BIOSPHERE AND

THE ECOSYSTEM
 Topic Outline
1. Levels of Organization of Life
2. Levels of Ecological Organization
3.Ecosystem
A. Terrestrial
B. Aquatic
C. Ecosystem Services
4. Interrelationship, Food Chain, and Web
 Learning Outcomes
After completing the study of this topic, you should be
able to:

Write a narrative report of the campus-ecological tour

showcasing the description and components of the
ecosystem.
 The levels of the organization of life (Ontrack Media, 2020)

The levels of organization of life begins with cells.

Groups of similar cells form tissues, groups of
different tissues make up organs, and groups of
Levels of organs form organ systems; cells, tissues, organs,
and organ systems combine to form a multicellular
Organization of Life organism (Britannica, 2020). But it does not stop
there. The levels of organization of life continues
from organism to biosphere.
 Levels of Ecological Organization

An organism describes an individual. An organism is a

single, living thing and can be an animal, a plant, or a
microorganism. Organisms grow and respond to their
environment.
 Levels of Ecological Organization

A population is the term we use to describe multiple

individuals or organisms of a single species that live within a
particular geographic area. For example, there may be one
population of painted turtles in one province and another
population of painted turtles 50 miles away in another province.
 Levels of Ecological Organization

A community is the term used to describe two or more

populations of different species that occupy the same space at
the same time. For example, you could talk about the
community in your backyard that is made up of numerous
animals such as your chickens, pigs, cows, goats, your dogs
and cats, insects and so forth.
 Levels of Ecological Organization

An ecosystem is the term used to describe both the biotic

(living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors in a system. The image
below is an example of ecosystem where there are existing
interactions between the living and the nonliving components.
 Ecosystem

An ecosystem (Socratic Q&A, 2020)

Levels of Ecological
Organization

A biome is the term used to describe organisms

that occupy a certain area. Biomes are
determined by the primary vegetation type, the
climate of the area, and the geographic location.
The plants and animals in a biome share
common traits that are specific to the individual
biome those plants and animals inhabit.
 Levels of Ecological
Organization

A biosphere is the term used to describe the

combination of every ecosystem on the
planet. Our biosphere is Earth. The
biosphere includes all living beings and their
relationships. It is a term that describes all
life on earth and the abiotic factors that life
interacts with.
 Ecosystem

The ecosystem is the functional unit of biosphere where the living

organisms interact with each other and the surrounding
environment. In other words, an ecosystem is a chain of interaction
between organisms and their environment.
We call this an ecosystem. The term “ecosystem” was first coined
by A.G.Tansley, an English botanist, in 1935.
An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as
an ocean, spanning thousands of miles. There are two types of
ecosystem: terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem.
Terrestrial
Types of Ecosystem
Ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are

different types of terrestrial ecosystems distributed around various geological
zones. They are as follows:

1. Forest Ecosystems
2. Grassland Ecosystems
3. Tundra Ecosystems

4. Desert Ecosystems
Terrestrial
Ecosystem
Forest Ecosystem

A forest ecosystem consists of several plants,

animals and microorganisms that live in coordination
with the abiotic factors of the environment. Forests
help in maintaining the temperature of the earth and
are the major carbon sink. The classification is as per
the respective climate – boreal, temperate or tropical.
Terrestrial
Ecosystem
Forest Ecosystem

Forest ecosystems in temperate zones may have a flora of

coniferous type, deciduous type or a combination of both the
types. Rainforest ecosystems in the tropics have the most diverse
plant and animal ecosystem than any other region on the earth.
Here, trees grow tall and foliage is dense and lush with a warm
and humid environment, with species right from the root level up
till the canopy. The Boreal forests are featured in the far north,
with a rich population of the coniferous trees, known as the taiga.
Terrestrial
Ecosystem Grassland Ecosystem

