Interactions Within Ecosystems

Chapter 12
What are the questions we have to ask about
Ecosystems?
 12.1 How do our Actions impact the Environment?
 12.2 How does an Environment influence the Survival of
Organisms?
 12.3 What types of Interactions Affect the Stability of An
Ecosystem?
 12.4 What are the Processes involved in Maintaining a Stable
Ecosystem?
 12.5 How can we Help to Maintain a Stable Ecosystem?
Lesson trigger
• Many animals migrate to places
with warmer climates to avoid the
cold season.
• From September to March, as
many as 50,000 birds stop over
at the Sungei Buloh Wetland
Reserve. They rest there before
flying off to warmer countries.
• This is an example of adaptive
behaviour brought about by
changes in the environment.
Section 12.1
How do our Actions Impact the
Environment?
How do our Actions Impact the Environment?
 Limited resources on the Earth
 Continue to deplete the resources at a faster rate
than it should be will lead to
 Great impact on the environment and the
ecosystem
 Affect the survival of other living organisms as we
are closely connected in an ecosystem .
What are the human activities that will
impact the environment?
 The following human’s actions/activities will burden
the environment and destroy the ecosystem on this
planet
o Wasting Food
o Using more Electricity
o Using more Water
o Creating excessive Wastes
How can wasting food impact on the
environment and ecosystem?

 Wasting food = Wasting Earth’s limited

resources.
 Growing crops and livestock require many
resources – space (environment), facilities,
energy, water, etc
 How can using more electricity lead to
environmental problems?
 Electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels through
energy conversion to obtain electrical energy.
 Singapore uses natural gas to produce electricity!

More fossil fuel Greenhouse

is used in Effect
production of
electricity
Global
Warming
More carbon dioxide
Using more gas is produced and
electricity released into the air
Why should we use less water?
 About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and
the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water.
 Less than 1% of water is fresh water
 Water needs to be treated before it can be used for most human
activities.
 Treatment of water needs energy which can be depleted due to
limited natural resources.
 Using more water will also deplete the limited water available
on this Earth.
Why creating more wastes could destroy the
environment?
 Many human activities generate wastes.
 Improper disposal of the excessive wastes produced by humans
could affect the environment.
 Pollution of air, water and the land.
 Lead to health problems because of air pollution.
 Discharges of chemicals into the waters could poison and kill
the animals and plants living there.
 Disposal of non-degradable objects such as plastic products
into the water bodies could threaten the survival of aquatic
animals.
How can we contribute to the effort of
conserving the environment?

 Reducing the use of fossil fuels.

 Reducing Consumption
 Introducing Environmental Friendly Practices
 Reforestation
How to reduce the use of fossil fuels?
 Take public transport or walk instead of driving a
car.
 Use energy-efficient electrical appliances.
 These will help to reduce energy consumption which
in turn will reduce the use of fossil fuels that are
used to generate electrical energy.
How to reduce consumption?
 Minimising the use of paper.
 Reusing and recycling items.
 Reduce the need for raw materials such as wood
as less trees will be cut down.
 Recycling metals can also help to reduce the
need for extracting more metals from the Earth.
What are the environmentally friendly
practices?

 ‘Bring Your Own Bag’ is an initiative that

encourages people to use less plastic
products.
 Separation of recyclable wastes from non-
recyclable wastes for recycling effort.
How Reforestation helps in conserving the
environment?
 Reforestation will help to replace some of the plants lost
due to forestation that clear land for human’s use.
 Plants growing in soil will help to prevent land erosion and
flood etc.
 Plants will carry out photosynthesis that remove carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
How Reforestation helps in conserving the
environment?
 Reduction of carbon dioxide in the air will reduce the
impact on climate change due to greenhouse effect.
 As plants make food and store them as a source of carbon
in them can also provide food supply for most organisms in
the ecosystem.
Quiz 1, Quiz 2 & Quiz 3
Section 12.2
How does an Environment
Influence the Survival of
Organisms?
What determine the survival of an organism
in its living environment?

 The physical factors present in an organism’s habitat and

adaptive traits that developed to ensure its successful
survival in the environment.
What is a habitat?

 It is the place where an organism lives.

