Chapter 2 COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM Objectives At the end of the chapter, students should be able to: 1, Discuss the biotic and abiotic factors of ecosystem. 2. Differentiate autotrophs and heterotrophs. 3. Name and discuss the factors influencing the distribution of plants and animals. |. Explain the important processes in the ecosystem. _ Analyze and interpret specific environmental issue. Biotic and Abiotic Factors of Ecosystem Biotic factors refer to the biological influences on organisms within an ecosystem. This includes all ecological community and relationships such as insect-flower relationships, predator-prey relationships, seed dispersal, scavenging, symbiosis (mutualism, parasitism & commensalism), overpopulation, animal behavior, aposematic coloration Abiotic factors are those that relate physical, or nonliving, factors that shape the ecosystem. These include the climatic conditions of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems; including temperature, precipitation, and humidity; wind; nutrients available; substrate (soil); atmospheric gasses, currents and sunlight.ne the survival and growth of an organism ‘Together, biotic and abiotic factors de and the productivity ofthe ecosystem in which the organism lives, “The abiotic factors determine the type of organisms that can successfully live in a particular area, Some of the major nonliving factors of an ecosystem include 1, Sunlight, This is necessary for photosynthesis, but some can live with lesser amounts. 2. Water, All living things require some wate 3. Temperature. Ail living things have a range of temperatures in which they can survive, beyond those limits they will have difficult time 4. Oxygen. Many living things require oxygens it is necessary for cellular respiration, a process used to obtain energy from food: others are actually killed by the presence of oxygen (certain bacteria). 5. Soll, The type of soil, pH, amount of water it holds, available nutrients, etc determine ‘what type of organism can successfully live in or on the soil; for example, cact live in sand, catails in soil saturated with water. ‘Theiotic factors include the plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and any other living things that live in an area. Categories include: 1, Producers or autotrophs make their own food. Producers, such as plants, make food through a process called photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide ‘and water to make sugar. This food is used by the plant for its own energy or may be eaten by consumers, 2. Consumers or heterotrophs need to eat food that autotrophs have produced. There are different types of consumers. Herbivores eat plants. Carnivores eat animals. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. 3. Decomposers are heterotrophs that break down dead tissue and waste products. They play a very important role in the ecosystem because they recycle nutrients. Bacteria and fungi are decomposers. Within an ecosystem, all living things have a habitat or the physical area in which they live. The habitat of an organism may include many different areas. Think of the various places you might find a mouse; in afield, a garden and in the walls of your house. Animals that migrate will have different habitats during different seasons. If events occur to change a habitat a series of changes may result in the ecosystem. For example, cutting the trees in a forest destroys the homes of some animals, increases the amount of light that reaches the forest floor, reduces the amount of food for organisms that depend on those trees, reduces the amount of carbon dioxide taken from the air and oxygen released into it. As a result ofthis habitat destruction, some organisms may become threatened, endangered and eventually extinct. Important Processes in Ecosystems 1, Photosynthesis. This is carried out by plants (with chlorophyll), The rate is influenced by light intensity, temperature, and availability of water2. Decomposition. ‘This is the reverse process of photosynthesis, with organic matter Be aa inorganic compounds (like carbon dioxide), accomplished by ers such as microorganisms like bacteria and fungi; and larger organisms i paper rt teria and fungi; and larger organisms like ictors Influencing the Distribution of Plants and Animals 1, Temperature. The ability to withstand extremes in temperature varies widely amon plants & animals. . ign tt Animals respond to variation in temperature both physiologically and behaviorally. * Birds and mammals are endotherms (‘hot-blooded’) and maintain relatively high body temperatures using the heat by their own metabolism, * Other animals (such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects) are called ectotherms and their body temperatures ate largely set by the ambient (surrounding) ‘temperature. + Ectotherms use sources of heat such as solar radiation (direct and indirect) and conduction to help adjust their body temperature + Endotherms may maintain body temperature by: changing the position of fur or feathers; sweating & panting; shivering; behavioral means such as seeking shade or ‘water, burrowing, or varying periods of activity + Endotherms may avoid extended periods oflow or high temperatures by hibernating or estivating, + Hibernation is winter dormancy ‘+ Estivation is summer dormancy. Plants obviously cannot move to escape high or low temperatures. + Photosynthesis slows down or stops when temperatures get too high or too low. + Athigh temperatures, leaves can lose some heat by evapotranspiration (loss of water through small holes in leaves). «+ Plants adapted to withstand low temperatures because they may have hairs on leaves or stems; have more solutes in cytoplasm to reduce freezing point; tend to be short and grow closely together to resist the cold temperatures and wind; and tend to be dark-colored to absorb as much of the sun's heat as possible. 2. Water. The precipitation determines, along with mean temperature, the world-wide distribution of biomes. Primary problem for plants in areas like deserts is a lack of water. Plants adapted for dry conditions include: + Xerophytes, such as cacti that usually have special means of storing and conserving water, They often have few or no leaves, which reduce transpiration. «+ Phreatophytes plants that grow extremely long roots, allowing them to acquire moisture at or near the water table.+ Perennials plants that survive by bee springing to life when water becom + Ephemerals plants that usually g They grow quickly, lower and produc ing dormant during dry periods, then wailable, in the spring following winter rains. eds before dying, These seeds are extremely hardy. They remain dormant, resisting drought and heat, until the following spring sometimes 2 or 3 springs when they repeat the cycle, germinating after winter rains to bloom again in the spring. 3. Fire. Historically, humans have thought that all fires were detrimental because they blackened landscapes and burned trees. In fact, plants and animals evolved together with fire, making it a necessary element in the survival of many ecosystems, Effects of fire ‘Many plants depend on fire to heat and scar their seeds as a process for germination. Decaying trees release nutrients into the soil and serve as a base for new plants to sprout. Much of the plant life has evolved to use fire directly as a catalyst for reproduction or benefited by the nourishment left in its path. ‘The specific effects of fire on animals depend on what kind of fire, the type of vegetation, and the individual animal. + Larger animals generally survive more often than smaller ones; although a burrowed animal can escape burning, usually it suffocates in the meantime, + Many birds also thrive after a fire when the seeds of many trees are dispersed. Birds, like woodpeckers, take advantage of burned out trees to make nests or forage for dead insects. + Insects usually do not survive fires well because their escape range is too small. This can affect birds if the specific insects are a food source for the aviators. Trees can benefit from the death of insects that reside in their trunks. 4, Light. Light influences daily and seasonal activity patterns of plants and animals. & is necessary for photosynthesis which, in turn, is the source of energy in almost all ‘ecosystems. Energy flow through an ecosystem: + Gross primary production. This is where the sun's energy that is assimilated (total photosynthesis). Respiration where energy needed for maintenance and reproduction. stored a + Net primary production. The energy remaining after respiration & OKT (or foo organic matter. The energy available to other organisms in a food chain web).