Synecology studies ecological systems

Ecology in comparison with botany, zoology or anatomy is a relatively young biological discipline that arose in the middle of the 19th century. She examines the links between living objects and their communities between themselves and the physical environment. One of its sections - synecology - studies ecology and its living organisms that are part of biogeocenoses: plants, insects, fungi, animals in interaction with each other. Science itself originates in the works of such scientists as L. Dollo, O. Abel, DN Kashkarov, VN Sukachev.

In this article we will get acquainted with the basic concepts of this section of ecology and find out the structure and mechanisms of the functioning of ecological systems.

Biogeocenoses as components of the biosphere

The aggregates of individuals of different biological species - populations - live inappropriately. They are united in larger communities - biocenoses. Moreover, between the individuals within the given ecosystem, there are various kinds of relationships, for example, such as allelopathy, parasitism, mutualism, competition, trophocoenotic connections. Synecology studies the interrelationships among organisms that enter the biogeocenosis, and also explores the specificity of the interspecies relationships of plant and animal subsystems that form a living community.

What is meant by the ecological system

Not only is the term "biogeocenosis" actively used in environmental science, but also the term "ecosystem" introduced by A. Tensli. Both words are used to refer to natural complexes and their constituents: phyto-communities and animal populations, which synecology studies based on the concepts of the interconnection of all living organisms with their habitat. It should be noted that there should not be an equal sign between the two terms. The definition of "biogeocenosis", given by V. Sukachev, carries a great semantic load, since it considers natural complexes taking into account the cycle of substances and energy flows occurring in them. But the notion of an "ecosystem" that has become widespread, especially in popular science literature, is now used, because of its streamlining, to characterize the most diverse biocomplexes, both natural and artificial.

Theory of biogeocenosis VN Sukacheva

The views of the scientist were formed under the influence of outstanding Russian biologists: V. Dokuchaev, engaged in soil science, and V. Vernadsky, the founder of the biosphere theory. Combining knowledge of geochemistry, forest science, geobotany, V. Sukachev created a new discipline - biogeocenology. It, as well as synecology, - the ecology section, which studies the interrelationships of living organisms within the biome, considers the patterns of inter-species and population relationships of individuals belonging to phyto-and zoocenosis. Proceeding from the ideas of the scientist, all layers of the biosphere are saturated with life, in them processes of interconversion of biomass and energy take place. Their basis is the supply chain.

They include producers - autotrophic organisms, primarily plants. Then follow the first, second, third-order consumers, which are heterotrophs.

The final link in the trophic chains are the utilization of dead organics - decomposers. These include soil bacteria, saprotropha fungi, and also some insects. All the factors of the inanimate nature that are included in the biogeocoenosis, for example soil, water, atmosphere, have been called biotopes.

Methods of synecological research

At the beginning of the formation of science, scientists received experimental material with the help of research - expeditions. In the middle of the 20th century, such methods as stationary all-the-year-round experiments, the method of labeled atoms, radio transmission, became dominant. In the 21st century, tracking by means of artificial satellites of the Earth began to be actively used for the movement of animal populations. For example, large artiodactyls, labeled with radio chips. Considering the fact that synecology is a division of ecology, which studies the interrelationships of a large number of organisms among themselves, scientists apply both mathematical analysis and cybernetics. The latter is used to model and predict the components that make up natural systems.

What does functional phytocenology study

Plants are important actors in the life of ecosystems. As a result of photosynthesis, they provide all other living things with food that gives a certain energy reserve. Synecology studies the relationship between the components of phytocenosis and populations of heterotrophic organisms: insects, plant and carnivorous animals.

The floral composition of the plant communities of most biocenoses is quite complex and is called species saturation. Plant organisms are represented in ecosystems in the form of longlines, which is of great importance for the creation of a variety of ecological niches. The horizontal heterogeneity of plants is called a mosaic and, unlike stratification, depends little on the length of the light day. But it is directly conditioned by types of relationships, such as allelopathy and competition. Phytocenosis changes, their dynamics is due to circadian rhythms and successions, such as deforestation, geocataclism, forest fires.

The reasons for the dynamics of the number of animal populations

Such well-known scientists as SA Severtsov, NV Turkin, Ch. L. Elton, studied changes in the number of individuals in intraspecies communities. And Ch. Hewitt introduced the term "waves of life". They occur in natural complexes and, together with trophocenotic processes, are indicators of the biotic potential of the ecosystem. The study of the quantitative dynamics of individuals has great practical importance for antiepidemic measures that control the circadian rhythms of reproduction of rodents that spread zoonoses such as plague and tularemia. Synecology also studies the impact of human activities on the status of zoocenoses, in particular the reduction of populations of rare and endangered species, and the reduction in numbers in valuable commercial game communities.

Types of relationships between organisms in biomes

Recall that synecology - the division of ecology, which studies the relationship between individuals of plant and animal life. These include mutualism, competition, allelopathy. For example, phytocenology has long been aware of the incompatibility of some plants with each other: black walnut secretes toxic substances for pome and stone fruit trees, inhibits their growth and fruiting, and also leads to the death of plants.

Mutualism is a form of co-existence of populations of various biological species from which organisms benefit each other (hermit crab and actinia, flagellates living in the insect intestine and helping them break down the fiber).

Energy exchange in the biosphere

Biogeocenoses, which make up the living shell of the Earth, convert both biomass and energy, and are open systems. These natural complexes need an inflow of light energy. Phototrophs use it to synthesize organic substances, ATP molecules and NADPHH ₂ . Synecology is a science that studies the mutual transformations of biomass and energy.

They have the appearance of an ecological pyramid and its food chains. The dynamics of energy from the lower trophic level to the higher subordinate to general physical laws, moreover, the difference between the energy potentials of neighboring levels is 10-20%, and the remaining energy is dissipated as heat. In this paper, we got acquainted with the ecology section - synecology, and found out the methods of its research, as well as the significance for life support of the biosphere.