Biology

Chapter 8
Dynamic ecosystem

Prepared by :
Azneezal Ar-Rashid
October 2009
 What is ecosystem?
• An ecosystem is a system of
interdependent organisms which share the
same habitat, in an area functioning
together with all of the physical factors of
the environment.
• Ecosystems can be permanent or
temporary. Ecosystems usually form a
number of food webs.
 Examples of ecosystems

• Human
• Aquatic
• Rainforest
• Coral reef
• Dessert
• Agroecosystem
• Tundra
Human ecosytem
Aquatic ecosystem
Rainforest ecosystem
Coral Reef ecosystem
Dessert ecosystem
Agroecosytem
Tundra ecosystem
 Ecosystem
• Abiotic components
– Non-living organisms

• Biotic components
– Living organisms
 Abiotic components
• These factors are :
– Light intensity
– Humidity
– Temperature
– pH
– microclimate
– topography
 Biotic components
• Refer to living organisms in an ecosystem which are
grouped as :
– Producers
• Autotrophs
– Photosyntesis
– Consumers
• Heterotrophs
– Primary
– Secondary
– Tertiary
– Decomposers
• Microorganisms
– Bacteria
– Fungi
 Producers
• Manufacture food
– Are eaten by primary, secondary and tertiary
consumers
• Trophic levels
– Each organism belongs to a distinct level of
feeding
• Food chain
– The sequence of one organism feeding upon
another
Food chain
 Ecosystem
• Ecosystems almost always contain more
than one food chain
• Most food chains overlap because the
organisms feed on more than one type of
food.
• The food chains are intertwined to formed
a food web, a network of interacting food
chains
Food web