Term 3 Ecology

Ecology is the study of relations between living things. In Ecology, we study how one population might affect the other. The carbon cycle is an important part of ecology. Carbon is constantly being removed from and released into the environment, in the form of carbon dioxide. Hence, the carbon dioxide concentration in the environment remains relatively constant. The various processes by which carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide, is removed from and released into the environment make up the carbon cycle. During photosynthesis, green plants absorb carbon dioxide from the environment and converts it to glucose. When animals feed on the plants, the carbon is transferred to them. When animals die or produce waste they are broken down into carbon which is absorbed by the plants through soil. There are a few types of relationship among living things. Firstly, there is the predator prey relationship where one benefits while the other suffers. Parasitism is also part of it. Commensalism is the relationship whereby the one party benefits while the other is not affected. Amensalism is the type of symbiotic relationship that exists where one species is completely obliterated and one is unaffected. Mutualism is when both benefit from a relationship an example is the goby fish, which sometimes lives together with a shrimp. The shrimp digs and cleans up a burrow in the sand in which both the shrimp and the goby fish live. The shrimp is almost blind, leaving it vulnerable to predators when above ground. In case of danger the goby fish touches the shrimp with its tail to warn it. When that happens both the shrimp and goby fish quickly retract into the burrow. I feel that this can be applied in our everyday life, we should always aim for a win-win solution so that both parties benefit. Other relationships only does nothing or cause harm.
In conclusion, science can have its morals too, through the study of ecology, we can find better ways to