DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM

The Abiotic and Biotic Components of the Environment

An ecosystem is a system formed by the interaction of living organisms with one another and with their environment. Abiotic components are the non-living components in the ecosystem such as air, water, soil, temperature and light intensity. Biotic components are the living components in the ecosystem such as plants and animals.

Abiotic Components of an Ecosystem

 Abiotic components in an ecosystem include the physical factors such as the pH level, temperature, light intensity, humidity, topography, microclimate

Abiotic Components of an Ecosystem

pH
Most organism live in natural and nearly neutral environmental (pH6 pH7.5) Some plants, like maize, grows well in an acidic condition while coconuts grow well in alkaline condition.

Temperature
Effect on biochemical reaction in the organism Organism can live within certain range of temperature (0C-45C). Drop in temperature decrease metabolic activities. Higher temperature- denaturation of enzyme. Thermophilic bacteria- live under extreme temperature

Light Intensity
Effect the rate of photosynthesis The distribution of green plants will be more extensive in the area with higher light intensity

Humidity
Amount of water vapour present in the air. Organism that can control the rate of water loss have and extensive distribution. Organism such as frogs, snails, earthworm and moss cannot control the rate of water loss and more suited to live in damp places. Low humidity- water evaporates from moist surface. Usually higher at night.

Topography
Physical features of the land Altitude- There are less ogrganism at high altitude because the temperature, humidity and air pressure are low. Gradient/Slope- rapid drainage and runoff. Soil layer is thinner and drier. Aspect- slope mountain facing direction of wind receive more rain

Microclimate
Microclimate refers to the climate of specific region in an habitat Microclimate includes light intensity, amount of rainfall, temperature changes and humidity of a microhabitat.

Biotic Components of an Ecosystem

Biotic Components of an Ecosystem

The biotic components are classified into three groups: a) producers b) consumers c) decomposers Consumers are organisms that feed on plants or other organisms. (a) Primary consumers are herbivores that feed on plants directly. (b) Secondary consumers are carnivores that feed on primary consumers directly. (c ) Tertiary consumers are carnivores or omnivores that feed on secondary consumer.

 Decomposers are the bacteria and fungi that break down dead plants and dead animals into simple substances. A feeding relationship exists between the biotic components to form a food chain Through the food chain, organisms obtain energy. Each level in a food chain is referred to as trophic level

Food chain
Sequence of organisms through which energy is transferred. Start with producer >>>>> end with consumer

Example :

4 Consumer
nd

th

3rd Consumer 1 Consumer Producer

st

2 Consumer

From the organisms above, form three food chains.

1 2

3
Producer
Primary consumer Secondary consumer Tertiary consumer

Construct a food web from three food chains below

 In an ecosystem, several food chains interact to form a network called a food web.
In a food chain, energy is transferred from one trophic level to another trophic level. 90% of the chemical energy in the food consumed is used for its metabolic activities and lost as heat, excretory products and undigested matter.

only 10% of the energy in an organism is passed on to organism at the next trophic level.

Identify the producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer and decomposer in a food web

Caterpillar

Frog

Eagle Grasshopper Paddy Bird

Mice

Fungi

Snake

Dead

Interaction between Biotic Components in Relation to Feeding

Symbiosis

INTERACTION

Saprophytism

Prey-Predator

Interaction between Biotic Components in Relation to Feeding

Symbiosis is an interaction between two organisms of different species that live together. Symbiosis is further classified into three types: (a) Commensalism (b) Parasitism (c) Mutualism

COMMENSALISM

Commensalism
Commensalism is an interaction between two different organism where only one organism benefits from the relationship. The other organism neither benefits nor is harmed. The organism that benefits is called the commensal while the other organism is called the host. Examples of commensal are epiphytes. Epiphytes are green plants which grow on other plants to obtain sunlight and for support. Examples of epiphytes are: (a) pigeon orchid (b) staghorn fern (c) birds nest fern (e) money plant

Barnacles attached on whale.

Clown Fish in Sea Anemone Clown fish have a commensalism relationship with sea anemones. The fish chases away the anemones would-be predators with its territorial behavior; and the anemone protects the fish with its stinging cells. The fish is protected from the cells poison by a thick mucous coat it secretes.

MUTUALISM

Mutualism
Relationship between two species of organisms which both benefit Example of mutualism Lichen( algae and fungus)

Lichen made up of alga and fungus.

