant use of pesticides is becoming a real scourge for humanity.The greatest danger in this case are stable chlorine compounds that can survive in the soil for many years and accumulate in it.
air pollution
following serious environmental threat - the pollution of the atmosphere.Again, it can also be caused by natural factors, such as volcanic activity, flowering plants, smoke from burning forests or wind erosion.But anthropogenic interference with the atmosphere causes more damage.
anthropogenic, or man-made air pollution is due to the release into the atmosphere of large amounts of certain hazardous substances.Special hazards in this regard does the chemical industry.Thanks to the air ejected sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, hydrocarbons, halides, and other substances.Engaging with each other in a chemical reaction, they are capable of forming very highly dangerous compounds.
situation is aggravated by automobile exhaust.In most major cities in windless weather has become a common phenomenon of photochemical smog.
contamination of water reserves of the planet
life on the planet is impossible without water, but in our time, environmental studies led scientists to come to the bitter conclusion: anthropological work has a devastating impact on the Earth's hydrosphere.Diminishing natural reserves of fresh water, and even a huge Oceans today undergoes global changes in its ecosystem, in connection with which many marine species are doomed to extinction.
particularly worried by the fact that the pollution affects not only surface water but also groundwater, the state which is influenced not only industrial waste but also many municipal landfills, sewage, waste of livestock farms, storage of fertilizers and chemicals.On top of that civilization can not do without major accidents.Emergency discharges of waste into water bodies - not so rare.
Communication ecology with other sciences
primarily ecology - the science that studies the problems of the environment, and one she can not afford to fix the situation.Now, when it became clear how alarming is the situation in different ecosystems, it becomes even clearer how important the relationship of ecology with other sciences.Without close cooperation with medicine, biology, chemistry, physics and some other branches of science it is simply impossible to actively solve environmental problems.
Scientists will make joint efforts to try to minimize the damage that causes man nature.Scientists from different countries hastily searching for a safe energy sources.In some states already significantly increased the proportion of vehicles that run on electricity.Much depends on the efforts of chemists, they will be in the new century radically solve the problem of minimizing harm to industrial waste.The common problems must necessarily involve all areas of the environment.
environmental situation in Russia
Unfortunately, ecology Russia is not in the best condition.According to respected ecologists, our country is one of three states that are most heavily pollute the ecosystem of the planet.Besides Russia, the infamous list includes even China and the United States.
situation is exacerbated by the fact that while most developed European countries spend each year to 6% of its budget on environmental measures in Russia, these costs do not reach even 1%.The government stubbornly refuse to respond to the attempt of ecologists to draw their attention to the deplorable state of affairs in this area.
Meanwhile ecology Russia causing concern the whole international community, since the territory that it occupies, truly enormous, industrial lots, waste is not recycled and not disposed of properly, and the economic crisis, it lookssimply threatening.
Influence of Environment on health
have already been told how adversely affect human health adverse life environmental factors.The first is, of course, for children, because it is - our future.But what will be the future, if the little man from the cradle to breathe polluted air, eat food, which have harmful chemical preservatives, only drink water from plastic bottles and so on. D.?
In recent years, doctors have focused on the fact that the incidence of broncho-pulmonary diseases higher and higher.A growing number of allergy sufferers, and most of them again - children.Around the world, an increase in diseases associated with immunodeficiency.We can assume that if mankind does not soon come to his senses and try to conclude a peace with the harmonious union of Mother Nature, in the not too distant future we can comprehend the fate of many extinct species.Keep in mind that the environment and human health are inextricably linked.
2014 - Year of Ecology
Every year in our country spends a lot of events dedicated to educational activities on environmental issues.And 2014 was no exception.Since the beginning of the year in Russia carried out a large-scale competition "National Environmental Prize" ERAECO ". As part of this event in different Russian cities show films on environmental issues, festivals, lectures.
will also conduct presentations on eco-construction and demonstration of the possibilitiesecological farms in Moscow and the Moscow region. The schools have been eco-lessons, which the boys told about environmental issues, and discussed in detail the various issues on ecology.
organizers "ERAECO" planning to open a mobile ecological mini-lab, with which you canwill provide rapid analysis of samples taken from the water, air and soil. Lab experts with the support of environmental specialists will become students of different ages and students.
will be formed units "eco-patrol", which will continue its work not only during thecompetition, but also after it.The children of primary school age will also be able to join many interesting activities and then they will be asked to create a visual record in the drawings.
International cooperation in protecting the environment
Our planet is one, and despite the fact that people have distinguished it in many different countries and states, addressing the most pressing environmental issues requires a combination.This cooperation is carried out within the framework of international programs of organizations such as UNESCO and the United Nations, and is regulated by international agreements.
were developed principles of environmental cooperation.