 Examples are forest, ocean, river, desert, urban
areas, trees, mangrove
What are Physical Factors of an environment
or habitat where an organism lives?

 These are the physical attributes or make-ups of a physical

environment.
 Such as water content (e.g. humidity), temperature, light,
mineral content, acidity, alkalinity etc.
 These physical factors can be measured using data loggers and
appropriate probes . (e.g. temperature probe)
Adaptations in Organisms

 Adaptive traits present in organisms can be classified into:

 Structural
 Behavioural
What are Structural Adaptive Traits?

 These are the physical characteristics of an organism that

helps it to survive well in its habitat.
 Examples 1= scales on crocodile protect it from heat and
injury
 Example 2 = the waxplant has waxy leaves that help to
reduce water loss
What are Behavioural Adaptive Traits?

 These refer to the behaviours developed by an organism

to allow it to survive in its environment.
 Example 1 = The sand bubble crab burrows into the sand
to escape from heat and predators.
 Example 2 = Migratory birds move from northern
regions to the southern warmer areas to avoid the harsh
winter season.
Let’s study two unique habitats…

 Rainforest
 Mangrove Swamp
What are the Physical Factors found in a
Rainforest?

 Warm air with high humidity

 Frequent and abundant rainfall
 Average daily temperature is high
 Narrow range of daily temperature fluctuation
 Abundant sunlight reaching the canopy but little sunlight reaching
the ground
 Minerals are plentiful and they are found mainly near the surface
of the soil.
 The soil is usually acidic.
Case Study 1 – King Cobra
-Poisonous venom aids in hunting for
-Hunts during dawn or prey
dusk -Keen sense of smell from the forked
-Lift its body up and tongue
inflate with hissing -Inner ears to detect vibrations from
sound to frighten preys
enemies -body colour as camoufladge to the
-Become aggressive forest floor’s colour
when provoked
 Case Study 2 – Stick Insect
Stays very still and moves
very slowly to avoid being
detected by predators

Shape and colour like a leaf

or a twig, making it difficult
for predators to spot it
Case Study 3 – Banded Leaf Monkey

To stay in groups for

protection from predators
and to fight off other groups
Long and strong arms
competing for food in its
allow it to swing
territory
from tree to tree
Case Study 4 – Velvet Tamarind Tree

Buttress root provides support

for the tree to grow very tall
and to absorb minerals from the
surface of the soil

Grow very tall to allow its

leaves to trap more
sunlight
Case Study 5 - Pangolin
-Covered with scales for -Curls into a ball to protect
protection itself against predators
-Long and sticky tongue -Active mostly at night to
for catching ants and avoid predators in the day
termites
-Strong front legs and
claws for digging
What are the Physical Factors found in a
Mangrove Swamp?

 The habitat is immersed in seawater at high tide and becomes dry

at low tide.
 It will receive fresh water when it rains.
 The habitat is exposed to a lot of sunlight.
 The seawater is salty and carries many minerals to the habitat.
 The seawater is slightly alkaline.
Case Study 1 – Mangrove Tree
high tide
With strong roots to anchor securely to
the mud
With breathing roots to help it to obtain
oxygen from the air
Ability to remove salt by shedding off
leaves as they accumulate salt over
time.

low tide

breathing roots
Case Study 2 – Pistol Shrimp
It lives in burrows to
-Its enlarged claw enable it to protect itself against
shoot a jet with a water buuble predators
-The bubble bursts , the high
pressure generated can stunt
the preys and catch them off
guard.
 Case Study 3 – Kacang Putih Moth
Its larvae roll up the edge of leaves like kacang
putih paper (rolled-up paper cone) to protect
Brown coloured body and wings themselves against predators.
act as camouflage to match it with
the tree trunks, making it difficult
for predators to spot it
 Case Study 4 - Mangrove Snail
- It climbs trees to avoid high tide
and predators
- It hides in cracks or under rocks to
- Its thick shell provides keep itself cool.
protection - It is usually active when low tide
- The colour of the shell acts as on the ground.
camouflage to its environment,
difficult for predators to spot it.
- It produces and releases mucus,
together with its strong muscle at
the opening to cling tightly to the
tree to avoid being washed away
during high tide.
 Case Study 5 - Mudskipper
- It feeds on food found on the
mud surface at low tide
- Its large gill chambers store - It digs burrows for protection
water to keep its gill damp and to keep itself cool and
- It is able to absorb oxygen moist
through its skin on land, and
through the gills when in water
- The eyes on top of its head help
it to scan and detect the presence
of preys and predators
How can an organism become endangered when one
of the physical factors of the habitat changes?
 It may affect its food supply.
 Loss of shelters, making it easier for predators to spot and feed on
it
 Its life cycle or reproductive cycle is affected and lesser offspring
is produced.
 The organism might be poisoned or killed due to pollution issues.
 It may increase the population of its predators
 Its population decreases due to overhunting by humans.
Why pests like rats and cockroaches are so successful in their
survival in every part of the world?

