Dynamic Ecosystem

8.1 The Abiotic and Biotic Component of the

Environment The abiotic component
The non-living components such as
1.pH value – soil and water
2.Light intensity – as source of energy
3.Temperature
4.Humidity – amount of water vapour present in the air
5.Topography – physical features of land (altitude, gradient and
aspect of region)
6.Microclimate – climate in a microhabitat the biotic component
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) 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.
Food chain:

Food web:

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
organisms interact with one another in various ways such as:
· Symbiosis
· Saprophytism
· Prey-predator
Symbiosis
· close relationship between two or more different species which
live closely together and interact with each other
3 type of symbiosis:
.Commensalism
.Mutualism
.Parasitism

.Commensalism
One species (the commensal) benefits, the other (the host)
don’t get benefits nor is harmed
E.g. epiphytes grows on branches of trees

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

.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)
.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)

a predator(lion) and eating a prey(zebra)

 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

8.2 Colonisation and Succession in an Ecosystem

Have 4 level of organisation:

Species
A group of organisms that have similar characterisitics,
share the same roles in an ecosystem and are capable of
interbreeding.

Population
A group of organisms of same species living in the same
habitat at the same time.

Community
Several different species living in the same habitat in an
ecosystem
Ecosystem
A community of organisms which interact with their non-
living environment & function as unit.Vary in size.
Niche – role of an organism in ecosystem.

Colonisation and succession

Colonisation takes place in a newly formed areas where no life

previously existed.
The first organism occupy a newly formed area are called
pioneer species.
Characteristics:
1.Hardy plant that have dense root system (grass)
2.Short life-cycle
They modify and creating more conducive condition to other
organisms
Second species came after the pioneer species are the
successor species.
Characteristics:
1.Bigger than pioneer species (herbs)
2.Have small wind-dispersal seeds (to spread and grow rapidly)
They change the structure and quality of the soil and creating
more conducive condition for larger plants to grow.
Third and permanent species are the dominant species
(shrub).
Modify the environment for larger trees to grow.
Succession – the gradual process through which one
community changes its environment to be replaced by another
community.
Climax community – ecological succession leads to relatively
stable community (equilibrium with its environment)

Colonisation and Succession in a Mangrove Swamp

.Plant species found in a mangrove swamp are Avicennia and

Sonneratia (both are living closest to the sea)followed by
Rhizophora and Bruguiera towards the interior.
.during high tide,mud slit and organic matter are carried into the
mangrove forest.
.When tide recedes, these materials are trapped by
pneutomatophores(breathing roots of Avicennia and Sonnertia)
.Deposition of mud, slit and organic matter over the years cause
the shore to extend further into the sea.
.The new shore is now suitable for Anicennia and
Sonneratia.These species colonise this new shore.
.The region formerly inhabited by Avicennia and Sonnertia as
the dominant spesies here.
.The region formerly inhabited by Rhizophora is drier and more
firm, suitable for Bruguiera move in to succeed as the dominant
species.
.Terrestrial plants of the primary forest move into the region
formerly inhabited by Bruguiera thus replacing bruguiera as the
dominant species.Primary forest is the climax community.

Adaptive Characteristics of plant species of the Mangrove

Swamp
.Avicennia and Sonneratia have long underground cable roots
for support in soft muddy soil.
.Pneumatophores of Avicennia and Sonneratia to absorb
oxygen.
.Rhizophora has prop roots to anchor the trees in the soft muddy
soil.
.Avicennia and Sonneratia have viviparous seedlings that
germinate while still attached to the parent tree.This
phenomenon called vivipary.Germination of seed is difficult in
the soft and muddy soil.
.Brugueira has buttress roots for supports and knee-shaped
pneumatophores for gaseous exchanged.
.The leaves of mangrove trees:
a) have thick cuticles to reduce water loss.
b) Are succulent,storing water for plants.
c) Have salt glands, to secrete the salts absorbed by plants.
Colonisation and Succession in a pond.

.An abandoned pond is colonised by pioneer plants.

