*just click the words

Individual is smallest unit of an organism.

In (cannot) and dividuus (can divide)
For example, a camel.

The population is one or more individuals of similar organism

(of kind) that live in an ecosystem.
Populus (all things that occupied in one place)
For example, some dolphins.

The community in wide definition is group of some populations

which place certain area. The community in specific definition is
group of organisms with all populations as its members.
Commune (general)
For example, bird community.

The ecosystem is an entity of organisms (collection of several

communities) to their environment. There is interaction occurred in
the ecosystem between biotic-biotic factor, biotic-abiotic factor,
and abiotic-abiotic factor. Interrelationship is occurred in the
ecosystem between organisms and their environment. For
example, lake ecosystem.

The biosphere is group of various ecosystems which form

a series of live globally or all lives on earth.

Competition is relationship among species that causes competition to

get foods, places to live or pairs (copulation). For example,
competition between tiger and lion that battle over deer for their food.

Neutral is relationship among species that live together without any

hindrance. For example, relationship between goat and ant in a
meadow.

Predation is relationship among species, which is preyed on and

the predator. For example, lions eat buffalo.

Antibiosis is relationship among species where one species

impedes the work of other species. For example, fungi
Pennicillium impede the bacterial growth.

Symbiosis is relationship among different species that lives in certain

place. Based on the nature of the relationship, symbiosis can be
divided into:
1. Mutualism is mutually beneficial relationship between two
organisms. For example, relationship between bee and flowers.
Look at this.
2. Commensalism is relationship among two organisms, which is
benefited one organism and not damaged the other. For example,
relationship between shark and remora fish.
3. Parasitism is relationship among two organism, which is benefited
one organism and damaged the other. For example, parasite and
love vine/dodder (genus Cassytha) that adheres to certain plants.
Look at this.

Energy flow is energy transfer to organisms which get high energy

nutrient from the photosynthesis. Directly or indirectly. Photosynthesis
uses only 1/10 x 1% of sun energy that reaches the earth surface. Plants
take 15% - 50% of it for their own metabolism. Remaining energy is called
net photosynthesis or net primary production. Total annual net primary
productivity is estimated about 6 x 1020 gram times energy. This amount
forms basic energy for heterotrophic live (animals and several plants) on
earth by means of consuming green plants or eating other heterotrophic
organisms. By other words, energy current is chemical matter transfer
from producer to consumer, and then this matter will back to the nature
again when the organism is died. Look at this.

Food chain is a feeding event in

certain sequence. Food chain is
divided into two types, namely
grazing food chain and detrital
food chain.

One and other food chains will together form food web or group of
food chain. Thus, food web is event of eating and being eaten
occurred in the nature and is interrelated. Level of food sequence in
food chain of a community is called trophic level. All producers form
together first trophic level. Primary consumer (herbivore) forms
second level trophic. Carnivore which eats herbivores forms third
trophic level and so on. Species of each trophic level between one
and other community may vary, but they usually have same pattern.
Energy lost is occurred in each trophic level. Therefore, energy of a
trophic level is lower than energy from previous level. Thus, energy
distribution in a community can be made like a pyramid with trophic
level (producer) at the bottom, and consumer in the trophic above,
until the top. Look at this.

Food pyramid is an illustration of food chain that shows a trophic or

level. The lowest trophic level is occupied by producer. There above
is occupied respectively by consumer I (herbivore), consumer II
(carnivore) until the highest level called top carnivore.

Producer included all organisms that can make organic substance

that they need from inorganic substance that they are called as
autotrophic organisms. Green plants can change inorganic
compound into organic compound that they need by assistance of
light energy through photosynthesis, that they belong to
photoautotrophic organisms. There are organisms also that can
change inorganic compound into organic compound that they need
by assistance of chemical energy, that they are called as
chemoautotrophic organisms. Phytoplankton is producers in waters
environment.

