ECOSYSTEM
Chapter 2
LEARNING COMPETENCIES
At the end of the lecture, the students should be able to:
Define an ecosystem;
Describe the biotic components of an ecosystem;
Classify organism based on how they procure raw materials
for energy;
Describe the abiotic components of an ecosystem and how
these factors affect the organism that interact with them.
ECOSYSTEM
Refers to an interacting group of natural elements and the organisms in a given
environment
It is a unit of interrelationships between and among living things and non-living
things
It possesses both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the
environment
Living things respond and adapt to the non-living conditions in their
environment to maintain their homeostasis or their steady-state condition.
A coral reef is a marine ecosystem,
illustrating the biotic and abiotic
components.
BIOTIC COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The biotic components include all the living things present
in the ecosystem.
Autotrophs require only inorganic nutrients and an outside energy
source to produce organic nutrients for their own use and indirectly for
all the other members of the ecosystem.
Also called producers because they produce energy.
Photosynthetic organisms produce most of the organic nutrients for the
biosphere.
Algae of all types contain chlorophyll and Green plants such as trees are the dominant
carry on photosynthesis in freshwater photosynthesizers on land.
and marine habitats.
Some autotrophic bacteria are chemosynthetic.
They obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds such as ammonia,
nitrites, and sulfides, and they use this energy to synthesize organic
compounds.
Chemosynthesizers have been found supporting communities in some
caves and also at hydrothermal vents along deep sea oceanic ridges.
Tubeworms get their energy from
chemosynthetic bacteria. Tubeworms
have no mouth, eyes or stomach. Their
survival depends on a symbiotic
relationship with the billions of bacteria
that live inside them. These bacteria
convert the chemicals that shoot out of
the hydrothermal vents into food for the
worm.
Heterotrophs need preformed source of organic nutrients.
They are called consumers because they consume food.
Herbivores are animals that graze directly on plants or algae.
Carnivores feed on other animals.
Omnivores are animals that feed on both plants and animals.
Scavengers feed on the dead
remains of animals and also
on plants that have recently
begun to decompose.
Detritus is a term that refers to
organic remains in the water and soil
that are in the final stage of
decomposition.
Marine fan worms take detritus
from the water.
Earthworms feed on detritus in the soil.
Decomposers use their digestive secretions to chemically breakdown dead
organic matter including animal wastes in the external environment.
Decomposers produce detritus.
Without decomposers, plants would be completely dependent only in
physical processes, such as the release of minerals from rocks to supply
them with inorganic nutrients.
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
Sunlight
It is the primary source of energy in
nearly all ecosystems.
It is the energy that is used by green
plants during the process of
photosynthesis by which plants gather
energy to make carbohydrates from
atmospheric carbon dioxide and water.
In aquatic environments, the availability
of sunlight has a significant effect on the
growth and distribution of algae.
Because water itself and
microorganisms in it absorb light and
keep it penetrating very far, most
photosynthesis occurs near the surface
of the water.
The response of plants to day and night is known as photoperiodism.
Organized into 3 categories:
Long day plants – plants that begin the flowering process before June 12
Short day plants – begin the flowering process after December 21
Day neutral plants – appear to be in different cycles of light and darkness,
they may flower continuously or respond to other stimuli.
Crepuscular – derived from the Latin word “twilight”
Active during twilight hours, at dawn and dusk
Nocturnal – active only at night
Tend to have keen eyesight and excellent hearing
Diurnal – demonstrate activity during the day
Water
It is the universal solvent and the basis of all life on our planet
It is odorless, tasteless substance that covers more than ¾ of
the earth’s surface
97% is found in the oceans
3% is freshwater
2% is in solid form
1% is usable for humans and animals
It is the primary agent for the chemical and mechanical
breakdown of rock called weathering to form loose rock
fragments and soil.
Plant groups according to water requirement:
Hydrophytes (water-loving plants) – plants that actually live in water
Mesophytes (moderate water-loving plants) – plants that need a
moderate amount of water
Epiphytes – plants that get their water from air
Xerophytes (plants loving dry condition) – plants that grow under dry
condition
Halophytes (saltwater-loving plants) – plants that can live in salty water
Temperature
Measure of hotness or coldness of the body,
substance or the environment
Temperature scales: Celcius (°C) and
Fahrenheit (°F)
Measured using thermometer
Temperature regulation in animals
Poikilotherm (cold-blooded) – animal whose internal temperature
varies along with that of the ambient environmental temperature
Homeotherms (warm-blooded) – animal species that maintains
thermal homeostasis, they keep their body temperature at a roughly
constant level, regardless of the ambient temperature
Control of Temperature in Homeotherms
Temperature is controlled by
homeotherms in a variety of ways
The hypothalamus acts as a receptor in
regulation by detecting fluctuations in
temperature known as
thermoreceptors.
Skin possesses thermoreceptors which
can detect the temperature of the
external environment then relayed to
the hypothalamus and in turn transmit
nerve impulses for corrective
mechanisms to occur.