 Discussion
 Gathering points raised by students.
Quiz 4, Quiz 5
Section 12.3
What types of Interactions affect
the stability of an Ecosystem?
What is an organism?

 It is a living thing that is adapted to the environment it lives

in.
What is a population?

 Organisms of the same kind living in the same

environment.
What is a Community?

 Different populations of organisms living and interacting

in a particular environment make up a community.
What is an ecosystem?

 The interactions between a community and its physical

environment make up an Ecosystem.
What are some types of Inter-relationships in an
Ecosystem

 Predator-Prey
 Mutualism
 Parasitism
What is Predator-Prey Relationship?

 Predators hunt and kill their preys for food.

What are the usual adaptive traits of
predators?
 Strong body and great strength
 Sharp teeth
 Strong claws
 High speed
 Sharp senses for detecting preys
 Can produce chemicals to lure, paralyse or poison
preys
 Camouflage tactics to deceive or trick the preys
 What are the usual Adaptive Traits of Preys?
 High speed
 Small size
 Effective camouflage
 Defensive body parts like horns
 Mimic unpleasant objects to fool their predators
lobster moth
caterpillar
 Release chemicals to frighten predators off

mimic scary looking predator

armadillo

poisonous tree frog bombardier beetle

What is Mutualism?
 It is a relationship in which two or more organisms
support or benefit one another in a habitat.
 One common way in which one of the organism
provides another with protection in exchange for
food.
Case Study 1 – Ant and aphid
 Aphids are little sap-sucking insects that secrete honeydew, a sugary
liquid that is the waste product of their diet.
 Ants that feed on the honeydew by 'milking' the aphids with their
antennae.
 Ants will protect the aphids from predators and parasites.
Case Study 2 – Clownfish and Sea Anemone
 The tentacles of sea anemone will sting other fishes so clownfish is being
protected from its predators
 The brightly-coloured clownfish will lure its predators to come towards sea
anemone which will then be stung by the tentacles and they become the food
for sea anemone.
 The active movement of clownfish at night will help to create current among
tentacles so as to help sea anemone to obtain more oxygen
What is Parasitism?
 It is a relationship between a parasitic organism which lives on or
in its host organism by benefitting through taking away food and
nutrients from the host and eventually causing harm to the host
organism.
 The parasite and the host can be of the following types
 Animal – animal
 Plant – plant
 Animal - plant
Case Study 1 - Rafflesia

 It is a plant without stem, leaves roots or

chloroplasts.
 It gets all its nutrients from certain vines
which act as its host.
Case Study 2 – Roundworm, Tapeworm
 Live in human or other animals’ intestines.
 Obtain nutrients from the food in the intestines and
reproduce.
 They can grow to very long.
 They can cause malnutrition to the host as well as other
complications (such as diarrhoea, perforations in digestive
organs).
 Humans get infected with roundworm through consuming
contaminated water or raw food containing the eggs of
roundworm or infected pets.
 Eggs of these worms are commonly found in stools of
humans or animals, soil.
How could the stability of an ecosystem
become upset?
 Changes in environmental conditions involving one or more
physical factors
 Removal of any organism from the ecosystem
 Introduction or addition of any organism into the ecosystem
 This may cause the sudden increase in populations of certain
organisms
 The populations of some species may decrease drastically and
become extinct eventually.
Quiz 6, Quiz 7
Section 12.4
What are the processes involved in
Maintaining a Stable Ecosystem?
Why are green plants referred to as producers in an
ecosystem?
 Green plants are able to carry out photosynthesis in the presence
of light with the intake of carbon dioxide and water to manufacture
food.
 Energy provided by the food is used to support various processes in
the plant such as growth.
 Food is stored in the plant as chemical potential energy.
 Once other animals feed on plants, this chemical potential energy is
transferred to these animals.
How does energy flow in an ecosystem?

