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Scales of Ecosystems: Mathayom 3 Date: Science in English 2019-2020
Scales of Ecosystems: Mathayom 3 Date: Science in English 2019-2020
Science in English
2019-2020
An ecosystem is a community of animals and plants interacting with their environment and have
their own characteristics/features and functions.
1. Scales of Ecosystems
Ecosystems come in indefinite sizes. It can exist in a small area such as underneath a rock, a
decaying tree trunk, or a pond in your village, or it can exist in large forms such as an entire rain
forest. Technically, the Earth can be called a huge ecosystem.
They are often separated by geographical barriers such as deserts, mountains, oceans, lakes and
rivers. As these borders are never rigid, ecosystems tend to blend into each other. This is why a
lake can have many small ecosystems with their own unique characteristics. Scientists call this
blending “ecotone”
Ecosystems can be put into 2 groups. If the ecosystem exists in a water body, like an ocean,
freshwater or puddle, it is called an aquatic ecosystem. Those that exists outside of water bodies
are called terrestrial ecosystems.
2. Abiotic and biotic factors
A food chain is made up of three groups – producers, consumers and decomposers – they interact
with each other in an ecosystem to get their energy and the food they need. It’s a direct line.
The food web shows all of the relationships between all food chain in an ecosystem. Many lines
The second level of the food chains is called the Primary Consumer. These consume the green
plants. Animals in this group are usually herbivores. Examples include insects, sheep, caterpillars
and even cows.
The third in the chain are Secondary Consumers. These usually eat up the primary consumers
and other animal matter. They are commonly called carnivores and examples include lions,
snakes and cats.
The fourth level is called Tertiary Consumers. These are animals that eat secondary
consumers.
At the top of the levels are Predators. They are animals that have little or no natural enemies.
They are the ‘bosses’ of their ecosystems. Predators feed on preys. A prey is an animal that
predators hunt to kill and feed on. Predators include owls, snakes, wild cats, crocodiles and
sharks. Humans can also be called predators.
When any organism dies, detrivores (like vultures, worms and crabs) eat them up. The rest are
broken down by decomposers (mostly bacteria and fungi), and the exchange of energy continues.
Decomposers start the cycle again.
5. 3 big principles in an ecosystem
There are 3 big principles:
Nutrient cycling: The use, movement and recycling of nutrients (food) in the
environment.
Energy flow: Energy is needed to turn inorganic food (food that doesn’t come from
animals) into organic (living) tissues of an organisms. Energy is the most important force
of an ecosystem.
Structure: Inter-relationships that exist between organisms in an ecosystem.
6. Definitions
Factor: something that can changes a situation like the climate, sun, weather.
Habitat: is the kind of natural environment in which a particular species of organism lives.
Organism: living thing.
Organic: always have carbon and are alive
Inorganic: do not have carbon, like elements as salt, metals