INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY

RONNIE C. DUMALE, RMT, MAEd,MABio

General Studies Division, Higher Colleges of Technology

ECOLOGY
Eikos- home
Is the scientific study of the interactions of organisms
and their environments.
Interactions: indicates how the environment can affect
an individual and how organisms can affect the
environemt.

Photosynthesis

Thermohaline circulation

Level of ecological organization

Biotic vs. Abiotic factors

In groups of 4, go in a specific area of the campus and
take a picture of all the biotic and abiotic factors that
you will see. Organize and present the pictures in class.

The Rabbit infestation of Australia

https://youtu.be/AjwA4TJ13Z0

The anti-sparrow campaign of China

https://youtu.be/ehqmmIef6_w

BASIC CONCEPTS IN ECOLOGY

ECOSYSTEM
Ecological system
The whole biotic community in a given area and its
abiotic environment.
Biotic: living things
Abiotic: non-living things. It includes the physical and chemical
nature of sediments, water, and gases.

Vary in size
Biotic and Abiotic components are inseparable with
each other.

Kinds of Ecosystems
Natural
Terrestrial
Aquatic
Freshwater
Marine

Artificial

Natural Ecosystem
Operates under natural
conditions without any
major interference by
man.

Terrestrial Ecosystem
In land
Examples: Forrest,
grassland, desert

Aquatic: Freshwater Ecosystem

Examples: River, ponds,
lakes

Aquatic: Marine Ecosystem

Found in the ocean

Artificial Ecosystem
Maintained artificially by
humans where, by
addition of energy and
planned manipulations,
natural balance is
disturbed regularly.

Structure of an Ecosystem: ABIOTIC

COMPONENT
Includes:
Inorganic substances
Organic compounds
Climatic factors

Structure of an Ecosystem: BIOTIC

COMPONENT
Living components

Plants
Animals
Humans
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungi

Structure of an Ecosystem: BIOTIC

COMPONENT
Ecological Niche: refers to
the function or role of the
organism in the
ecosystem.
Ecological habitat: where
an organism lives.

BIOTIC COMPONENT: connected

through food
Producers
Prepare food to provide
nutrition to the other
organisms present in the
ecosystem.
Types:
Photoautotrophs: these are
green plants which can trap
sunlight to form
carbohydrate, simple sugar
from carbon dioxide and
water.
Chemotrophs: are able to
utilize free energy released

BIOTIC COMPONENT: connected

through food
Consumers: mainly the
animals.
Unable to synthesize their
own food and depends on
producers.
Utilize oxygen released
from producers as well.

BIOTIC COMPONENT: connected

through food
Decomposers: mainly
bacteria and fungi.
They decompose the
complex organic material
into simple inorganic
material so that it can be
use for producers to
prepare food.

The concept of Limiting Factors and

Carrying Capacity
Any ecosystem has a limited amount resources.
Most ecosystems are affected by the same limiting
factors.
Limiting factors can be the biotic or abiotic components
of the ecosystem.

Carrying Capacity
The largest population
size that an ecosystem
can sustain.

Limiting Factors
Any resources that limit
the size to which a
population can grow.
Abiotic limiting factors:
water, living space,
nutrients, shelter,
sunlight, and weather.
Biotic limiting factors:
Parasite, competition,
Predation.

Eutrophication
is the enrichment of an
ecosystem with chemical
nutrients, typically
compounds containing
nitrogen, phosphorus, or
both.

FOOD CHAIN, FOOD WEB

FOOD CHAIN
A series of organisms
occupying different
trophic levels through
which energy passes as a
result of one organisms
consuming another.
Two forms:
Detritus
Grazing

Grazing food chain

Begin with green plants
being eaten by
herbivores.

Detritus food chain

Begins with organisms
that feed on dead plants.

FOOD WEB
Is a series of multiple,
overlapping food chains.
A single predator can
have multiple prey
species at the same time.

ORGANISM
INTERACTION

Introduction
In the natural environment, no
organism exist in isolation.
Biological interactions are the
effects that the organisms in a
community have on one
another.
Interaction among living things
result to each specie of
organisms influencing the
population dynamics of other
species and the carrying
capacity of their environment.

Predation
One animal kills/eats
another.
Predator: benefits from
food. Adaptations: sharp
teeth, ability to run quickly,
and etc.
Prey: the one eaten.
Adaptations; higher
reproductive rate, run fast.

Competition
Two organisms need the
same limited resource,
e.g., food, shelter, mate,
etc.

Interspecific Competition
Competition between
members of different
species.

Intraspecific Competition
Competition between
members of the same
species.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

No Two species can
occupy the same
ecological niche in the
same place at the same
time

Symbiosis
Is a close, long-lasting,
physical relationship
between two different
species.
At least one species
derives benefit from the
interaction.
Three categories:
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism

Mutualism
Both species benefit. In
many cases, as neither
can exist without the
other.
Example
Mycorrhizae

Commensalism
One organism benefits
while the other is not
affected.
Examples:
Orchid in a tree
Remoras and Sharks

Parasitism
Is a relationship in which
one organism (parasite)
lives in or on another
organism (Host), from
which it derives
nourishment.
Ecto-parasite: lives on the
hosts surface.
Endo-parasite: lives inside
the body of the host

In summary

END OF CLO 1