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ECOSYSTEM:
Collection of living
things and the
environment which
they live
ENVIRONMENT:
Consist of living
organisms (biotic factor)
& non-living organisms
(abiotic factor) ECOLOGY:
Scientific study on the
relationships of organisms
with their physical
environment and with one
another
Natural Ecosystem
Natural Ecosystem
Artificial ecosystem
Ecosystem
Biotic Abiotic
Components Components
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
ABIOTIC FACTOR
pH value temperature
Topography Microclimate
Acidic , neutral or alkaline
Influences the growth & distribution of aquatic & land
organisms
pH value
Temperature influences the :
Temperature
In polar regions & desert
productivity is low
Living things in these places have adaptations to survive
E.g.
Poikilothermic found in warm climate
Homoeothermic - widespread
Thick fur in cold climate
Absence of leaves in the cactus that live in desert
a. Productivity of
producers
Low soil temp : reduce the rate of water & mineral soil
absorption
Organisms living in ground : population do not change
much because temp uniform
Above the soil: daily & seasonal temp change influence
distributions & populations & living organism
Temp of sea : more stable because aquatic animals do not
adapt well to big temperature change
b. Distribution of soil
organisms
Influence the rate of photosynthesis
Distribution of green plants denser in areas
of high light intensity
Aquatic plants : found near the surface of
water
Light intensity
Influences the rate of water loss in plants & animals
Many plants & animals thrive in humid ecosystem of
sheltered caves or jungles
Humidity
The description of the surface features of a place
Altitude, gradients of a slope & other physical aspects :
determine of sunlight reach earth surface
Topography
Refers to the climate of a small place / habitat
Involves differences in terms of quantity of rain, relative
humidity, light intensity, change in temperature
Influences the number and distribution of living
organisms
Microclimate
BIOTIC COMPONENTS OF AN
ECOSYSTEM
Plants
Biotic
components
Animals Man
Biotic components interact with each other directly /
indirectly
Types of relationship between biotic components:
a) Competition
b) Symbiosis
c) Saprophytism
d) Prey-predator interaction
Biotic components of an
ecosystem
Ecosystem has three main nutritional groups:
1) Producers
2) Consumer
3) Decomposer
Producer
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Consumer
Consist of bacteria &
fungi
Break down waste
products & dead
bodies of other
organisms into
simpler substances
Can be use again
Decomposer
Food Chain & Food Web
Trophic levels
Revision
An ecosystem is a community of organisms / biotic components which
interact with their non living environment / abiotic components
Squirrel eat fruits from the tree //
Big bird eat mouse in the garden
10% X 1500 kJ
= 150 kJ
. Lost to atmosphere as heat energy
. Used to decompose dead matter (by decomposer)
. Used to carry out metabolism reaction in cells
. Respiration
. Excretion
. Defecation
F : Deforestation / logging / open burning
E1 : Extinction / destroy of flora / fauna
E2 : loss of biodiversity
E3 : disruption of food chain / web
E4 : Land slides / soil erosion / water pollution / flash flood
Interaction between Biotic Components in
Relation to Feeding
Four types of biotic interactions:
a. Symbiosis
b. Saprophytism
c. Prey-predator
d. competition
Means living
together
Close & permanent
relationship
Between 2 or more
Symbiosis
different species
Symbiosis
Benefits one species
(commensal) but Commensalism
neither benefits nor
harms the other
species (host) Epiphytes Epizoics
commensalism
Green plants that
grow on branches or
tree
Do not derive their
nutrition from the tree
Epiphytes
Adaptations:
Thick waxy cuticle to
prevents water loss
nest collects fallen
leaves, pieces of tree
bark etc
Ants nests increase Staghorn fern
(Platycerium
organic matter coronarium)
Epiphytes ferns
Birds nest fern
(asplenium nidus)
Epizoics
cyclops
daphnia
An animal commensal
attched to other
animals (its host)
vorticella
For free transport,
feed on leftovers from
their host meal
Host neither suffer
loss nor benefits
Parasitism
Adaptations:
Reduction in nervous
system & sense organs
Reduced digestive tracts tapeworm
Have protective cuticles &
produce mucus and anti-
enzymes
Have flattened shape
Anaerobic respiration fluke
Produce a lot of gametes
Round worm
Endoparasites
lice
aphid
Tree bugs
Adaptations:
Have hooks to attach
themselves
Have sharp mouth
parts for hooking,
sucking or biting
Ectoparasites
Dendrophthoe sp (dedalu)
Plant parasite
Relationship between two species of living organisms
Both benefits
E.g.
Lichens
Sea anemone & hermit crab
Rhizobium in the nodules of leguminous plant
Microorganisms & herbivores
Mutualism
Green alga + fungus
Grow on tree bark
Green alga gets
shelter, water, minerals
& nitrogenous
compounds
Fungus gets
food & oxygen
Lichens
Hermit crabs gets
protection from
tentacles of sea
anemone
Sea anemone gets
transport & left over
food
Microorganism (protozoa
& bacteria) and herbivores
Saprophytism
Saprophytes Saprozoites
Plant that gets its food from
dead organism
Cannot make own food
Produces enzymes to digest
& decompose dead
complex organic matter
E.g.:
Bread mould
Mushrooms
Bracket fungus
Saprophytes
Animals that feed on
dead organic matter
that has been digested
Opalina sp E.g.:
Protozoa found in the
intestine of the frog
(Opalina sp. &
Balantidium sp.)
In rectum (Nyctotherus
Balantidium sp
sp.)
Saprozoites Nyctotherus sp
Prey predator relationship
Exists when a weaker animal (prey) is hunted & eaten by
another stronger animals (predator)
Predator : moves fast, long canine teeth/ sharp claws
Prey : use speed & camouflage
Important to keep different animal populations of an
ecosystem in balance
Prey-predator
relationship
P
R
E
D
A
T
O
R
P
R
E
Y
Predator : moves fast, long canine teeth/ sharp claws
Prey : use speed & camouflage
Prey-predator
relationship
important to keep different animals population in an
ecosystem in balance
Self regulating and keep the populations of both the
predator and prey in a DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM
Prey-predator
relationship
Interactions between the Biotic
Components in relation to Competition
An interaction between organisms living together in a
habitat and competing for limited resources
Animals :
Food, shelter & breeding mates
Plants:
Light, nutrients & water
Two types of competition:
a) Interspecific competition
b) Intraspecific competition
Competition
Competition between
individuals of two or
more different species
P. caudatum
P. aurelia
Interspecific Competition
Interspecific Competition
Competition
between individuals
of the same species
Intraspecific competition
EXERCISE