Is ecology inherently mathematical?

[Delong]

Hello I'm interested in pursuing ecological studies. I'm trying to find out as much as I can about the nature of ecological science. I have seen some books in my school library about mathematical ecology and my ecology professor has said that ecology is pretty quantitative. I have hopes that this might be the area of biology that avails to most quantitative assessment. Sort of like the theoretical physics for biology. If there is anyone in the field I'm interested in learning about how successful the mathematical models are growing for ecology.

 

[HallsofIvy]

All sciences use mathematics to a lesser or greater extent. I would suspect that ecology would make strong use of statistical methods.

 

[Delong]

okay makes sense. Thanks.

 

[turbo]

I took a couple of ecology courses in the 70's (a semester back to college after working for a couple of years), and there was definitely a strong math component behind the science.

For instance, in Iowa, with plenty of food, white-tail does can reproduce at age 1 and often start producing twins by age 2. Here in Maine, the does typically do not reproduce until they are 2 or 3, and they generally don't produce twins until at least 3 years of age. Do the math, and see what happens to the population levels. Also, in Maine, where resources are more limited, it can be easier to reach "carrying capacity" or even "overpopulation" after a couple of good years with easy winters. Biologists have to be really good with complex math problems to quantify this stuff.

Good luck if you enter the field. It is really a worthwhile field in which to build a career, IMO. Unity College here in Maine graduates a lot of field biologists, future game wardens, conservationists, rangers, etc. Unfortunately, Maine has a newly-elected tea-party governor who wants to dismantle our state's environmental regulations and protections.

 

[Delong]

reproduce at age 1? Why the nerve of these... just kidding.

Thanks for your input, I'm definitely interested in the field. However, one downfall I see is that ecology seems to deal mostly with biology and I wanted to understand the abiotic components of the ecosystem as well like chemical cycling and climate-biotic interactions. THat seems to me to be more like ecosystem ecology. They seem similar enough for me to be involved in both.

 

[turbo]

reproduce at age 1? Why the nerve of these... just kidding.

Thanks for your input, I'm definitely interested in the field. However, one downfall I see is that ecology seems to deal mostly with biology and I wanted to understand the abiotic components of the ecosystem as well like chemical cycling and climate-biotic interactions. THat seems to me to be more like ecosystem ecology. They seem similar enough for me to be involved in both.

You don't have to concentrate in the side of ecology that deals with organisms. You can study emissions from point-sources (coal-fired power plants, for instance) and map out impact statements. You could look at the effects of mountain-top removal to mine coal, or the local effects of mining oil shale, or perhaps the possible down-sides to fracking exploratory gas wells... There is a lot of possibility out there. My examples are just nibbles around the edges. If you are truly interested, you probably know the answer to the question that you posed in the OP. You just want some support and confirmation.

 

[Delong]

Ha ha that's mostly true, but I'd like to see who else is out there. It will become more clearer to me as I continue in my education I suppose. For now I should make sure I'm doing well in school.