DYNAMICS OF ECOSYSTEMS

MODULE 1 LECTURE

SUMMARY
 Ecosystem is a natural system that consists of a set of living organisms (abiotic and biotic) in a given
area interacting with the physical environment including the distribution of nutrients, flow of energy
(trophic structure) biotic diversity, and material cycles.
 Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over
time.
 Primary succession appears in areas that had no pre-existing communities, but are now able to host it,
because something new has happened to a particular environment: drying up a riverbed, or rocks that
become a better place to live once the glaciers slide off them.
 Secondary succession can occur in ecosystems that have been disturbed or disrupted by humans,
animals, or by natural process such as storms, floods, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions but left the soil
intact.
 Natural Ecosystem balance holds natural equilibrium that can be changed significantly by new species
entering an ecosystem, the disappearance of some species, man-made changes to the environment or
natural disasters.
 Biome is a major, geographically extensive ecosystem, structurally characterized by its dominant life
forms which in turn are best adapted to the climate, topography and soils of the region.

MODULE 1
 THE ECOSYSTEM CONCEPT

Initial Activity
1. Conduct a virtual tour of a terrestrial and an aquatic ecosystem in a tropical country.
• The mangrove ecosystem: https://youtu.be/cwTZhyA57mA
• The rainforest ecosystem: https://youtu.be/3vijLre760w

After viewing the virtual tour, please answer the following questions:

1. What are the underlying components of a mangrove ecosystem and their roles?

Mangrove forest serves as one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. It creates a sanctuary to
an extraordinary range of creatures. It seeks as a refugee to other species and home to many creatures
(3/4 of all tropical fish are born here and countless reptiles and birds). Mangroves also filters nutrients
and toxins out of the waters improving water quality. Its dense intertwining roots provides protection
and shelter during extreme weather (storms, hurricane and tsunami), specially to humans, it helps reduce
flooding, and coastal erosion. But due to human activities (coastal development, aquaculture and
lumber) for the past 50 years the world lost more than a third of its forest. Still its not to late to save this
vital ecosystem by using our voice to educate people on how to protect and conserve them and
recognizing the need and importance of mangroves.

2. What are the underlying components of a forest ecosystem and their roles?

Rainforest is one of the richest and oldest ecosystems on the planet. It grows in every continent except
Antarctica. There are two types of Rainforest: temperate and tropical. Temperate forest is found in the
mid-latitude. Often near cooler, coastal, mountainous regions. While tropical rainforest is primarily
located in warmer climates between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Temperate and
tropical rainforest are the wettest forest on earth receiving up to about 33 ft (10m) of rain per year
because of this precipitation it plays a critical role in creating an exceptionally lush and biologically
diverse habitat. Half of the world’s plants and animals’ species can be found here. Due to a large number
of plants species, rainforest plants produce an assortment of food items. Plants found in the rainforest are
useful for everyday products and medicines (70% of plants used in cancer treatments can only be found
in the rainforest). One of the most important roles of rainforest is, it helps stabilize the planet’s climate
by absorbing massive amounts of radiation from the sun, it also absorbs vast amount of carbon dioxide
and convert them into oxygen. But over the past centuries, rainforest have disappeared due to human
activities (economic equalities, human development and demand for natural resources) that causes
deforestation. However, through educational campaigns and sustainable logging practices and
cooperation with the local communities may begin to slowdown helping preserve rainforest for many
generations to come.