Introduction to Ecology,

Ecosystem and Levels of

Organization
Prof. Edelyn DL Gersin
✓ Ecology is perhaps the biological sciences with
explicit links to many biological disciplines for it
deals with living and non-living things, interacting
in an immense web of relationship.
 Ecology
is the study of the relationships
between living organisms, including
humans, and their physical environment; it
seeks to understand the vital connections
between plants and animals and the world
around them. Ecology also provides
information about the benefits of
ecosystems and how Earth’s resources can
be used in ways that leave the environment
healthy for future generations.
- the term ecology comes from the Greek word
“oikos” meaning “house”.
- it was coined by German scientist Ernst Haeckel.
- every organism needs an area where it lives called
“habitat”
- many different organisms can share a habitat, but
each organism has a certain role or “niche” in its
habitat.
 Two Subdivisions of Ecology
Autecology

It deals with the study of the

individual organism, its life history,
behavior, characteristics and its
adaptation to the environment
Two Subdivisions of Ecology
Synecology

It deals with the study of groups

of organism which are
associated as a unit in relation
to its environment.
Organisms are expected to adapt to their environment, so
they ‘fit’ into their surroundings, to ensure survival

An adaptation is an inherited or learned characteristic of

organisms whether plants or animals during their spans of
lifetime. It is the characteristic that helps organisms
survive and reproduce or propagate in its environment. An
insect has the ability to copy the color of its environment
 Ecosystem
✓ An ecosystem is the interactions between living and non-living
things in a particular environment. It is place where these
interactions occur, such as a rotting log, or a forest. All organisms
and parts within this place re interacting all the time and adjustments
must occur if the organism is to survive.
✓ Ecosystem vary in size and complexity. In order to study an entire
ecosystem scientists often study only a small aspect of an ecosystem
and then work with other scientists to piece together the overall
picture of how the ecosystem functions, a simple aquarium, with
water, fishes, sands and stones, shells, and plants is an example of
ecosystem.
 Levels of Organization
Levels of Description
Organization
Atom Is the smallest particle of matter

Molecules Basic chemical unit that makes up the parts of the cell
Organelle Part of a cell
Cell Smallest unit of living things
Tissue Is the group of similar cells

Organ Is the group of differentiated tissues work together doing the same work
Organ system Basic chemical unit that makes up the parts of the cell

Organism Is an individual living thing or organism either plants or animals

Population Is the group of similar organisms occupying in the same area

Community Is the group of different populations interacting with one another

Ecosystem Is the group of communities interacting with their physical factors
Biomes as a large category of ecosystem
Biosphere Refers to all the ecosystem on Earth with the physical environment
Levels of Organization

COMMUNITY
 Symbiosis
✓ There are different ways or methods that
organisms can interact within each other. It
is referred to as symbiosis.
✓ Both positive (beneficial) and negative
(unfavorable to harmful) associations are
therefore included, and the members are
called symbionts.
✓ Any association between two species
populations that live together is symbiotic,
whether the species benefit, harm, or have
no effect on one another.
 Mutualism
• Occurs when there is a
relationship between two
different organisms, in which
both benefits from the
relationship.
• Sample are clown fish dwell
among the tentacles of sea
anemones and an insect sips
nectar of the flowers. Both
organisms benefits from each
other.
 Parasitism
• Occurs when there is a relationship between two different
organisms, in which one partner benefits from the
relationship, while the other partner is harmed. Typically,
the partner that benefits (parasite), lives on or in the other
organism (the host) and feeds on it.
• Example is an aphid that fed by attacking the plants and cause
harm to it.
 Commensalism
• Occurs when there is a relationship between two different organisms, in which
one partner benefits from the relationship, while the other neither benefits,
nor is harmed.
• the species that benefits from the association—may obtain nutrients, shelter,
support, or locomotion from the host species, which is unaffected. The
commensal relation is often between a larger host and a smaller commensal. The
host organism is essentially unchanged by the interaction, whereas the
commensal species may show great morphological adaptation. This relationship
can be contrasted with mutualism, in which both species benefit.
• One of the best-known examples of a commensal is the remora (family
Echineidae) that rides attached to sharks and other fishes.
 Predation
• Is a biological interaction where a
predator (an organism that is
hunting) feeds on its prey (the
organism that is attacked).
• Examples of predation are owls
that eat mice, and lions that eat
gazelles.
 Amensalism
• is a type of biological interaction
where one species causes harm to
another organism without any
cost or benefits to itself. It can be
seen as a form of interaction or
competitive behavior among other
organisms.
• When cattle trample on grass, the
grass is crushed. However, the
cattle do not benefit from this
action nor is harmed in the process.
 Environment Two Basic Factors
• Abiotic Factors – these are non-living conditions or things, such as
climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem and the
organisms in it. Water, soil, sunlight, and temperature are part of
these
• Biotic Factors – these are living things, plants and animals, which
influence or affect n ecosystem.
 Water
1. Water is an important ecological factor. It is an inorganic
substance which plays an important role in the ecosystem
2. It brings about changes in the life forms of plants and animals. As
aquatic plants and animals have different structures from
terrestrial form.
3. Water is very irregularly distributed on the Earth’s surface. It has
an important bearing on the character of the organisms that live on
various types of habitat.
 Types of Plants According to Water Requirements

Plants have different adaptations that help them survive in different

condition.