Alga- produce food Fungus- supply carbon dioxide and nitrogenous products.

PARASITISM

Parasitism
Relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefit (parasite) and the other (the host) is harmed Ectoparasite are parasite that live on the surface of host body. Eg: ticks and fleas Endoparasite refer to internal parasites. Eg: tapeworm

Human Flea Fleas are common bloodsucking parasites. Having no wings, a flea cannot fly, but its flat body slips through the strands of its hosts hair or fur quite easily on its powerful legs. Only about 3 mm (0.125 in) long, the human flea, Pulex irritans, can jump as far as 33 cm (13 in). This strength has been harnessed for flea circuses, in which fleas perform trained stunts such as pulling small wagons. Fleas can be quite dangerous, however, because they can carry disease from one host to the next.

Tapeworm Tapeworms are parasitic worms that infest the intestinal lining and other organs of vertebrates. Tapeworms, having no mouth or digestive tract, are able to absorb partially digested material through their body surface.

SAPROPHYTISM

Saprophytism
Saprophytism is an interaction whereby an organism lives and feeds on decaying organic matter. Saprophytes refer to plants which obtain food from decayed organic matter. Examples of saprophytes are the various types of fungi such as mushrooms and bread mould. Saprozoites are microscopic animals that feed on decayed organic matter. Some examples are Paramecium sp. and Amoeba sp. which feed organic matter from dead organisms.

PREY AND PREDATOR

Prey-predator interaction This is an interaction between two population of organisms in which one organism, called the predator, hunts, captures and kills the other organism, called the prey, for food. The predator benefits because it obtains food. This interaction is a natural method to regulate the population size of the prey. The size of the prey is usually smaller than the predator but number of prey is always more than the predator.

The Interaction Between Biotic Components in Relation To Competition

Interaction Between Biotic Components in Relation to Competition Competition is the interaction between two organisms or two populations to obtain the common basic needs of life that are limited. In a competition, organisms which are strong will obtain their common basic needs to survive and hence win in the competition. The organisms which are weak will migrate to other areas or die. There are two types of competition: (a) intraspecific competition same species (b) interspecific competition- different speies

Interspesific competition
(a)
P. aurelia

(b)
P. aurelia

P. caudatum
P. caudatum

Day day

Colonisation and Succession in a Mangrove Swamp

Mangrove trees have adaptive characteristics to overcome the problems it faces in the environment. A root system that spreads out widely to provide support for the mangrove trees in the soft muddy soil. Breathing roots that protrude out of the soil and which are called pneumatophores. In waterlogged soil, which lacks oxygen the pneumatophores enable gaseous exchange to occur at the roots. The leaves of mangrove trees have thick cuticle and sunken stomata to reduce transpiration in a hot environment due t, the strong sunlight. The leaves are also thick and succulent A store water. Many mangrove trees have viviparity seeds

Avicennia sp. and Sonneratja sp. Zojie

The Avicennia sp. grows in the Part of the mangrove swamp that faces the sea while Sonneratia sp. grows at the mouth of the river which is sheltered. The adaptations of the pioneer species to the soft muddy soil and waterlogged area are as follows: (a) A root system that spreads out Widely to give support to the trees in the soft muddy soil (b) The Avicennia sp. and Sonneratia sp have asparagus-shaped pneumatophores that grow vertically upwards from the main roots through the mud into the air. The pneumatophores are very spongy and take in air for respiration of the root system.

Rhizophora sp. zone

This zone is higher and less waterlogged The adaptations of Rhizophora sp. for this zone are as follows: (a) The Rhizophora sp. has prop roots to support and anchor the tree in the soft muddy soil. (b) The Rhizophora sp. has viviparity seed to ensure that the seedlings can grow and are not carried out by the seawater.

Bruguiera Sp. zone

Trees of Bruguiera sp. grow well in hard clay soil that subjects to flooding during high tide. Trees of Bruguiera sp. have buttress roots for support and knee- shaped pneumatophores for gaseous exchange more sedimentation of decayed substances occur, new mud banks are being built up seawards while the old banks move further inland, away from the sea. The soil becomes harder and dry land is formed. Bruguiera sp. are replaced by other types of plants such as coconut trees, palm trees and Pandanus sp. These are later replaced by other land plants. Finally, after a few hundred years, the process of succession stops and a tropical rain forest, which is the climax community, is formed.

