Ecological Study

From learning about animal evolution to maintaining an ancient forest... ecological studies have shaped our modern understanding of the world in the past one hundred years.

Much more awaits as we develop new techniques and technologies to explore the world around us, from laboratory assays to night-vision cameras. Let us find out how many types of ecological studies there are, and which ones you could conduct yourself!

Ecological Study Definition

Ecology is the branch that studies organisms and their environment! In order to study these organisms without disturbing them, specific methods must be employed.

These studies usually comprise combined analyses of more than one factor. These can include:

• Soil type, organic content and pH. E.g. podzol soils, low organic content, acidic.

• Species population density and size. E.g. spread of coniferous species such as cedars and pines in Canadian podzols.

• Effects of noise and light pollution on the environment. E.g. logging and tourism in the Sayward Forest, Vancouver Island, Canada.

It is necessary for an ecological study to be conducted in a dynamic environment, which the outdoors can provide, in order to observe the nature of relationships between animal, bacterial, etc. communities.

A dynamic outdoor environment differs from a laboratory one in that it is self-sustaining and open-ended, meaning that there are free choices residing species can take, with unknown evolutionary ramifications into the future. In a lab-created environment, the choice of food, activities, etc. are limited.

Fieldwork helps obtain essential direct and indirect data on the state of the environment.

Ecological Study Examples

There are many examples of famous ecological studies conducted all over the world. Species population dynamics can be extrapolated from territory analysis, food availability, vegetation cover and soil types, general climatic conditions, human encroachment, or the likelihood of emerging diseases.

Charles Darwin on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who carried out research on a number of different islands from the Galápagos Archipelago. Observations of endemic species (e.g. Florean-Giant Tortoises being eaten by sailors and prisoners) were paired with dissections (e.g. of marine iguanas, to understand their nutrition), journal notes, rough sketches, and specimen collection.

His theories and findings from the Galápagos Islands significantly advanced the public and scientific knowledge of evolutionary biology.

The Galápagos environment is characterised by volcanic landscapes (with rocks such as basalt), and is subject to El Niño phenomena (powerful oceanic and wind currents). It benefits from coastal and highland terrain dominated by shrubbery subject to an arid climate. Some of the islands have fertile soils owing to their recent volcanic past, which are being cultivated by people.

Darwin's ecological studies included:

• Generational morphologic (body shape and functions) adaptations
• The branching out of different subspecies from one species on remote islands
• The evolution of organisms by natural selection
• Fauna and flora interactions

Dian Fossey on Mountain Gorillas, Rwanda

Dian Fossey was an American primatologist (the scientific study of primates) who helped put the basis of the longest-running research site (called Karioske) on gorillas in the world. She travelled from the United States for research and established a permanent camp in Congo and then Rwanda. Information obtained from her studies on gorillas included:

• Births and deaths

• The movement of females between group

• Feeding and plant species in African tropical rainforests

• Dominance displays, overtakes, and group interactions².

Other important data that can be collected and analysed nowadays, includes:

• genetic diversity (genotyping technology)

• low-light or nighttime observations (infrared motion-trigger cameras)

• poaching and illegal trade observations (drones)

The Volcanoes National Park in which Dian conducted her activities benefits from a humid, tropical temperate climate, cooled by the general elevation of the park. It is characterised by bamboo and alpine forests, as well as Afro-alpine meadows.

Simona Kossak on the Białowieża Forest, Poland

Simona Kossak was a Polish biologist that focused on the mammalian behavioural ecology in the Bialowieza forest, where she spent most of her time, living in a log cabin. Her research helped preserve what is now the largest oldest primeval forest of Europe.

The Bialowieza forest is a mix of deciduous (maple, oak, hornbeam, etc.) and coniferous trees (spruce, pine, etc.). It benefits from a humid temperate-continental climate. Information studied by Simona included:

• Wild animal rehabilitation and taming
• Trophic (food web) relations in mixed deciduous forests
• Anthropogenic effects on forest ecosystems (logging, forestry management, etc.)