Other than autotrophic organisms, there are organisms that cannot

produce organic substance that they need. These organisms are called
heterotrophic organisms. Heterotrophic organisms play role as
consumer or user. We can also find zooplankton in the waters
environment. Zooplankton is phytoplankton eater. Based on the kinds of
their foods, consumers are divided into three groups. Consumer that
eats plants is called as herbivore. Consumer that eats herbivore or other
animals is called carnivore. Consumer that eats plants and animals is
called omnivore.

Decomposer is consumer that can decompose organic substance into

inorganic substance. Consumer that lives in organic medium such as
fungi is called as saprotrophic. Example : fungi and bacteria.

Detritivore is consumer that eats organisms carcass. Organisms included

to this group are earthworm, ant, termite, maggot, snail, centipedes,
caterpillar, and sea cucumber.

The air included air temperature for live pleasure. All organisms will feel
convenience in optimal (suitable) temperature. The needs for optimal
temperature among one to another organisms is not the same. The factor
of air in the form of humidity will give influence either to organisms lives.
Humidity is water content in the air. Humidity will give influence to the
velocity of water evaporation from organisms body surface and survival
capability against dry physical environment. Fungi and bacterium love to
live in high humidity environment. Wind can give influence the organism
also which is around it. Wind is moving air. Wind helps pollination, for
example rice plant and corn. Wind can help the spreading of
seeds/spores. However, strong wind will cause damage. Wind such as
tornado can damage the ecosystem.

Water is vital abiotic factor for each organism. Water should be

absolutely available for organisms viability. Water temperature is
important for waters organism live defences. The animals that live in
the water will live pleasantly and can propagate well if the water
temperature is suitable with their needs. Besides, water movement
(current and wave) gives influence also to the organisms who live there.
Salinity is salt content in the water. Different salinity will emerge
physiological differences to kinds of fish that lives in the water. The acidbase condition of waters pH will give influence to the organisms
spreading that live there.

Soil is source of live for most of plants. Soil is also supporting biotic
factor for other organisms live. All plants or trees that grow in the land
highly depend on the nutrient of the soil. Plants will get natural nutrient
supplies from the soil. The soils contain also materials that can be used
by human for their prosperity, such as mining and diggings material. Soil
can be used as shelter also for some animals like ants, rabbits, and
snakes who make home inside the soil. Soil or sand is used by the
crocodile and turtle to store up their eggs.

Topography is earths surface condition of an area that will give

influence to the distribution of organisms. Topography included the land
and the sea condition. The land conditions in the form of volcano,
mountain, valley or lowland have obviously different organisms.
Topography condition may cause endemic organism. It means organism
that can only be found naturally in certain area.

Light that an organism needs comes mainly from sunlight. Sunlight is the
largest energy resource in the world and will never be used up. People
need light also to help the formation of vitamin D and provitamin D. For
plants, light is needed to do the photosynthesis process. Through
photosynthesis, sunlight as energy resource will be changed into
chemical energy. The result of photosynthesis will be used by herbivore
organisms or by the plants themselves.

Succession is growth process of community in an ecosystem that it

reaches climax condition (stabile community). Climax condition of an
ecosystem is indicated by a condition where all members of the
community reach the dynamic equilibrium (homeostatis).

Primary succession occurs when an

area without biotic component is visited
by biotic component which finally lives
in the area that it becomes an
ecosystem. I land area, it is started with
existence of pioneer plant such as
lichen, grass, bush, clump, tree, and
various populations of animals and
protistan. In waters area, it is started
with the existence of phytoplankton,
zooplankton, and other waters
animals. Example of real primary
succession is Mount of Krakatau which
was erupted in 1883. Damaged areas
were highly extensive, from the mount
until the area in mountains valley; it
takes about 100 years to reach the
climax ecosystem.

Secondary succession can occur

when the initial community that
includes a less extensive area,
undergoes partial damage. Repair to
reach climax community occurs
relatively short. The community
growth is started one stage ahead.
Ecosystem damage can be caused
by digging, pilling up, and land
burning.

