Plant ecology

Plant Ecology

1. Dr. R. Murugan The Head, Department of Botany Assistant Professor Government Arts College (Autonomous) (Cambridge of South India) Kumbakonam Plant Ecology

2. ntroduction The study of inter-relationships between the living organisms and environment is known as Ecology. In recent years, ecology is often called “ Environmental Biology , Environmental Science and Ecobiology . !

3. Approaches to Ecology Ecology deals with inter-relationships between the living beings and the environment and all sorts off relationships among the living beings. It describes all relations of all plants, animals and microbes in relation to the physical environment. Ecological studies are based on three main approaches . Thy are: 1. T axanomic approaches 2. Habitat approaches 3. Organism approaches

4. Taxonomic approaches Exploration of plants or animals living in a broad area is known as taxonomy approach. It performed by Botanist s and Zoologist s who are specialists in taxonomy. Plant ecology and animal ecology are considered as separate specialized fields.

5. Key for taxonomic approach Distribution Topography Habit Morphological features Floral characteristics Flowering and fruiting seasons Pollination characteristics Seed dispersal mechanism

6. Habitat approaches Habitat means home or natural environment of organism. The study of living organisms (both plants and animals) in relation to environmental conditions of the habitat is known as habitat approach. They are different types of habitat nature. They include forests, grasslands, estuary, sea, ocean, ponds, lakes, rivers, ditches, dams, deserts, etc. Ecological studies at the habitat level lead to Habitat ecology.

7. Habitat ecology Pond ecosystem Lake ecosystem Marine ecosystem Estuarine ecosystem Forest ecosystem Desert ecosystem and Grassland ecosystem

8. Organism approaches The study of living organisms at individual or population or community level in relation to the environment is called organism approach. It is a specialized area of ecology in which importance is given for an individual of a species or population or community. Based on the living organism considered for study, the organism approach is divided into two categories. They are, 1. Autecology 2. Synecology

9. Autecology The study of a plant or animal species or population throughout its life cycle in relation to environment is called autecology. It mostly experimental and inductive. It gives information about – Home range of the species Distribution in different soil types

10. Position and roles Morphological features Ecological adaptations Cytogenetics Phenology of the species Seed dispersal Seed viability Seed dormancy Germination capacity Plant percentage Population dynamics Biomass production

11. Significance of autecology Agriculture Horticulture Sericulture Aquaculture in fisheries Silviculture in forestry Management of endangered species Conservation of rare species

12. Synecoloy The study of community as a whole or part thereof in relation to the environment is known as synecology. The synecological study of plant communities is called phytosociology or plant sociology. It gives details about the structure of plant community and dynamics in the community.

13. Synecolgy gives broad outlines about complex biotic communities in the nature. It explains Structure of plant and animal community Distribution and abundance of different species in the community Causes of distribution Ecological niches Density of different species Primary and secondary productivity in the communities Flow of matters and energy through the community Sustainability of biological natural resources Conservation of biosphere resources Conservation of forests and wildlife Population dynamics within the community Succession of plant or animal community in a locality

14. Synecology gives clear ideas about the plant or animal community in – Caves Deserts Ponds Deep-sea ecosystem Forests Grasslands Freshwater lakes Natural reserves, etc.

15. Specialized fields of ecology Name Field Plant ecology about of plants environment Animal ecology About animal environment Microbial ecology Study about microbes environment Fresh-water ecology Fresh water habitat organisms Marine ecology Sea, ocean habitat organisms Estuarine ecology Different organisms lived in estuarine Terrestrial ecology About terrestrial habitats Population ecology Different population of environment Human ecology Ecological situation of man on the Earth Space ecology Different ecological factors of other planets

16. Plant ecology

17. Animal ecology

18. Microbial ecology

19. Fresh-water ecology

20. Marine ecology

21. Estuarine ecology

22. Terrestrial ecology

23. Population ecology

24. Human ecology

25. Space ecology

26. Scope of Plant Ecology Agriculture Afforestation Forest Management Fisheries management Wild life Conservation Maintenance of Natural Resources Conservation of rare species Pollution control Proper planning Evolution

27. Ecological groups of plants Hydrophytes Mesophytes Xerophytes Halophytes Epiphytes

28. Hydrophytes Hydrophytes are plants growing in aquatic habitats. They are commonly called water plants. They are very common in lakes, ponds, swamps, ditches, springs, streams, rivers, canals, etc. They prefer permanently wet places or stagnant waters for their growth. They are partly