Ecosystems and its Components

What is an ecosystem?

An area in which organisms (plants, animals and micro-organisms) interact with each other and with their environment and are interdependent on each other for survival.

What is an environment?

Everything that affects an animal makes up its environment - where it lives, the weather and all the living things it comes into contact with.

Every living thing, including people, has an effect upon the environment.

Different plants and animals live in different ecosystems.

Different ecosystems can be close together.

Animals may belong to several ecosystems.

Ecosystem exists both in land and water.

Can be as tiny as a drop of water or as large as a rainforest.

Within each ecosystem, there are habitats which may also vary in size

Homes and Habitats

The place where an animal lives is called its habitat.

The habitat must supply the needs of organisms, such as food, water, temperature, oxygen, and minerals.

If the population's needs are not met, it will move to a better habitat.

Biomes - ecosystems where several habitats intersect. -The Earth itself is one large biome.-Two general types are terrestrial biome and aquatic biome

Example of an Ecosystem 1) Pond

Within the pond, water plants and algae interact with sunlight to produce food. Insects interact with algae by eating them. Frogs interact with these insects.

2) A Forest ecosystem- Composed of trees, mosses, insects,

animals and birds. Even bacteria and fungi are part of the forest ecosystem.

What is ECOLOGICAL NICHE?- The role that each organism play

in the ecosystem When does Ecosystem change?- Ecosystem can change either by

human manipulation or by natural ways.

Ecosystem Organization Organisms

Made of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems

*Species

Groups of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, and genetic make up

PopulationAll the organisms of one

species living in a certain area or ecosystem .

Fig. 4.2, p. 66

BiosphereBiosphere

Ecosystems

Communities

Populations

Organisms

Communities All the organisms living in a specific

geographical area. A community includes organisms of different

species Ecosystems Biosphere the whole portion of Earth colonized by

living beings. Biosphere is the sum of all the ecosystems established on Earth.

COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM BIOTIC COMPONENTS- Refers to all the living organisms in the

ecosystem

ABIOTIC COMPONENTS-refers to all the nonliving features of the

ecosystem such as weather, temperature, soil, rocks, wind and water, etc,

Biotic Components of Ecosystems

Heat

Heat Heat

Heat

Heat

Abiotic chemicalsAbiotic chemicals(carbon dioxide,(carbon dioxide,

oxygen, nitrogen,oxygen, nitrogen,minerals)minerals)

ProducersProducers(plants)(plants)

DecomposersDecomposers(bacteria, fungus)(bacteria, fungus)

ConsumersConsumers(herbivores, (herbivores, carnivores)carnivores)

Solarenergy

Producers Source of all food

through Photosynthesis

Consumers Decomposers

Matter recyclers… Release organic

compounds into soil and water where they can be used by producers

The Source of High Quality Energy Energy of sun

lights and warms the planet

Supports photosynthesis

Drives climate and weather that distribute heat and H2O

Solarradiation

Energy in = Energy out

Reflected byatmosphere (34%)

UV radiation

Absorbedby ozone

Absorbedby the earth

Visiblelight

Lower Stratosphere(ozone layer)

Troposphere

Heat

GreenhouseGreenhouseeffecteffect

Radiated byatmosphere

as heat (66%)

Earth

Heat radiatedby the earth

Trophic Levels Each organism in an ecosystem is assigned

to a feeding (or Trophic) level Primary Producers Primary Consumers (herbivores) Secondary Consumer (carnivores) Tertiary Consumers Omnivores Detritus feeders and scavengers

Directly consume tiny fragments of dead stuff Decomposers

Digest complex organic chemicals into inorganic nutrients that are used by producers

Complete the cycle of matter

A food chain tells us what is eaten by what in an ecosystem.

What is happening in this food chain?

The insect is eaten by the frog.

What is eaten What is eaten by the insect?by the insect?

Many insects Many insects feed on feed on nectar which nectar which they gather they gather from flowers.from flowers.

What does this food What does this food chain show?chain show? The plant The plant is is

eaten byeaten by the slug. the slug. The slug The slug is eaten is eaten

byby the frog. the frog. The frog The frog is eaten is eaten

byby the heron the heron..

• Animals that hunt and eat other animals are called

• PREDATORS

Animals that are hunted and eaten by other animals are called their

PREY

Energy flow Each animal in the

food chain eats another animal or a plant in order to gain energy.

The energy flow in the ecosystem keeps all of the animals alive.

Pyramids of Energy and Matter

Pyramid of Energy Flow

Heat

Heat

Heat

Heat

Heat

1010

100100

1,0001,000

10,00010,000Usable energyUsable energy

Available atAvailable atEach tropic levelEach tropic level(in kilocalories)(in kilocalories)

ProducersProducers(phytoplankton)(phytoplankton)

Primaryconsumers

(zooplankton)

Secondaryconsumers

(perch)

Tertiaryconsumers

(human)

Decomposers

Ecological Pyramids of Energy

What is symbiosis?

What it means: Two organisms that live togetherTemporarily or for a longer timeAt least one of the organisms benefits from the relationship

Literal definition: the act of living together

COMMENSALISM

A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited.

AN EXAMPLE: In a region of Siberia in Russia a peregrine falcon and red-breasted goose have a commensal relationship. During the nesting season the falcon protects the geese from predators. The geese benefit, while the falcon is neither benefited or harmed.

MUTUALISM A symbiotic relationship in which

both species benefit! AN EXAMPLE: Mutualism is illustrated

between a type of ant and a species of acacia tree living in the subtropics. The ant protects the tree by attacking any herbivore that tries to feed on it. The ants also kill any plant that begins to grow too close to the acacia. The tree provides nectar and a home for the ants.

PARASITISM

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the others expense!

AN EXAMPLE: Tapeworms and roundworms, live in the intestines of dogs, cats, and other vertebrates.

Why would it be disadvantageous for a parasite to kill its host?

What are the different kinds of symbiosis?

Mutualism ParasitismCommensalismboth

organisms benefit

one organism benefits

one organism benefits

one organism

is unaffecte

d

one organism

is harmed

Parasitism: one benefits, one is harmed

Example 1: Acacia plant with ant galls

Ants lay eggs on

acacia treeAcacia

covers the infected area with

brown flesh (gall)

Mutualism: Mutualism: both both benefitbenefit

Example 2: Moray Eel with Cleaner Fish

Moray Eel gets a clean mouth Cleaner Fish gets a meal

Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected

Example 3: Cattle with cattle

egretsCattle stir up insects

as they eat grass

Egrets hang

around and eat insects

Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected

Example 4: Clown fish with anemone

Clown fish gets

protection Anemone is unaffected

Mutualism: both benefit

Example 5: Antelope with Oxbird

Antelope gets rid of

parasites Oxbird gets a meal

Parasitism: one benefits, one is harmed

Example 6: Taenia worm in human eye

Worm infects human blood

streamHuman may go

blind