The characteristics of marine ecosystem are high salinity

especially in tropical regions and the climate gives no influence to
the marine ecosystem. Sea current is influenced by wind pattern
and earth rotation.

The characteristic of freshwaters are low salinity, the

temperature is influenced by the climate and seasons so that
temperature variation is low. There are currents under the dead
water.

This is an ecosystem with welled up water. This water is called as

land waters since it is to be found in the lands surface and
usually located higher than seas surface. Include to curve
ecosystem among other things are :
a. Pool
Pool is land water ecosystem; the sunlight can shine the bottom
of pool.
b. Lake
Lake is bigger-size land waters ecosystem. The light can
penetrate to its bottom, and it contains common salt (NaCl).
There are more kinds of animals and plants to be found,
compared to pool ecosystem.

Lotic ecosystem with flowing water. Part of rains fallen to the

ground will flow to the lake, pool and rivers, and finally to the
sea.

Rivers upper course is tributary

which receives water from the
spring. The water is usually cold,
it flows through steep parts,
stony area, or even through
waterfall that it contains plenty of
air bubble, has swift current, no
plankton, and producers are
green algae and moss. Organic
materials are drifted that it
contains a little of saprophores.

The water flows from the mountain to the land. The current
is not swift. In this area, organic material is piled up and
used as food by the saprophores. Sunlight can be used
properly by the producers. This area is usually muddy and
plenty of the mud is precipitated in the bottom of the river
that it occasionally forms a delta.

Estuary is an area which forms the boundary of lower course with

the sea. Kinds of animals which live here are from zooplankton,
mussel, shrimp, to fish and even crocodile can live here.

The cycle is started from CO2 contained in the air and dissolved in
the water which will form inorganic and organic carbon (C) supply.
Plants will absorb carbon in the form of CO2 in the air as basic
ingredient in the photosynthesis process. In this process, carbon
which is in the vicinity of abiotic environment enters the biotic
environment. Carbon from biotic environment will return to abiotic
environment in the respiration process. Carbon element from
respiration is in the form of CO2 or other form as metabolism residue.
Residue of died plants and other organic material will be decompose
by decomposer and carbon will be released to the air and water as
CO2. Carbon moves always from reserve inorganic to live system
and returns. Hal of CO2 compound resulted from fossil fuel remains
in the atmosphere and the other half dissolves in seawater. Its
content in the air is increased also through oxidation of organic
material. Human activities increase CO2 content to 15%. This will
give impact to earth temperature arrangement (green house effect).
Look at this picture.

Reserve inorganic nitrogen

is in the form of N2 which
composes about 78% air.
However, N2 has small
biological activities. This gas
enters organisms body, and
then comes out again
without plays any vital role in
lifes process. There always
occurred N release from soil
or water back again to the
air. This can be occurred
because there are bacteria
which do the denitrification
process to change ammonia
into N2 and release it.

This cycle is main factor in changing earths temperature and

transporting various chemical elements in the ecosystem.

The phosphorous cycle is more simple cycle than carbon or nitrogen.

Phosphorous movement in phosphorous cycle is not available in the
atmosphere. The phosphorous cycle is started from the land to
sediment in ocean. Water will bring phosphor contained in the stones in
the form of phosphate (PO43-). Phosphate will be re-absorbed by plants
and for the purpose of organic substance synthesis, for example
nucleic acid. The animals will get phosphate from the plants that they
eat. Further, if those plants or animals die, phosphate will be changed
by decomposer into phosphate again. Phosphor is the only main
element in commercial fertilizer. Phosphor is considerably available in
coral. In the nature, amount of available phosphor is lower than
nitrogen with a comparison P : N is 1 : 23. People do the digging to
accelerate phosphoric mineral transfer from coral to water organism.
Look at this picture.