The Interactions in the

ECOSYSTEMS
What is an ecology?
Ecology is the study of the interaction among organisms and their environment.
Ecologists are the people who specialize in this course.

An ecosystem is a community of biotic components that interact with each other and
with abiotic components in a given area.
Biotic components include all organisms such as plants, animals, and bacteria.

Abiotic components are the nonliving parts, such as weather, climate, temperature, rocks, soil, and the sun.

• Both biotic and abiotic components depend on each other.

• The absence of one can affect the other in the ecosystem.
 Types of Organisms
01. Producers – manufacture their own food.

02. Consumers – feed on other organisms.

03. Decomposers – break down or decompose

decaying or dead bodies of
organisms.
04. Scavengers – eat dead organisms.
Types of
Ecosystems
1. Terrestrial Ecosystem
2. Aquatic Ecosystem
3. Mangrove Ecosystem

Tropical rainforests are terrestrial ecosystems. They

usually found in wet tropical uplands and lowlands near
Earth’s equator. So, these forest have a relatively hot and
moist environment, which can be suitable for various
organisms.
 This type of ecosystem contains a wide array of vegetation and is dominated by trees
with broad leaves that form a green, functional canopy .
 Layers of Trees
in the
Tropical Rainforest:

01. Emergent Layer

02. Canopy Layer
• Lower Canopy Layer
or UNDERSTORY
• Upper Canopy Layer

03. Forest Floor

 Layers of trees in the Tropical Rainforest:
01. Emergent Layer

The Emergent layer of the rainforest has

enormous umbrella-shaped trees that take up
plenty of sunlight. These trees are also exposed to
winds that can dry up their leaves. Many of these
trees have small, pointed leaves. In the
Philippines, Talisay and narra are found in the
emergent layer.
 Layers of trees in the Tropical Rainforest:
01. Emergent Layer
Animals such as orangutans, monkeys, and
birds such as hornbills and eagles also live in this
bats
layer. Bats and butterflies are also visible in the
emergent layer of tropical rainforest.

butterfly

hornbills orangutan
 Rafflesia

02. Canopy Layer

• Upper Canopy Layer

 is below the emergent layer.

 Plenty of sunlight is readily available in here, blocking light pitcher
exposure for the lower canopy. plant

 Plants that eat small insects are also found in the upper
canopy, such as Rafflesia. Its smell resembles that of
rotting meat, attracting flies.
 Another carnivorous plant, the pitcher plant has
modified leaves called pitfall traps that have a deep
cavity filled with liquid. It traps very small insects.

 Most of the rainforest animals live here such as

big parrot and spider monkeys
02. Canopy Layer
• Lower Canopy Layer or
UNDERSTORY

 is mostly made up of shrubs and small

trees.

 It also contains trees that are about 18

meters or less in height.

 Because most of the sunlight is blocked

by the upper canopy, this area is always
shaded and has high humidity.

 Animals such as bats, owls, monkeys,

spiders, ants, and stick insects are usually
found in this layer.
02. Canopy Layer
• Lower Canopy Layer or
UNDERSTORY

 Animals such as bats, owls,

monkeys, spiders, ants, and
stick insects are usually found
in this layer.

bat owl
spider ants

stick insect
 03. Forest Floor
Last layer of the rainforest is the forest floor. This is the darkest layer
termites
in the rainforest. Because it only gets a small amount of sunlight due to the
layers above it, only a few plants grow in this part.
 Termites, earthworms, and fungi that decompose the fallen dry leaves and wastes
occupy this area.

 Giant millipedes, frogs, snakes, lizards, and some insects also live in this layer.
earthworms

 There are no dominant species in any layer of the tropical rainforest. Each plant or
animal thrives in the layer that it inhabits depending on the conditions it favors.

millipedes
fungi
snake

frog

lizard
Symbiotic Interactions of
Relationships & Organisms
- Is a long-term
relationship that exist
between two organisms. As
mentioned earlier, different
organisms coexist within the
ecosystem. This interactions
means that these organisms
depend on each other for
food and shelter.
 Predation
In tropical rainforest, there are
animals that act as predators and
some that serve as their prey.
.
The predator eats the weaker The frog eat insects.
organisms called the prey.

