PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF ECOLOGY

Applications of ecology:

    Following are some practical applications of ecology that have helped us to improve various fields such as:

1.    Forestry:

          Forests are natural ecosystems dominated by trees. These cover about one- third of the world's land surface and provide habitat for wildlife, fuelwood, fodder, fibre, fruit, timber and raw materials used in wood-based industries. They also regulate climatic conditions such as rainfall, humidity and temperature of the area and protect soil from wind and water erosion. Forests transform solar energy into plant biomass which is consumed by animals and humans. Continued deforestation has resulted in desertification which led to soil erosion, destruction of wildlife habitat and increase in the rate of extinction, change in the climate in terms of decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature and humidity, and shortage of timber, firewood and pulpwood. So, afforestation, (cultivation of forests at new sites), is necessary.

          One of the most important practical application of ecology is forestry. It is treated as an industry nowadays. It is not simply raising trees for harvest but emphasizes biomass accumulation, nutrient cycling, the effects of timber harvesting on nutrient budgets, and the role of fire in forest ecosystems.

          There are two schools of thought regarding the management of forest.

·        According to one, the forests should-be managed as tree crop or monoculture (single species harvest) in the same way as we manage the food crops. This would help in an increase in yield, faster growth and artificial selection of high yield varieties. However, raising tree farms require the use of fertilizer and pesticides that would increase pollution ad danger of disease outbreak.

·        The other school of thought maintains that forests may be managed as multiple-use forest and not as a crop that may provide wildlife habitat, air and water sheds, recreation and harvest as well.

          However, it has been recognized that tree farms and naturally developed multiple-use forests are entirely different ecosystems in terms of cost of maintenance and their impact on the environment, therefore:

a)     It would be desirable to adapt naturally adapted forest as it provides the best and safest cover for mountains and soils where tree farms cannot be maintained.

b)    The tree farms may be restricted to fertile lands and to soil types suitable for good agriculture such as along canal banks and farm boundaries.

2.     Wildlife Management:

          Wildlife refers to all non-cultivated plants and non-domesticated animals in an ecosystem. It includes game and fur-bearing vertebrates, and plants and animals which interact directly species. Wild animals are an important source of food and skin. Besides, these are also used in research as experimental animals, for recreational purposes and economic benefits (animal hunting). Moreover, wild flora is facing extinction because of habitat destruction and natural calamities. As a result, many species of wildlife have become extinct or on their way to extinction.

          Wildlife is a renewable resource; therefore, its management is because:

o   Intensive study of individual game species has contributed a great deal to population ecology.

o   Genetic variations and interbreeding leads to evolution. The process of evolution would be destroyed.

o   It is important economically and source of recreation.

          Wildlife management is a high-ranking field of applied ecology. The steps, taking into consideration the principles of ecology, would help in wildlife management.

• The habitats for wildlife may be conserved.
•  The rare animal species may be protected from being hunted. 
•  Exotic species may be introduced. 
•  Predators maybe introduced in the ecosystem that primary population may remain within limits. 
• Legislation may be introduced to prevent hunting, 
• Sanctuaries and National Parks may develop to protect endangered and threatened plants and animals. This would help in establishing gene banks.

3.    Range Management:

          Range is a grassland meant for grazing animals. Range management are interested in the functioning of grassland ecosystems, the effects of grazing intensities on grassland on above ground and below ground production by plants, and the structure of grassland communities.

          Grasslands are important from man's viewpoint. However, these are perhaps the most abused natural biomes by man. The grasslands provide natural pastures for grazing animals but domesticated grazing animals have destroyed or most of the grasslands. Similarly, the principal agricultural food plants have from grasses, therefore man has converted most of the grasslands into agricultural croplands.

          The effect of grazing on output. reproduction capacity, establishment of vegetative growth and flowering in relation to climate, soil and biotic pressure grazing and scraping are some of the more important ecological aspects. Therefore principles of ecology may be taken into consideration and applied for proper management. For example,

o   The rate of removal of resource (grasses) should be regulated to level up to which the system can rebuild itself. For example, enough net productivity may be left in the range so that the range may remain stable in case of adverse climatic condition, i.e., drought etc. For this purpose grazing animals (stock level) may be regulated properly.

o   The effect of grazing is an important factor to be considered in management. The intensity and frequency of grazing have to be regulated. Therefore, the forage production may be maintained at a higher rate. The range be divided into Compartments and grazing may be allowed alternately, i.e, a grazing year must alternate with a non-grazing year.

o   Geographical races of palatable grasses with high nutrient value may be introduced into the ranges.

o   Fire, herbicides and pesticides may be used to destroy unwanted species so that palatable species may grow better.

4.    Fishery Management:

          Since the demand for animal protein is increasing, steps are being taken for the proper management of protein sources. One such common practice is aquaculture, i.e., cultivation of aquatic life (fish, crabs, lobsters, oysters, prawns etc.) for food. Aquaculture is based on principles of applied ecology and is an effective means for increasing protein food for mankind.

          Fish are an important aquatic life, therefore proper fish management is important. This can be done by managing ponds and lakes. Fish in natural habitats is found at the end of a long food chain, therefore its productivity is much reduced. Fish ponds with short food chains by using inorganic fertilizers may be maintained. Using sewage water for fish culturing is drawing much attention in different parts of the world. Studies show that fish fed on such a diet grow up in size remarkably.  Also, the size and depth of fish ponds, rate of fertilization, species composition and size ratio of fish population may be regulated to obtain a high yield. 

Fig: Environment