In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and

herbs. Temperate grasslands, savanna grasslands are some of the
examples of grassland ecosystems. These are found in savannas,
steppes, and prairies, in the temperate and tropical regions. They can
exist in colder regions as well (Siberian Steppe) and share a common
characteristic: semi-aridity. Flowers may be scattered along with the
grass but trees are almost non-existent. Grasslands are ideal for animal-
grazing.
Terrestrial
Ecosystem Tundra Ecosystem

Tundra ecosystems are devoid of trees and are found in cold

climates or where rainfall is scarce. These are covered with
snow for most of the year. The ecosystem in the Arctic or
mountain tops is tundra type. Tundra denotes polar regions at
lower altitudes. It is characterized by harsh environmental
conditions similar to deserts and is usually windswept, snow-
covered and treeless. The soil is frozen throughout the year and
during the brief summers, snow melts to produce shallow ponds,
thus giving rise to small flowers and lichens.
Terrestrial
Ecosystem Desert Ecosystem

Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions

with very little rainfall. The days are hot and the nights are
cold. The most defining feature of this ecosystem is the
amount of precipitation it receives, which is the least as
compared to any ecosystem. This ecosystem can exist from
the Arctic to the tropics, not all deserts are hot, some are often
windy. Some contain rocks while some have sand dunes.
Flora is very rare but highly adaptive animal species and
insects are found here.
 Aquatic
Types of Ecosystem
Ecosystem

Aquatics ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water.

These can be further divided into two types, namely: freshwater and
marine ecosystem.

1. Freshwater Ecosystem

2. Marine Ecosystem
Freshwater Ecosystem Aquatic
Ecosystem

The freshwater ecosystem is an

aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes,
ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands.
These have no salt content in contrast
with the marine ecosystem. They
embody planktons, algae, insects,
amphibians and underwater plants.
 Marine Ecosystem Aquatic
Ecosystem

The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans.

These have a more substantial salt content and
greater biodiversity in comparison to the freshwater
ecosystem. It contains saltwater and inhabits a variety
of species. They are the most abundant ecosystems
on the planet. Marine enclose not only the oceanic bed
but also the tidal zones, salt marshes, estuaries,
saltwater swamps, coral reef, mangroves etc.
 Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem Services are the direct and indirect contributions

ecosystems (known as natural capital) provide for human
wellbeing and quality of life.

This can be in a practical sense, providing food and water and

regulating the climate, as well as cultural aspects such as
reducing stress and anxiety. In fact, the vast number of services
provided by ecosystems can be categorized into: provisional;
regulating; cultural; and supporting services.

These services provided by ecosystems lead to benefits received

by humans in the form of security, goods and materials, health and
wellbeing.
Ecosystem Services
 Interrelationship, Food Chain, and
Food Web

We tend to associate life with individual

organisms, for the obvious reason that it is
individuals that are alive. But sustaining life
on Earth requires more than individuals or
even single populations or species. Life is
sustained by the interactions of many
organisms functioning together, interacting
through their physical and chemical
environments.
Interrelationship, Food Chain, and Food Web

Organisms in an ecosystem interact with one

another. One way that individuals in a
community interact is by feeding on one
another. Energy, chemical elements, and
some compounds are transferred from
creature to creature along food chains, the
linkage of who feeds on whom.
Interrelationship, Food Chain, and Food Web
The more complex linkages are called food
webs. Ecologists group the organisms in a
food web into trophic levels. A trophic level
(from the Greek word trephein, meaning to
nourish, thus the “nourishing level”) consists
of all organisms in a food web that are the
same number of feeding levels away from
the original energy source. The original
source of energy in most ecosystems is the
sun. In other cases, it is the energy in certain
inorganic compounds.
 Interrelationship, Food Chain,
and Food Web

Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria produce sugars

through the process of photosynthesis, using only
energy from the sun and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
air. They are called autotrophs, from the words auto (self)
and trephein (to nourish), thus “self- nourishing,” and are
grouped into the first trophic level. All other organisms are
called heterotrophs.
 Interrelationship, Food Chain,
and Food Web
Of these, herbivores— organisms that feed on plants,
algae, or photosynthetic bacteria—are members of the
second trophic level. Carnivores, or meat-eaters, that feed
directly on herbivores make up the third trophic level.
Carnivores that feed on third- level carnivores are in the
fourth trophic level, and so on. Those that feed on both plant
and animals are the omnivores. Herbivore, carnivores and
omnivores are all consumers. Decomposers, those that
feed on dead organic material, are classified in the highest
trophic level in an ecosystem. The following image is an
example of a simple food web.
 Ecosystem and Food Chains

Food web of a Yellowstone National Park hot spring. Ecosystems: Concepts and Fundamentals (Botkin & Keller, 2011)
 Seatwork
Based on your prior knowledge, give examples of cells, tissues, organs, organ
systems, and organisms.

CELL TISSUE ORGAN ORGAN ORGANISM

SYSTEM
Example Cheek cell Epithelial Skin Integumen Human
tissue tary

1
2
3
 Seatwork
Describe each level of ecological organization by defining it, and by giving
examples. Fill out the table below.

Level of Ecological Definition Example (s)

Organization
Organism

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biomes

Biosphere
Groupwork: Campus-Ecological Tour

The students will familiarize themselves with the school

environment using a checklist. The checklist includes the
following:
1. Flora and Fauna. (Local name)
2. Man-modified and man-made environment.
3. Types of Ecosystems. (Terrestrial and aquatic)
4. Interrelationships.

During the tour, the students can take pictures to be

included in their narrative reports.
Books and Other Published Materials:
References
Botkin, D. B., & Keller, E. A. (2011). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Earth as a Living Planet, Eighth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., USA.
https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1995.00472425002400050040x
Cunningham, W., & Cunningham, M. A. (2017). Principles of ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Inquiry & Application, Eighth Edition.
McGraw-Hill Education, New York, USA.
Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., Vandevoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to Environmental Science, 3rd Edition. Open
Textbook, Georgia College and State University, USA.
Skinner, B. J., & Murck, B. W. (2011). The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science, 3rd Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
USA

Internet Links:
Socratic Q&A Environmental Science. (2016). What is the difference between organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome and
biosphere. https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-the-difference-between-organism-population-community-ecosystem-and-
biosp#275374
Encyclopædia Britannica. (2020). Levels of organization. https://kids.britannica.com/students/assembly/view/217841
Byjus The Learning App. (2020). Ecosystem https://byjus.com/biology/ecosystem/#what-is-an-ecosystem

Byjus The Learning App. (2020). How Many Types Of Ecosystem Are There? https://byjus.com/questions/how-many-types-of-
ecosystem-are-there/
Googleimage.com
https://www.nature.scot/scotlands-biodiversity/scottish-biodiversity-strategy-and-cop15/ecosystem-approach/ecosystem-services-natures-
benefits#:~:text=Ecosystem%20Services%20are%20the%20direct,as%20reducing%20stress%20and%20anxiety.
 References
Chan, N. W. (2016). Resource Basis of Our Life. In M. A. Ngai Weng Chan, Hidefumi Imura, Akihiro Nakamura (Ed.),
Sustainable Urban Development Textbook (1st ed.). Water Watch Penang & Yokohama City University.
CRS & MEAS. (2015). Understanding Natural Resources: A SMART Skills Manual. Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore,
MD, and Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services project, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Cunningham, W., & Cunningham, M. A. (2017). Principles of ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Inquiry & Application,
Eighth Edition. McGraw-Hill Education, New York, USA.
PCSDS. (2015). State of the Environment 2015 Updates, Province of Palawan (UNESCO Man and Biosphere
Reserve), Philippines. Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines.
Rajović, G., & Bulatović, J. (2017). Natural Resources , Classification of Natural Potential , Sustainable Development.
World News of Natural Science, 6, 20–35.
Wright, R. T., & Boorse, D. F. (2017). Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future. Pearson Education, Inc.
USA.
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