BIODIVERSITY AND CLASSIFICATION

NEED FOR CLASSIFICATON

1.5 million species of living organisms have been described, and it is estimated more than three million remain to be discovered. The need for classification is to bring order out of chaos.

Classification of organisms
Organisms with same basic features are grouped together into a kingdom Kingdom is the largest unit of classification All organisms are grouped into five kingdoms

Kingdoms
Prokaryotae Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Prokaryote
Absences of a nucleus membrane

Cyanobacteria

Salmonella sp.

Protista
Most protists are unicellular Protists have nucleus membrane Some of them have simple structures

Dinoflagellate Paramecium sp.

Fungi
Consists mushrooms, molds, fungus and truffles Absence of chlorophylls Reproduction by spores

Giant puffball

mucor

Sulfur mushroom

Agric mushroom

Plantae
Multicellular organisms Most plants have chlorophyll

Picther plant

fern

Animalia
Multicellular animals mobile

Ground squirrel

Robin

Penguins

Snail

Fishes

Taxonomic Hierarchy
The kingdom is split into smaller units called Phyla (singular : Phylum). Phyla are split into Classes, classes into Order, order into Families, families into Genera (singular : Genus) Genera are split into the smallest units called Species

Taxonomic group Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Common name

Plant example Plant Tracheophyta Angiospermae Ranales Ranunculaceae Ranunculus acris Meadow buttercup Animal Annelida

Animal example Animal Chordate Mammalia Primates hominidae Homo sapiens human

Oligocheata Terricolae Lumbricidae Lumbricus terrestris earthworm

The Importance of Biodiversity

Hence, biodiversity is important: (a) to maintain the balance in nature (b) to enable all organisms to survive as they are interdependent (c) to provide an important pool of plant and animal resources that are of potential use to mankind. For example, wild plants and herbs are being discovered as sources of new drugs and medicine (d) as the rich heritage of flora and fauna attracts tourists and so contributes to the economy of the country.

microorganisms

Types of Microorganisms
Protozoa aquatic unicellular animal can be seen under a microscope at low power has nucleus, cytoplasm and is surrounded by a plasma membrane takes in food (feeding), removes excretory products and reproduces reproduces sexually and asexaully lives freely in the river, pond, fresh water, soil or on another organism. Some live as parasites heterotrophs examples: Amoeba sp., Paramecium sp., Plasmodium sp. (parasite) kingdom; Protista

Fungi unicellular plant (yeast) or multicellular plant (mushroom and Mucor sp can be seen under a microscope at low power or with a magnifying glass a plants without chlorophyI Reproduces by budding (yeast) and formation of spores (mushroom and Mucor sp.) lives as saprophytes and parasites heterotrophs examples: Yeast, Mucor sp. (bread mould), mushroom Kingdom: Fungi

Algae exists as unicellular, in a colony and in filaments (multicellular) lives in the sea, pond, river, paddy field, tree stem, damp soil the most simple green plants contains chlorophyll autotrophs carries out aerobic respiration reproduces asexualIy and sexually examples: Phytoplankton (Chlamydomonas sp.)pleurococcus sp. Spirogyra sp. Kingdom: Protista

Bacteria unicellular microorganism can be seen under a microscope at high power has a cell wall genetic material scattered in the cytoplasm because there is no nuclear membran reproduces asexualy by binary fision forms spores when conditions are not suitable able examples: Lactobacillus sp., StaphyIococcus sp. Kingdom: Monera

Virus microscopic microorganism can only be seen under an electron microscope consists of nucleic acid that is ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has a layer of protein for protection has no cytoplasm, nucleus or plasma membrane Exits as crystals outside host cells, no signs of life can only reproduce when in living cells of hosts exists in various forms all are parasites examples: Bacteriophage, tobacco mosaic virus influenza virus Kingdom: Viruses cannot be placed in any kingdom because they have their own characteristics, without showing any characteristics of living things

Method to control pathogens

Role of microorganisms in ecosystem

The use of microorganisms in biotechnology

Appreciating Biodiversity
We should appreciate and take good care of the biodiversity that exists on Earth for the following reasons: (a) Biodiversity is a natural resource that is most importance to the economy of a country. (i) Plants and animals from various types of species provide a large variety of food source and uses to humans. (ii) Certain species of plants and animals have medicinal values to humans. (iii) Various insects and animals are pollinating agents that are needed to increase the yield of agriculture products.

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