This symbiotic relationship

is called predation.

Snake eats the frog

 Mutualism
- is a type of relationship wherein two
organism benefit from each other.

There are small animals such as ants and

small birds that live in the trees. They protect the trees
from other insects and vines. Because of this, the tree
grows more quickly.

The ants and birds

use the tree as their shelter.
The tree gets protection from
other organism in return.
 Commensalism
- There are case wherein one organism benefits,
but the other organism is unaffected.

- One example is the epiphyte that gets support

from the trees to obtain more sunlight and nutrients from
the air.

- The tree is neither harmed nor does it benefit

from the relationship.
 Competition

There are cases wherein two

or more animals fight for the same food,
or trees and compete to get more
sunlight. This relationship is called
competition.
 Organisms in
the tropical rainforest
also interact with the
abiotic components to
survive and live.

For instance, plants

manufacture their own
food through
photosynthesis.

They need sunlight and

carbon dioxide to do this.
Types of Ecosystems
2. Aquatic Ecosystem
A coral reef is an aquatic ecosystem for different marine
plants, animals, and other organisms.

Only about 0.1% of the ocean area has coral reefs, but these
reefs support 25% of the marine life on Earth.

A coral reef is actually the exoskeleton of a coral, a marine

coelenterate invertebrate. When the corals grow, multiply and
split into two, they leave their outer skeletons behind.

These skeletons are made up of calcium or limestone that stay

together in a fixed position.

These skeletons gradually build up to form coral reefs.

 Types Of Coral Reef
• Barrier Reef – This is parallel with the shore, but it is
separated by deeper, wiser lagoons.

• Fringing Reef – This is commonly

found near the coastline or in places
where the water is shallow.
 Types Of Coral Reef
• Patch Reef – This is a small, isolated reef that usually
occurs between fringing reefs and barrier reefs.

• Atoll – This is a circular reef with open

lagoons that is usually located in the middle
of the sea.
Aquatic Symbiotic Relationship
Coral Reefs also support
different types of symbiotic
relationships among these marine
animals and another organisms.

Mutualism happens between coral

polyps and zooxanthellae.
Aquatic Symbiotic Relationship
Sponges attach themselves to the coral
reefs. These sedentary animals provide
shelter for animals such as crabs, fishes,
shrimps, and other small animals.

These animals benefit in the relationship, but

no harm or benefit is given to the sponge. This
is an example of commensalism.
Types of Ecosystems
3. Mangrove Ecosystem

Mangroves are groups of

woody, seed-bearing tees and
shrubs that grow in salty
coastlines.
 Around 46 species of mangroves
are in the Philippines.

 They usually grow in tropical and

subtropical areas near the equator
because they cannot endure cold
temperatures.
 Mangrove Swamp
A mangrove swamp is an ecosystem between land and the
sea of coastal settings, such as bays, creeks, and lagoons.
o It is usually found along the
water passages where the
freshwater and saltwater
meet.
o These swamps provide shelter
and protection to the
community.
o Mangroves are also rich in
organic matter, which serves
as marine food sources.
o They also trap and filter
sediments, which help protect
coastlines.
 Mangrove Swamp Animals
Mangrove Swamps also serve as shelters for different kinds of
birds, reptiles, mammals, and insects.

 An endangered animal called the mangrove monitor, a

monitor lizard that feeds on fishes, crabs, and insects, can
also be found in mangrove swamps.

 Water buffaloes and monkeys also seek shelter here.

 Bees and other insects that help in pollination are also

found in the mangroves.
 Group 3
Clarence Jacob J. Bermejo
Team Leader

Mel Alexander Advincula Czheron John Arespacochaga

Member Member

Solara Campita Azriel Prudence Pespis

Member Member
 THANKS!!!
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