Dynamic Ecosystem

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

Light intensity Humidity

Topography Microclimate
 Acidic , neutral or alkaline
Influences the growth & distribution of aquatic & land
organisms

SLIGHTLY ACIDIC SLIGHTLY ALKALINE

Maize Ferns
Soya Bean Coconut
Tomato Casuarinas
Barley
Potato

pH value
 Temperature influences the :

the productivity of distribution of soil

producers organisms

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

Classifying biotic components

into trophic levels
 Green plants ;
photosynthesis
Produce enough food
for their own
consumption &
consumer

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

Commensalism parasitism mutualism

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

Shark & remora fish

 Relationship between two organism
The parasite benefits; Host is harmed
Two types:
Endoparasites
Ectoparasites

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

Sea anemone & hermit

crab
 The bacteria convert
atmospheric nitrogen
into ammonium
compound that are used
by the plants
Bacteria get shelter &
energy rich compounds
from the plants

Rhizobium in the nodules

of leguminous plants
 Bacteria lives in the alimentary canal
Produce cellulase
Large part of the sugar produced absorbed by host
Microbes gets shelter & 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
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D
A
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P
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 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