8.

Dynamic Ecosystem

What is ecosystem?

Biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. Ecology the scientific study of the interaction of living organisms with other organisms and with the physical environment

8.1 The Abiotic and Biotic Component of the Environment

The abiotic component

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

The non-living components such as pH value soil and water Light intensity as source of energy Temperature Humidity amount of water vapour present in the air Topography physical features of land (altitude, gradient and aspect of region) Microclimate climate in a microhabitat

The biotic component

2. 3.

4.

The living organisms in the environment such as Producers synthesise organic substances (plants) Consumers eat other organisms (primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer) Decomposers microorganisms that break down waste products and dead bodies (bacteria and fungi)

Identify the biotic and abiotic component in the pond ecosystem shown in the picture below.

Food chain, food web and trophic levels

Food chain - sequence of organisms through which energy is transferred. Each stage - trophic level

Food chain, food web and trophic levels

Food web food chain interconnected. Energy flows through food web and lost when it transferred from one level to another level of the trophic levels in the form of heat

The interaction between biotic component in relation to feeding

2. 3. 4.

Organisms interact with one another in various ways such as Symbiosis Saprophytism Prey-predator

1. Symbiosis

c) d) e)

Close relationship between two or more different species which live closely together and interact with each other Three categories: Commensalism Mutualism Parasitism

a) Commensalism

One species (the commensal) benefits, the other (the host) dont get benefits nor is harmed E.g. epiphytes grows on branches of trees

b) Mutualism

Relationship between two species of organisms in which both benefit E.g. bacteria in the digestive system of human

c) Parasitism

Relationship between two organisms in which one organism (the parasites) benefits from the other organism (the host) Two types: Ectoparasites live on the surface of the host (e.g. ticks and fleas) Endoparasites live inside the body of the host (e.g. tapeworms)

2. Saprophytism

What is saprophytism and give examples.

3. Prey-predator

Relationship where an organism which is smaller, called the prey, is haunted and eaten by a stronger animal, the predator E.g. an owl (predator) and a rat (prey) The interaction takes place in a cycle that keeps the populations of both organisms in a dynamic equilibrium

The interaction between biotic component in relation to competition

Competition interaction between organisms living together in a habitat and competing for the same resources that are limited supply Two types: Intraspecific competition between the same species Interspecific competition between different species

Exercise

Do Focus Practice 8.1 on page 181 in the textbook