Additionally, she studied animal fear response mechanisms in the wild, especially of ungulates (large mammals with hooves) like roe deer, and helped design UOZ-1 repellers.

Ecological Study Design

Ecological study design is the process of planning and conducting ecological research in a way that minimises bias and maximises the chances of accurately identifying relationships between different elements of an ecosystem.

These studies can be done through observation, modelling and experimentation.

Step 1:

The first step in ecological study design is to identify the goals of the research and the questions that need to be answered.

Step 2:

Once these have been decided, the next step is to choose an appropriate study site. The chosen site should be large enough to allow for replication and ecological variability, but also small enough to be identifiable.

Step 3:

After the site has been selected, the next step is to design sampling techniques that will accurately capture the desired data. Observation at this point allows ecologists to gather data on the behaviour and distribution of organisms in the wild.

Finally, once all data have been collected, it is important to carefully analyse and interpret the results in order to draw conclusions about the relationships between different elements of the ecosystem.

This data can then be used to develop models that help to explain how these organisms interact with their environment.

Experimentation may be an optional step, which allows ecologists to test these models by manipulating environmental conditions and observing the effects on the behaviour of organisms, for example in a greenhouse.

Nowadays, it has become harder to find undisturbed ecological communities, or separate them from the effects of anthropogenic activities.

Ecological Study of Epidemiology

Ecological studies that focus on epidemiology focus specifically on the disease aspects and interactions within the wildlife populations. Various comparisons are made, relating to:

• Geographical factors: death or number of infections correlated with certain geographical areas

• Time trends: rates of infection varying by year, season, etc.

• Climatic influence: rates of infection being associated with precipitation patterns, changes in water or soil pH, natural disaster occurrence, etc.

While conducting ecological studies, students need to be aware of the risk of zoonotic and anthroponotic diseases.

Reverse zoonosis refers to human pathogenic reservoirs being a risk for animals.

Advantages of Ecological Study

The advantage of some ecological communities, such as agroecosystems, is that they have evolved together with human settlements, both on European flatlands and in Amazonian jungles. Humans can be a more 'comfortable' part of ecological studies in these cases.

Ecological studies tell us more about:

• Effects on human communities of natural dynamics

• Effects of human communities on the natural environment

Ecological studies can positively shift:

• Species population trends: through a better understanding of what drives population numbers down, especially if the animal is endangered (e.g. Diane Fossey's research impact on the conservation of gorillas and the rate of poaching)

• The protection of a larger habitat: studying a single species means studying the elements that help it survive, such as nesting sites and preferred food. This leads to a broader understanding of all interacting species or even of the geological formations within the habitat (e.g. caves and cliffs), and including them in all conservation efforts.

• Climate change aggravation: efficient conservation leads to climate change mitigation, through the prevention of accidental wildfires or the elimination of key organisms from the carbon chain (specific plankton species).

• Public awareness: as society's awareness of its own actions and effects grows, people understand what measures they can take to preserve and enjoy the natural environment for longer.

Ecological studies carried on field are important because they allow for the testing and application of ecological (scientific) theories.

Types of Ecological Studies

There are many different types of ecological studies, each designed to answer specific questions about the natural world. Methods used to conduct these studies include field observations, data collection for sending back to a laboratory, experiments, and modelling.

Ecologists may study:

• the interaction between a particular species and its environment

• the distribution of plants and animals across a landscape

• the impact of human activity on an ecosystem.

Species part of these researches may be photographed, marked with tags or rings, collared with radio-transmitters (which send radio signals to satellites or devices that can track their movements), or have blood or tissue extracted from them.

Last but not least, these studies can be carried out on areas as small as one square foot, or as large as 10 football fields or more, put together.

By understanding how these different components interact, through ecological studies, ecologists can gain insights into the complex processes that shape ecosystems. In turn, this knowledge can be used to help conserve biodiversity and manage environmental resources in a sustainable way.