Corrective Mechanisms in Temperature Control
Increased sweating – corrective response aimed to reduce the
temperature of the organism
Vasodilation – corrective response where the blood vessels close to the
skin surface become more dilated, meaning, there is a larger surface area
for heat to be lost of the external environment from the blood vessels
carrying overheated blood
Vasoconstriction – occurs when temperatures in organism drop
The blood vessels become constricted so that minimal heat loss occur
Effect of Temperature in Plants
Thermoperiod – refers to the daily temperature change
Plants produce maximum growth when exposed to a day
temperature that is 10 to 15 °F higher than the night temperature
This allows plant to photosynthesize (build up) and respire (break
down) during an optimum daytime temperature and curtail the
rate of respiration during a cooler night.
High temperatures caused increase respiration, sometimes above
the rate of photosynthesis.
The products of photosynthesis are being used more rapidly than
they are being produced.
For growth to occur, photosynthesis must be greater than
respiration
Wind
Refers to the horizontal movement of the
air that tends to equalize lateral difference
in temperature and pressure
Movement of air parallel to the earth’s
surface
Blows from areas of high pressure towards
areas of low pressure
The vertically moving air column that
gives the effect of “bumpy air” is known as
aviation e.g. air pocket or ordinary
turbulence
Describing Wind
Wind is described with direction and speed
Expressed as the direction from which the wind is blowing
Easterly winds – blow from east to west
Westerly winds – blow from west to east
Wind speeds are based on the descriptions of winds in a scale
called Beaufort Scale which divides wind speeds into 12
different categories, from less than 1 mph to more than 73
mph
Monsoons – large scale seasonal wind
June to October – Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), subjected
to abundant rainfall and extensive cloud development at the
western sections of the country.
November to February – Northwest Monsoon (Amihan),
subjected to rainfall and extensive cloud development at the
eastern sections of the country
Philippines is a year-round humid, tropical climate
Atmospheric Gases
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Water vapor Greenhouse gases - is any gaseous
Carbon dioxide compound in the atmosphere that is capable
of absorbing infrared radiation, thereby
Methane trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere.
By increasing the heat in the
Nitrous oxide atmosphere, greenhouse gases are responsible
for the greenhouse effect, which ultimately
Ozone
leads to global warming.
Nitrogen
It is removed from the atmosphere and deposited at Earth’s
surface mainly by specialized nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and by
way of lightning through precipitation.
The addition of nitrogen to the Earth’s surface soils and
various water bodies supplies much needed nutrition for
plant growth.
Nitrogen returns to the atmosphere primarily through
biomass combustion and denitrification.
Oxygen
Exchanged between the atmosphere and life through the
process of photosynthesis and respiration
Water vapor
Varies in concentration in the atmosphere both spatially and
temporally
Highest concentration are found near the equator over the
oceans and tropical rain forests
Cold polar areas and subtropical continental deserts are
locations where the volume of water vapor can approach zero
percent
Important functions of water vapor:
It redistributes heat energy on the Earth through the latent
heat energy exchange.
The condensation of water vapor creates precipitation that
falls to the Earth’s surface providing needed fresh water for
plants and animals.
It helps warm the Earth’s atmosphere through the
greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide
5th most abundant gas in the atmosphere
The volume has increased by over 35% in the last 300 years
This increase is primarily due to human induced burning from fossil
fuels, deforestation, and other forms of land use change
An important greenhouse gas
Human-caused increase in its concentration has strengthened the
greenhouse effect and has definitely contributed to global warming
over the last 100 years
CO2 is naturally exchanged between the atmosphere and life through
the processes of photosynthesis and respiration
Methane
A very strong greenhouse gas
Its concentration has increased by more than 150% since 1750
The primary sources for the additional methane are:
Rice cultivation – anaerobic condition associated with rice paddy
flooding results in the formation of methane gas
Domestic grazing animals – as a result herbaceous digestion
Termites – similar process with grazing animals
Landfill – produces methane as organic wastes decompose over
time
Coal mining Release methane to the atmosphere when
Oil and gas extraction deposits are excavated or drilled
Nitrous oxide
Its part in the enhancement of the greenhouse effect is minor relative to
the other greenhouse gases
Have an important role in the artificial fertilization of ecosystems
This fertilization can lead to the death of forests, eutrophication of
aquatic habitats, and species exclusion
Sources for the increase of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere include:
Land-use conversion
Fossil fuel combustion
Biomass burning
Soil fertilization
Ozone
Particular gas that envelops the Earth
at the stratosphere
Triatomic molecule with a formula of
O3
Stratospheric ozone provides an
important service to life on Earth as it
absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation
Levels of stratospheric ozone have
been decreasing due to the buildup of
human created chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) in the atmosphere
Scientist have noticed the development
of severe holes in the ozone layer over
Antartica
What are CFCs?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are nontoxic, nonflammable chemicals
containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are used in the
manufacture of aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing
materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants.
The Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer is the landmark multilateral environmental
agreement that regulates the production and consumption of
nearly 100 man-made chemicals referred to as ozone
depleting substances (ODS). When released to the
atmosphere, those chemicals damage the stratospheric ozone
layer, Earth’s protective shield that protects humans and the
environment from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation
from the sun. Adopted on 16 September 1987, the Protocol
is to date one of the rare treaties to achieve universal
ratification.
Earth's ozone layer is slowly but noticeably healing. The Earth's ozone layer is
on its way to recovering, thanks to decades of work to get rid of ozone-
damaging chemicals, a panel of international experts backed by the United
Nations has found. The ozone layer serves an important function for living
things on Earth.