1. Tropophytes – these are plants that

can adapt year after year where
seasonal changes bring mark
change in the amount of available
water from the soil.
2. Mesophytes – most of our plants
bearing flowers and fruits are
classified as mesophytes. They
need a moderate supply of water
for their substinence.
3.Xerophytes – plants that can tolerate
where water supply is very scanty.
4. Hydrophytes – these plants thrive in
places where the amount of water is
abundant: usually fresh water plants are
called hydrophytes.
5. Halophytes – plants thriving in a place
where the water available contains
much dissolved salts. The sea or oceans
where plants inhabit have abundant
supply of water, but due to its
concentration, the plant absorbs it with
difficulty.
 Soil
1. The soil is another important
ecological factor. On land,
the character of the soil
determines largely the
character of vegetation and
the types of animals that
maintain themselves upon it.
2. Organisms find different
kinds of soil available for
their habitats.
 Types of Soil
1. Loam – soil which is good for agriculture and made up of particles
of gravel sand and clay with the addition of organic materials
called humus, with 1 inch diameter.
2. Clay – smallest inorganic particle of soil compared with silt and
sand. It retains water before drying; it is sticky and not suitable for
plant growth. Water moves slowly. It is often damp and poorly
drained, about 0.005 mm in diameter
 Types of Soil
3. Silt – made up of very fine particles of soil and clay, deposited as
sediments. It is about 0.05 to 0.005 in diameter.
4. Sandy – inorganic soil particles those are larger than a clay or silt.
Plants do not grow well because water goes rapidly through the
spaces between particle, and water dries quickly. Its size about 1
mm to 0.05 in diameter.
 Sunlight
1. Light is an important physical factor. Without light, life on earth would be
impossible.
2. The process of photosynthesis on which organisms depend on the manufacture
of food, does not take place except in the presence of light.
3. The character of the lightning of an area has a profound effect on animals and
plants that live there.
4. Certain plants will thrive in the shade, whereas others will not. This is likewise
true of animals.
 Temperature
1. Environmental temperature is an important factor because of its
effect in the metabolism.
2. Temperatures in sunlight and in shade differ and influence animals
in their selection of an habitat. The effect of temperature on the
presence or absence of animals in different habitat are varied.
3. Types of animals in different body temperature. Cold blooded
(fishes, amphibians, reptiles) and warm blooded (birds and
mammals).
 Oxygen
1. Like water, oxygen is another important abiotic factor for many
living organisms.
2. Without oxygen, humans would not be able to live. Oxygen is
produced by green plants through the process of photosynthesis,
and is therefore directly link to sunlight.
✓ We have stated earlier that
biotic factors are plants and
animals which affect each other
throughout their environment.
The biological relationships
may be between individual of
the same species (intraspecific)
or between animals of different
species (interspecific) or
between plants and animals.
Intraspecific

It is the relationship includes mating, assistance,

gorgeousness, and competition. Organisms belonging
to the same species must compete with one another for
space, food, and mates.
 Interspecific

Different species must struggle with each other for space and
food. Since many species use other kinds of animals for
food, each habitat includes predaceous animals.
 Limiting Factors
• All living things need food, water,
shelter, and space to survive. As we go
along with this topic, we will tackle the
factors that may affect the increase of
population and growth of an organism.
• Limiting Factors – are the forms of an
environmental resistance that limits the
population. These are some things that
keep population from growing too large.
In other words, these are any biotic or
abiotic factors that restrict the numbers,
reproduction or distribution of
organisms.
 Limiting Factors
• The most limiting factor determines the yield potential.
• Because of the limiting factors, each ecosystem has a finite
capacity for growth connected to its carrying capacity.
• Carrying capacity is the maximum number of organisms of a single
species that an area can hold.
• Limiting factors are generally classified into two: the density
independent and dependent factors
Density independent factors
• Can affect the population no matter what its density is.
The example of this is the natural disasters, temperature,
sunlight, human activities, physical characteristics and
behavior of organisms.
 Density dependent factors

• Can only affect a population when it reaches a certain

density. The example of this is the competitions,
predation, disease, parasitism, crowding and stress.