COLEGIO SAN AGUSTIN-BACOLOD

B.S. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY - BSMT 2B

PEOPLE AND THE EARTH'S ECOSYSTEMS ( GEE 300 )

COURSE OUTLINE: PRELIMS o Secondary consumers depend on

ECOSYSTEM primary consumers for energy. They can
either be carnivores or omnivores.
● “An ecosystem is defined as a community of o Tertiary consumers are organisms that
lifeforms in concurrence with non-living depend on secondary consumers for food.
components, interacting with each other.” Tertiary consumers can also be carnivores
WHAT IS AN ECOSYSTEM? or omnivores.
o Quaternary consumers are present in
ECOSYSTEM some food chains. These organisms prey
● An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of on tertiary consumers for energy.
ecology where the living organisms interact with Furthermore, they are usually at the top of
each other and the surrounding environment. In a food chain as they have no natural
other words, an ecosystem is a chain of interactions predators.
between organisms and their environment. The o Decomposers include saprophytes such
term “Ecosystem” was first coined by [Link], as fungi and bacteria. They directly thrive
an English botanist, in 1935. on the dead and decaying organic matter.
Decomposers are essential for the
STRUCTURE OF THE ECOSYSTEM ecosystem as they help in recycling
nutrients to be reused by plants
TERM
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
● The structure of an ecosystem is characterized by
DEFINITION
the organization of both biotic and abiotic
components. This includes the distribution of ● Abiotic components are the non-living component of
energy in our environment. It also includes the an ecosystem. It includes air, water, soil, minerals,
climatic conditions prevailing in that particular sunlight, temperature, nutrients, wind, altitude,
environment. turbidity, etc.
● The structure of an ecosystem can be split into two
main components, namely: fUNCTIONS OF eCOSYSTEM
o Biotic Components
o Abiotic Components 2. It regulates the essential ecological processes,
supports life systems and renders stability.
3. It is also responsible for the cycling
of nutrients between biotic and abiotic components.
4. It maintains a balance among the various trophic
levels in the ecosystem.
5. It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
6. The abiotic components help in the synthesis of
organic components that involve the exchange of
energy.

Figure 1. Ecosystem Chain Productivity ● It refers to the rate of biomass

production.
BIOTIC COMPONENTS
DEFINITION Energy flow ● It is the sequential process
● Biotic components refer to all living components in through which energy flows
an ecosystem. Based on nutrition, biotic from one trophic level to
components can be categorised into autotrophs, another. The energy captured
heterotrophs and saprotrophs (or decomposers). from the sun flows from
producers to consumers and
PRODUCERS then to decomposers and
DEFINITION finally back to the environment.
● include all autotrophs such as plants. They are
called autotrophs as they can produce food through
Decomposition ● It is the process of breakdown
the process of photosynthesis. Consequently, all of dead organic material. The
other organisms higher up on the food chain rely on top-soil is the major site for
producers for food. decomposition.
CONSUMERS
Nutrient ● In an ecosystem nutrients are
DEFINITION cycling consumed and recycled back
● or heterotrophs are organisms that depend on other in various forms for the
organisms for food. Consumers are further utilisation by various
classified into primary consumers, secondary organisms.
consumers and tertiary consumers.
o Primary consumers are always
herbivores as they rely on producers for
food. TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM

1 I NELLE ANN P. SOLDEVILLA

COLEGIO SAN AGUSTIN-BACOLOD
B.S. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY - BSMT 2B
PEOPLE AND THE EARTH'S ECOSYSTEMS ( GEE 300 )

