(Ecosystem)

Jaerus Mark B. Ramos

BSAMT 4-12

1. What are the 12 levels of biological organization and distinguish them from each
other
● Atom
● Molecules
● Organelles
● Cells
● Tissues
● Organs
● Organ Systems
● Organisms
● Population
● Community
● Ecosystem
● Biosphere

2. What are the major components of an ecosystem, and distinguish them from
each other

Biotic components
are the living things that have a direct or indirect influence on other organisms in
an environment. For example plants, animals, and microorganisms and their waste
materials

Abiotic components
of an ecosystem include all chemical and physical elements i.e. non-living
components. Abiotic components can vary from region to region, from one ecosystem to
another. They mainly take up the role of life supporter. They determine and restrict the
population growth, number, and diversity of biotic factors in an ecosystem. Hence, they
are called limiting factors.
 3. Distinguish the food chain from the food web

Difference Between Food Chain And Food Web

Food Chain Food Web

A linear pathway showing the flow of A multitude of networks showing the flow of
energy energy

An organism of higher level trophic feeds An organism of a higher trophic level has
on a specific organism of lower trophic access to more members of a lower trophic
level level.

Does not affect the adaptability and It has a role in improving the adaptability
competitiveness of organisms. and competitiveness of an organism.

4. What would happen if one of the organisms in the food web went missing or
gone?
It depends but most likely it could cause the entire system to collapse, or
the system would easily adjust to the absence and continue functioning. And It
would cause a ripple effect throughout the rest of the web. The impact can vary,
but most of the time, it will be noticeable in some way.

5. What happens to the energy as you go along the food chain or the food web?
The energy flow takes place via the food chain and food web. During the
process of energy flow in the ecosystem, plants being the producers absorb
sunlight with the help of the chloroplasts and a part of it is transformed into
chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis.
This energy is stored in various organic products in the plants and passed
on to the primary consumers in the food chain when the herbivores consume
(primary consumers) the plants as food. Then conversion of chemical energy
stored in plant products into kinetic energy occurs, degradation of energy will
occur through its conversion into heat.
6. What are the five biogeochemical cycles. Discuss each cycle and explain why do
organisms need them.
a. Hydrologic Cycle
- The pilgrimage of water as water molecules make their way from
the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back again, in some
cases to below the surface. This gigantic system, powered by
energy from the Sun, is a continuous exchange of moisture
between the oceans, the atmosphere, and the land.

b. Gascons Nutrient Cycle

- A. Carbon cycle:
The carbon cycle is the simplest of all nutrient cycles. The major
reservoir of carbon is the ocean where it remains stored as
bicarbonate. The oceans contain more than 50 times as much
carbon as that of air and the oceanic reservoir regulates the
amount of carbon in the atmosphere. A considerable amount of
biologically fixed carbon as gaseous CO2 is returned to the
atmosphere by the respiratory activity on the part of the producers
and consu­mers. But the most substantial return is accomplished by
the respiratory activity of the decomposers and the way of their
processing the waste materials and other trophic levels.
- B. Nitrogen cycle:
The nitrogen cycle is a complex one though it is a complete and
perfect cycle. The cycle ex­hibits marked difference from that of
car­bon cycle. Nitrates and other simpler nitrogen compounds are
used by plants for the synthesis of amino acid and protein which in
turn go to the animals. The animal metabolic wastes in the form of
urea, uric acid, etc., are trans­formed into ammonia. The protoplasm
of dead animals and plants is acted upon by bacteria,
actinomycetes and fungi occurr­ing both on land and water.

c. Sedimentary Nutrient Cycle

- In addition to oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen living
organisms re­quire at least 13 other elements like cal­cium,
phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulphur, magnesium,
iron, copper, manganese, iodine, cobalt and zinc. Traces of these
 elements are only required by living organisms. But the re­quirement
of calcium and phosphorus is needed a bit more than other
elements. Phosphorus is a constituent of nucleoproteins,
phospholipids and skeletons. Cal­cium is needed for skeletons,
shells, antlers and other organs. These elements are ob­tained from
food, water, salt licks and grit taken into the stomach.

d. Phosphorus Cycle
- Phosphorus is a necessary and important constituent of
protoplasm. The reservoir of phos­phorus is the rocks or other
deposits that have been formed in past geological ages. Erosions
of these reservoirs release phos­phate to the ecosystems. But in the
process much of the phosphate escapes into the sea, where part of
it is deposited in the shallow sediments and part of it is lost to the
deep sediments.

e. Sulphur Cycle
- Only a few organisms meet their sulphur requirements in such
forms as amino acid and cystein. The source of biologically
significant sulphur is inorganic sulphate.
The reservoir of sulphur lies in the soil and sedimentary rocks. The
atmosphere is a minor reservoir formed by fuel combus­tion. At the
global level the regulation of sulphur cycle is dependent upon the
interaction of geochemical and meteorological processes (erosion,
sedimentation, leaching, rain absorption), and biological processes
(production and decomposition). The interdependence of air, soil
and water also aids in the regulation.

7. How are humans’ activities affecting each cycle?

Humans are one of the largest consumers on Earth and hands down use and
impact more of the world’s supply of natural resources than any other species.
Maybe it is due to the sheer size of the species, or maybe it is due to
over-consumption.
Humans impact this cycle dramatically through industrialization and over
consumption, resulting in more than double the natural amount of nitrogen from
the atmosphere into the soil. Excess nitrogen is finding its way into the soil where
it sucks surrounding land dry of minerals that lead to mineral deficiencies. It also
is becoming in excess in the water supply, wreaking havoc on the plant life and
animal life.
References:
Living Things: Interdependence, Organization, and Evolution Study Guide |
Inspirit (inspiritvr.com)

Ecosystem - Components of Ecosystem | Biotic & Abiotic Components

(byjus.com)

What would happen if an organism was removed from a food web? - Quora

Energy Flow in Ecosystem- Food Chain,Food Web and Energy Pyramids

(byjus.com)

Top 5 Types of Biogeochemical Cycle | Ecology (biologydiscussion.com)

https://discover.hubpages.com/education/Humanimpactonbiogeochemicalcycles