The 6 levels of ecological organization (and their characteristics)

A summary of the different levels at which we can study what happens in nature.

The levels of Biological organization are what show to what extent, in biology, living things do not exist in isolation and independently, but are in constant interaction with each other.

Specifically, the levels of biological organization are a hierarchy of categories that go from the micro to the macro (and vice versa), showing us different dimensions of analysis of living beings. These levels are: individual, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere and biome. In this article we will see their characteristics.

The levels of ecological organization

When studying nature, it is necessary to choose a level of analysis in which to focus onIn other words, a type of natural phenomenon that will force us to pay attention to what happens at a certain scale, and not at another, leaving aside everything else.

The levels of biological organization are the classification in which we divide different elements to be studied, depending on whether they are more concrete and local or more general and global.. It is applied in sciences related to the study of nature and living beings, such as zoology, ethology, anthropology, etc.

Thus, the level of analysis of the community is broader and more general than that of the population, but less than that of the ecosystem, and will therefore lead us to study phenomena that we could not find at more concrete or more global levels.

Thus, this hierarchical organization of communities is broader and more general than population, but less so than ecosystem, this hierarchical organization of categories allows us to know, when selecting one of them, to what extent we are close to the scale of individuals or biomes, the two extremes of the classification of the levels of ecological organization. Let us see in more detail what each of these categories consists of.

1. Individual

This is the basic unit, the most local and concrete level within the levels of ecological organization.

These are living beings, not necessarily animals, which are often functional and can react to stimuli or sometimes even carry out complex actions. If they are only examined for physical or anatomical characteristics, they need not be alive.

At this level of study it is possible to investigate such elements as morphology, behavior, physiology, etc.etc.

Moreover, starting from this level of ecological organization, it is possible to establish theories and hypotheses about things that go beyond the individual itself, such as what species it belongs to, what needs its body adaptations respond to, etc.

2. Population

The population is the level of ecological organization defined by a grouping of individuals of the same species that coexist or organize themselves together in order to survive at a given time and in a given place (of a given scale). and in a specific place (of a rather local scale, given that they share the same space).

It should be borne in mind that even within the same species there is a certain diversity in terms of genotypes (genes) and phenotypes (traits expressed in body or behavioral characteristics), so it is not assumed that a population is a succession of identical individuals. This enriches this level of study, because there are always phenomena to investigate that are not present where we only look at an individual.

For example, aspects that we can investigate when we put our focus on the level of populations are the cooperation between members of a family or tribe, the expulsion of malesThe expulsion of males when they reach puberty, the way in which food is shared, the internal struggles for leadership of the group, etc.

3. Community

The community is the level formed by a group of populations of different species that interact with each other in a specific area. Here life forms of all phyla are included here: animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, etc..

Moreover, it is this constant interaction between various forms of life that allows them to exist, because it creates a biological balance that provides stability and sustenance to the majority of populations and individuals.

From this level of ecological organization, processes such as predation, parasitism, symbiosis, etc., can be studied. processes such as predation, parasitism, symbiosis, etc., can be studied.

4. Ecosystem

The ecosystem is a type of extensive physical environment characterized by phenomena that go beyond the existence of living beings, such as temperature, level of luminosity, precipitation, geographic features, etc., and so on.geographic features, etc. They are also characterized by the community of living beings they harbor, which may vary slightly depending on where we are in the ecosystem, since it is not totally homogeneous and regular.

Thus, an ecosystem has two fundamental components: an abiotic element, which includes non-organic elements, and a biotic one, which includes living beings.

The combination of these two halves forms an environment with a relatively autonomous dynamic of existence, in which to maintain this balance there is little need for interference from elements outside the ecosystem..

At this level of ecological organization can be studied, for example, the impact of pollution in an area, desertification processes, loss of biodiversity caused by droughts, etc.

5. Biome

A biome is a category that encompasses several ecosystems that have some similarities with each other and are often in contact with each other. and that are often in physical contact with each other (although this is not a fundamental requirement to establish the existence of a biome, since sometimes there are geographic features that "split" a biome).

Thus, the biome is a type of landscape that can be identified by presenting a certain uniformity in terms of its largest life forms: normally, animals and plants.

In addition, the extent of biomes is usually large, on the scale of a medium or large country (though independent of state and nation boundaries); they are often easily identifiable on a world map (though more difficult for underwater biomes). (although it is independent of the borders of states and nations); they are usually easily identifiable on a world map (although it is more difficult for underwater biomes).

If we look at this level of analysis, it is possible to study phenomena such as the melting of the poles, the deforestation of large areas that threatens a massive extinction of species, etc.

6. Biosphere

The biosphere is the largest level of ecological organization, and encompasses the entire planetThe biosphere is composed of the interlocking of the different biomes.

On the other hand, the biosphere is made up of three components: the readyosphere, composed of all the regions in which the earth gives relief to the earth's crust; the atmosphere, composed of the ozone layer that covers the entire earth's crust; and the hydrosphere, composed of the large masses of water that are distributed throughout the planet's crust, regardless of whether they are visible by satellite or not.

If we focus on this scale, we will be able to study the consequences of climate change almost in its entirety, as well as the meteorology, the movement of tectonic plates, etc.

Bibliographical references:

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