.When old plants die, organic matter is deposited at the bottom
of the pond.As time passes , the pond becomes shallower and
becomes suitable for floatibg plants.
.Floating plants such as duckweed, water hyacinth and water
lotus grow rapidly in the shallow pond.These floating plants
block sunlight from reaching the submerged plants, which
gradually die.FRloating plants species succeed the pioneer
species as the dominant species.
.When old floating plants die, organic matter is deposited at the
bottom of the pond.After a long time, the pond becomes very
shallow for floating plants but suitable for amphibian
plants(emergent plants)such as sedges and cattails.Amphibian
plants succeed floating plants as the dominant spesies.
.Amphibians plants initially grow at the sides of the pond and
then slowly spread to the center of the pond.As time passed,
more organic matter is deposited and eventually the pond dries
up.Condition is suitable for terrestrial plants(land plants)which
flourish in the habitat.
.Terrestrial plants succeed amphibian plants as the dominant
plants.
.Succession in a pond ends when climax community is
attained,Usually, climax community is a primary forest.
8.3 Population Ecology
Population ecology
A branch of ecology that studies the structure and dynamics of
population.
Population density – number of organism per unit area of
habitat
Affected by abiotic and biotic factors, birth rate, death rate,
immigration and emigration.
Direct counting – method to estimate the size and density of
population (impractical due to the size of ecosystem, the number
of plants involved and the movement of the animal).
Sampling technique – more practical way, enable us to
estimate the total population size of the organism.

The quadrat sampling technique

· Used in estimating the size of plant population and immobile
animal.
· A quadrat – metal, wooden frame or PVC pipe frame which
form a square of a known area (1 m2).
· Placed randomly in an ecosystem where sampling is carried
out.
· Frequency – number of times a particular species is found
present when a quadrat is thrown a certain number of time
· Density – the mean number of individuals of species per unit
area
· Percentage coverage – an indication of how much the area of
quadrat is occupied by a species

The capture, mark, release and

recapture technique
Used to estimate mobile animals (small mammals, butterflies,
birds and insects)
Procedure:
1.Animal sample is captured
2.Marked
3.Released
4. Second sample captured & number of marked animal
recorded.

8.4 Biodiversity
What is meant by biodiversity…

The diverse species of plants and animal interacting with one

another on Earth.
Need to be classified because there are many organisms in this
world.
Classification of Organisms
Taxonomy – branch of Biology concerned with identifying,
describing and naming organisms.
Systematic method of classifying plants and animal based
on the similarities in their characteristics.
Classification of Organisms
Organisms can be classified into 5major kingdom:
1.Monera / Prokaryotae
2.Protista
3.Fungi
4.Plantae
5.Animalia

The hierarchy in the classification of

Organisms in 7 hierarchy levels:
1.Kingdom
2.Phylum
3.Class
4.Order
5.Family
6.Genus
7.Species
The number of organisms at each levels decreases
Naming of organisms is based on Linnaeus binomial system.
Each organism has two names in Latin – first name is the
name of genus (begins with capital letter) & second name is
the name of species (begins with small letter)
E.g. Mimosa pudica – Mimosa refers to the genus and pudica
refers to the species.
Specific names are written in italic or underline.
E.g. Mimosa pudica or Mimosa pudica
The importance of biodiversity
Provide various biological products – food, medicine, timber,
etc.
Provide many environmental services – nutrient cycle,
pollination, etc.
Give diversity in the genetic pool.

8.5 The impact of

Microorganisms on Life

Microorganism
Tiny living things that only can be seen using microscope
Classified based on their characteristics (appearance, shape,
size, method of reproduction, nutrition and habitat)

Classified into 5 groups:
1.Viruses – smallest microorganisms, not a living cell and must
use living cells to reproduce. (E.g. HIV, Influenza virus etc.)
2. Bacteria – unicellular organisms, have cell wall, form spores
under unfavourable condition and have 3 common shape a
spherical, rod-shaped and spiral. (E.g. Lactobacillus sp.,
Straphyloccous sp. etc.)
3. Protozoa – unicellular organism, have plasma membrane and
can carry out living processes. (E.g. Amoeba sp., Paramecium
sp. etc.)
4. Algae – have chlorophyl and chloroplast, can undergoes
photosynthesis process. (E.g. Spirogyra sp.)
5.Fungi – heterotrophic microorganisms, feeds by secreting
enzymes that break down the surrounding organic material into
simple molecule before absorb them. (E.g. Mucor sp., yeast etc.)
The role of useful microorganisms in the ecosystem
.Roles of microorganisms in ecosystem
.Decomposition The nitrogen cycle
.Digesting animal’s food
.Digesting human’s food

The harmful microorganisms:

.Microorganisms that cause diseases are called pathogens
.Pathogens are classified as parasites or saprophytes
They cause diseases in two ways:
1.Produce poisonous chemical
2.Attack and destroy host cells and body tissues
Transmission of diseases
1.Air
2.Water
3.Food
4.Vectors
5.Direct Contact
6.Indirect Contact
Controlling pathogens:
The uses of microorganisms in biotechnology
Biotechnology – application of biological processes in the
manufacturing and servicing industries
The use of microorganisms in biotechnology
Production of antibiotics, vaccines and hormones
Waste treatment Production of biodegradable plastic
(bioplastic)
Cleaning of oil spills production of energy from biomass
Food processing

Appreciating Biodiversity
• Through conservation and
preservation.