Ecosystem refers to an interacting group of natural elements and the organism in a given environment.

It is a unit of interrelationships between and among living things and non-living things

According to British ecologist Arthur Tansley( 1935) An ecosystem is a system arises from the integration
of all living and nonliving factor of environment

Biotic Component of an Ecosystem

1. Producer – green plants and some bacteria which manufacture their own food

2. Consumer- animals which obtain food from producer

a. Herbivores- animals that graze directly on plants and algae

b. Carnivores- feeds on other animals
c. Omnivores- animals that feed on both plants and animals
d. Scavengers – feed on dead remains of animals and also plants that have recently
decomposed

3. Decomposer – bacteria, fungi, and mushrooms that breakdown dead inorganic matter

Biotic Components of an Ecosystem

1. Sunlight- primary source

2. Temperature- measure of hotness or coldness

3. Water- universal solvent and basis of all life

4. Wind- movement of air parallel to the earth’s surface

5. Atmospheric Gases

2. Biotic Potential And Environmental Resistance

Biotic Potential

 Rate at which organism reproduce when they have ideal circumstances that would promote
successful reproduction. This depends on the following factors
This depends on the following factors
1. usual numbers of offspring per reproduction
2. chances of survival age of reproduction
3. age at which reproduction begins
4. how often each individual reproduces
Environmental Resistance
 Factors that can limit the increase of a population such as predators competitors, disease, lack
of food and water and suitable habitat.
Carrying capacity
 Maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support
Limiting Factor
 Are biotic and abiotic factors that prevent the continuos growth of a population
Food

- Competition
- Predators
- Parasites
- Disease
- Climate changes
Water
- Pollution
- Flooding
- Weather changes
Spaces
- Human intrusions
- Fire
- Hurricanes
- Overcrowding
- 3.Terestrial Aquatic Ecosystem
1. Tundra – region that lies in the Arctic and extends across North America. The soil is frozen
and covered with permafrost for a large portion of the year. Vegetation is limited to lichens,
mosses, grasses, sedges and low growing shrubs. Animals include polar bears, ox and arctic
foxes
2. Taiga- cold climate forest found in the northern latitudes. Pines are the dominant
vegetation. Animals include herbivores such as moose and omnivores such as bears
3. Deciduous Forest- region that make up the eastern half of North America and large part
of Europe. Numerous species of trees, shrubs and flowers inhabit these forest with a variety
of wildlife such as deer, foxes and bear
4. Grasslands- are found in the interior of North America, Asia, South America and Africa.
Grasses are the dominant form of vegetation and for animal that include lions, elephants,
giraffes and other grazing animals.
5. Deserts – occur in regions that are hot and too dry. Plants include cacti and presence of
burrowing animals such as lizards, snakes, and rodents.
6.Tropical rainforest- found in areas around the equator. Trees are abundant with many
epiphytes. Mammals and reptiles are also abundant.
7. Marine Biome- This includes oceans where organism are sessile and lived attached ti the
ground
8. Freshwater biome- includes the running water and standing water where different
organism thrive such as salamanders, turtles and snakes

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