DEFINITION 1. Food Chain

● An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a  The sun is the ultimate source of energy on earth. It
desert, or as big as an ocean, spanning thousands provides the energy required for all plant life. The
of miles. There are two types of ecosystem: plants utilize this energy for the process of
o Terrestrial Ecosystem photosynthesis, which is used to synthesis their food.
o Aquatic Ecosystem  During this biological process, light energy is
converted into chemical energy and is passed on
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM through successive trophic levels. The flow of energy
DEFINITION from a producer, to a consumer and eventually, to an
apex predator or a detritivore is called the food chain.
● are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are
different types of terrestrial ecosystems distributed
2. Ecological Pyramids
around various geological zones. They are as
 An ecological pyramid is the graphical representation
follows:
of the number, energy, and biomass of the
o Forest Ecosystem
successive trophic levels of an ecosystem. Charles
o Grassland Ecosystem
Elton was the first ecologist to describe the
o Tundra Ecosystem ecological pyramid and its principals in 1927.
o Desert Ecosystem  The biomass, number, and energy of organisms
ranging from the producer level to the consumer level
FOREST ECOSYSTEM are represented in the form of a pyramid; hence, it is
 A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, known as the ecological pyramid.
particularly trees, animals and microorganisms that  Dead and decaying matter, along with organic debris,
live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the is broken down into its constituents by scavengers.
environment. Forests help in maintaining the The reducers then absorb these constituents. After
temperature of the earth and are the major carbon gaining the energy, the reducers liberate molecules
sink. to the environment, which can be utilised again by
the producers.
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM  The producers generally outnumber the primary
 In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is consumers and similarly, the primary consumers
dominated by grasses and herbs. Temperate outnumber the secondary consumers. And lastly,
grasslands and tropical or savanna grasslands are apex predators also follow the same trend as the
examples of grassland ecosystems. other consumers; wherein, their numbers are
considerably lower than the secondary consumers.
TUNDRA ECOSYSTEM  For example, Grasshoppers feed on crops such as
 Tundra ecosystems are devoid of trees and are cotton and wheat, which are plentiful. These
found in cold climates or where rainfall is scarce. grasshoppers are then preyed upon by common
These are covered with snow for most of the year. mouse, which are comparatively less in number. The
Tundra type of ecosystem is found in the Arctic or mice are preyed upon by snakes such as cobras.
mountain tops. Snakes are ultimately preyed on by apex predators
such as the brown snake eagle.
DESERT ECOSYSTEM
 Deserts are found throughout the world. These are
regions with little rainfall and scarce vegetation. The Earth System’s Overview
days are hot, and the nights are cold. DEFINITION
● The Earth is 4.6 billion years old. It is the only
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM planetThe Earth is 4.6 billion years old. It is the only
DEFINITION planet presently known to support life. The Earth is
● Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a a closed system. There is an exchange of energy,
but only a small exchange of matter.
body of water. These can be further divided into two
types, namely: ● Presently known to support life. The Earth is a
o Freshwater Ecosystem closed system. There is an exchange of energy, but
o Marine Ecosystem only a small exchange of matter. Earth can sustain
life because:
o it is the perfect distance from the sun.
FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM
Not too hot, not too cold
 The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem o the light from the sun can be used for
that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and photosynthesis
wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with o the Earth has a breathable atmosphere
the marine ecosystem. o the Earth has water
MARINE ECOSYSTEM o the Earth’s climate can support life
 The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans.
These have a more substantial salt content and greater
biodiversity in comparison to the freshwater ecosystem.
LAYERS OF GEOSPHERE
IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS DEFINITION
● CORE - iron and nickel

2 I NELLE ANN P. SOLDEVILLA

COLEGIO SAN AGUSTIN-BACOLOD
B.S. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY - BSMT 2B
PEOPLE AND THE EARTH'S ECOSYSTEMS ( GEE 300 )

● MANTLE - molten layer

● CRUST - surface of the earth

Figure 5. Layers of the Earth

ATMOSPHERE
Figure 2. Layers of the Earth DEFINITION
LITHOSPHERE ● The atmosphere consists of four unique layers (the
troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere,
DEFINITION and the thermosphere).
● The lithosphere is the outer part of the Earth ● The atmosphere reaches over 560 kilometers (348
consisting of the crust and the upper mantle miles) up from the surface of the Earth.
● The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen
(about 78%), oxygen (about 21%), argon (0.9%),
and carbon dioxide (0.04%). Other components
exist in small quantities.

Figure 3. Layers of the Lithosphere

HYDROSPHERE
DEFINITION
● Water found on the surface of our planet includes Figure 6. Layers of the Atmosphere
the ocean as well as water from lakes and rivers,
BIOSPHERE
streams, and creeks.
● Water found under the surface of our planet
DEFINITION
includes water trapped in the soil and groundwater. ● The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and
● Water found in our atmosphere includes water includes all living organisms (including humans),
vapor. and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed.
● Frozen water on our planet includes ice caps and ● The biosphere is structured into a hierarchy known
glaciers. as the food chain (all life is dependant on the first
● Only about 3% of the water on Earth is “fresh” tier – mainly the primary producers that are capable
of photosynthesis).
water, and about 70% of the fresh water is frozen in
the form of glacial ice. ● Energy and mass is transferred from one level of
the food chain to the next.

Figure 4. Hydrosphere Cycle

Figure 6. Biosphere Cycle

CRYOSPHERE
DEFINITION
● All the frozen water in our planet.

3 I NELLE ANN P. SOLDEVILLA