Ecology and Biological Levels of Organization Explained

Ecology and Its Levels

Introduction

Ecology is a branch of biology that investigates the biotic and abiotic components and the relationships between them, forming a system called the Biosphere. It encompasses all sciences that study the relationships of living beings among themselves and with their environment.

The term was coined by Ernest Haeckel in 1866, making him the first to use the word "ecology," derived from the Greek words oikos (house) and logos (science, study, or treatise). The Earth is our home, and ecology studies what happens in our house and our relationship with the natural environment.

According to Haeckel, ecology is responsible for the study of biological species in their relations with the environment. Currently, ecology has assumed great importance due to the incessant increase in the human population and its growing environmental impact, including:

• Atmospheric warming
• Health issues caused by environmental pollution
• Destruction of waste recycling systems
• Scarcity of natural resources, especially water

Levels of Organization

Living matter exists in varying degrees of complexity, known as organizational levels. These are divided into abiotic (non-living matter) and biotic (living matter) levels.

Abiotic Organization Levels

Abiotic levels exist in inanimate matter and include the following three stages:

• 1. Subatomic level: Composed of particles smaller than atoms, such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• 2. Atomic level: Atoms that make up living things, known as bioelements. Approximately 70% of the chemical elements in the periodic table are found in organic matter. An atom is the smallest part of a chemical element that can participate in a chemical reaction.
• 3. Molecular level: Includes molecules formed by groups of atoms (bioelements). Organic molecules are referred to as biomolecules or immediate principles. These are divided into:
  • Inorganic: Water, minerals, ions, and gases.
  • Organic: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

This level also includes macromolecules and viruses. Macromolecules result from the union of monomers (amino acids, nucleotides, etc.) into a polymer. For example, starch is a polymer of glucose. Proteins are polymers of amino acids, and nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides.

Supramolecular complexes are formed by several molecules, such as the binding of carbohydrates and proteins to create glycoproteins.