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University of Greece

English 2

Department of Biology

Text1: Ecosystems and Human Interferences (a)


An ecosystem is characterised by energy flow and chemical cycling. Both of these begin when
algae and green plants capture a small percentage of the suns energy and use it to transform
inorganic chemicals such as carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds that are used as
food for themselves and for all the other populations in an ecosystem. Eventually, when decomposers
break down organic matter, the inorganic chemicals are liberated once again, but the energy has
dissipated as heat.
Ecosystems are not self-contained; they have inputs and outputs to the other ecosystems of the
biosphere. Therefore, some ecologists think of the biosphere as a global ecosystem. Most persons
now realise that humans are a part of the biosphere and that our activities affect all of its ecosystems.
DDT is an insecticide that was first used during World War II in the Pacific to destroy mosquitoes that
carry malaria. Today, DDT is found in every body of water on Earth and in the tissues of every human
being. In the same way, our overuse of resources -such as when we destroy forests- may bring about
changes that we find difficult to predict at this time.
The Nature of Ecosystems:
Our planet is unique in many ways. Unlike the other planets in our solar system, Earth has water, an
atmosphere, and abundant life. Perhaps our planet should have been called water instead of Earth.
Water is present in the hydrosphere, which covers over three quarters of the Earths surface. The
oceans moderate the temperature of the Earth, as surface temperature rises, the oceans take up a
great deal of heat, and then as temperatures cool, they return heat slowly to the atmosphere. This
helps keep the temperature on Earth suitable for life.
The atmosphere is concentrated in the lowest 10 kilometres near Earth but extends out at least 1.000
kilometres. Among other gases, the atmosphere contains carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, which
are both used and released by living things. Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis. Oxygen
is necessary for cellular respiration, and in the upper atmosphere it becomes ozone, a substance that
shields Earth from damaging ultraviolet radiation and makes life on land possible.
A rocky substratum called the lithosphere extends from Earths surface to about 100 kilometres deep.
The weathering of rocks supplies minerals to plants, which take root in weathered rocks and slowly
form soil. Besides minerals, soil contains decaying organic material known as humus. The organisms
of decomposition play a vital role in breaking down organic matter, returning inorganic nutrients to
plants so that photosynthesis cycles continue.
The biosphere is that part of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere that contains living things.
Taking the global view, the entire biosphere is an ecosystem, a place where organisms interact among
themselves and with the physical and chemical environment. These interactions help maintain
ecosystems and in turn the biosphere. Human activities can alter the interactions between organisms
and their environments in ways that reduce the abundance and diversity of life that the environments
can support. It is important to understand how ecosystems function so that we can repair past damage
and predict how human activities might change current conditions.
Usually, ecologists study ecosystems on a smaller scale: A pond, a swamp, or a wooded area are all
ecosystems. Regardless of their size, ecosystems are characterized by 1) one-way flow of energy
through the biotic community of an ecosystem, and 2) cycling of materials from the abiotic
environment though the biotic community and back to the abiotic environment.
Biotic Components of an Ecosystem:
The populations of an ecosystem are categorized according to their food source. Some populations
are autotrophs and some are heterotrophs.
Autotrophs:
Autotrophs require only inorganic nutrients and an outside energy source to produce organic nutrients
for their own use and for all the other members of a community. They are called producers because
they produce food. Photoautotrophs, often called photosynthetic organisms, produce most of the
organic nutrients for the biosphere. Algae of all types possess chlorophyll and carry on photosynthesis
in freshwater and marine habitats. Algae make up the phytoplankton, which are photosynthesizing
organisms suspended in water. Green plants are the dominant photosynthesizers on land. Some