 It is flown through inter-connected feeding relationship

among the various organisms in an ecosystem, mainly via:
 Food chain
 Food web
What is a Food Chain?
 It shows the sequence how energy and nutrients in the form of
food is transferred from one organisms to another in a habitat.
 It consists of
 Producer
 Primary consumer
 Secondary consumer
 Tertiary consumer
The producer – maize plant obtain its energy source from the Sun
and turns it into chemical potential Energy stored in the
manufactured Food.
What type of consumer is lion?
What is a Food Web?
 It shows how two or more food chains are inter-connected involving the
transfer of energy and nutrients in a habitat.
What are the various feeding relationship in
a food chain & food web?
 Producer – They are usually green plants that can manufacture food
via photosynthesis.
 Consumer – They cannot produce food and must feed on others.
 Herbivores – animals that feed on plants
 Carnivores - animals that feed on other animals
 Omnivores – animals that can obtain their food via animal or plant
sources.
 Decomposers – organisms that feed on the remains of dead
organisms and wastes (such as faeces and urine)
How many food chains exist in this food
web?
What is the initial energy source for a food
chain?
 Light Energy from the Sun.
Give some examples of decomposers and
state their roles in an ecosystem.
 Examples = bacteria, fungi, earthworms.
 They break down the faeces of organisms and remains
of dead organisms .
 The nutrients stored in these wastes and dead matter
are returned to the ecosystem.
 Carbon dioxide and other gases are released into the
air.
 Other nutrients are released into the soil too.
Wastes and dead matter of all organisms are
broken down by decomposers!
 What is the common thing that is released to
the environment by all organisms?

 HEAT
 This is because ALL ORGANISMS
CARRY OUT RESPIRATION.
 Energy is produced in the form of heat
that is released into the environment.
Why the energy flow in a food chain or food web
is one-directional or non-cyclical?
 The producer obtains its light energy from the Sun.
 All organisms release heat to the environment
 But this heat energy cannot be used by plants (producers) to make food
via photosynthesis.
 Hence, energy is flowed from producer to consumers in one direction
and lost as heat and never returns to the producer as energy source to
make food.
 Why the flow of nutrients is cyclical in an
optional
ecosystem?
When decomposers break down waste matters
and dead bodies of organisms, nutrients are
released into the environment which can be used As consumers feed on
by plants to make food and grow. plants as food, the
food chain and food
web are maintained
and the chemical
matter flow from one
organism to another
in a cyclical manner.
Quiz 8, Quiz 9
Section 12.5
How can we help to Maintain a
Stable Ecosystem?
What can we do?
 Environmental conservation
 Reduced destruction of natural habitats
 Farming animals for food supply
 Farm-grown medicinal plants, for medication supply.
 Farming trees for paper and furniture industry.
 Growing endangered species of animals and plants in captivity
before releasing them back to the wild.
 Reduced production of greenhouse gases through legislation and
effective industrial practices or efficient manufacturing processes.
 Adopt and Practice sustainable lifestyles.
What are Sustainable Lifestyles?
 Impose laws on commercial fishing to prevent marine and freshwater
fishes become extinct.
 To use less destructive methods for mass fishing.
 Cut down the use of fossil fuels-driven vehicles.
 To reduce the use of plastics; use natural materials for packaging and
storing e.g. banana leaves.
 Reduce generation of rubbish and wastes as disposal and burning
them can cause destruction and pollution to the environment.
What are Sustainable Lifestyles?

 Reuse and recycle products items.

 Reduce food wastes.
 Use energy-efficient or energy-saving light bulbs, air-
conditioners and electrical appliances to reduce electricity
usage and thus the reduced burning of fossils fuels to
generate electricity.
Quiz 10