autotrophic bacteria are chemosynthetic. They obtain energy by oxidising inorganic compounds
such as ammonia, nitrides, and sulphides, and they use this energy to synthesise organic
compounds. Chemosynthesizers have been found to support communities in some caves and also at
hydrothermal vents along deep-sea oceanic ridges.
Heterotrophs:
Heterotrophs need a performed source of organic nutrients. They are called consumers because they
consume food. Herbivores are animals that graze directly on plants or algae. In terrestrial habitats,
insects are small herbivores, while in aquatic habitats, zooplankton, such as protozoans, play that role.
Carnivores feed on other animals; birds that feed on insects are carnivores, and so are hawks that
feed on birds. This example allows us to mention that there are primary consumers (e.g. insects),
secondary consumers (e.g. birds), and tertiary consumers (e.g. hawks). Sometimes tertiary
consumers are called top predators. Omnivores are animals that feed on both plants and animals. As
you likely know, most humans are omnivores.
The decomposers are heterotrophic bacteria and fungi such as molds and mushrooms that break
down dead organic matter, including animal wastes. They perform a very valuable service because
they release inorganic nutrients that are then taken up by plants once more. Otherwise, plants would
have to wait for minerals to be released from rocks. Detritus is the remains of dead organisms plus
the bacteria and fungi of decay. Fanworms feed on detritus floating in marine waters, while clams take
it from the substratum. Earthworms and some beetles, termites, and maggots are soil detritus feeders.
VOCABULARY EXPLORATION
A. Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate word from the text.
a) The biosphere is that part of the 1) (crust), the 2) (gases), and the 3)
(water) that contains living things. Within the 4) , populations interact
among themselves and with the 5) (physical and chemical) environment.
b) The populations in the biotic community of an ecosystem are either 6)... or 7)
The first ones 8) organic nutrients and the second ones 9) organic nutrients.
c) Green plants and diatoms are 10) .
Giraffes and caterpillars are 11)
An osprey and a praying mantis are 12) .
Most human beings are 13) .
Mushrooms and bacteria are 14) .

B. Match the words with their explanation.


1. ecosystem
a) organic material derived from the breakdown of plant & animal material occurring
into the surface layers of the soil. It is black & colloidal in nature, coating the soil
particles & improving the fertility of soil.

2. tissue

b) to float in liquid or air without moving

3. substratum

c) physical substance that everything in the world consists of

4. weathering

d) an opening that allows air, gas or liquid to pass out of or into a place

5. humus

e)

6. matter

f) when animals eat grass that is growing in a field

7. swamp

g) a layer of something especially rock or soil, that is bellow another layer

8. suspend

h) any animal that lives by preying on other animals from a lower trophic level

9. vent

i)

10. graze

j) the remains of

11. predator

k)

12. detritus

l) the natural processes by which the actions of atmospheric and other environmental

any group of cells of similar structure in animals or plants that performs a specific
function (e.g. muscles)

it includes all the organisms (the biotic component) and the non-living (or abiotic)
component of their environment within which they occur naturally
dead organisms

an area of ground that is very wet or covered with water in which plants are
growing
agent result in the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rock and
earth materials

Ca. Search in the text and find which words could be replaced by the following ones:

1. breathing
2. provides
3. protects

4. variety
5. richness
6. operate

7. prevailing
8. acquire
9. released

Cb. Find the opposites of the words above:


1.
4.
2.
5.
3.
6.

7.
8.
9.

D. The following text defines the term ecology, however the sentences are mixed up. Put the
sentences in order so that the text becomes coherent.
a. It was in 1866 when a German biologist and evolutionist Ernst Haackel (1834-1919) used the word oecology
to denote the study of organisms and their interactions with the world around them.
b. Ecology is the study of the relationships between living species and between them and their environment.
c. Fieldwork involves the collection of information to see what happens to particular species- such as population
numbers, diet, form, size, and behaviour, and their physical environment- such as the composition of rocks, soil,
air, and water.
d. As scientific discipline Ecology is relatively new. Ecologists study species in their natural context but they also
carry out laboratory studies and experiments.
e. Although Ecology is not primarily about solving environmental issues, ecologists are already proposing ways
of meeting human needs that are sympathetic to the environment, and drawing attention to ecological
implications of just about everything that humans do.
f. The data can be used to identify patterns and trends, and some of these can be tested in the laboratory.
g. He based it on the Greek word meaning household and Haackel clearly saw the living world as a
community in which each species had a role to play. The modern spelling of ecology was first used in 1893.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

E. Find the derivatives of the following words: Then create your own sentences with these.

noun

verb
dissipate

adjective
disintegrated

evolution
interact
involve
predator

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