Environmental Science Q1 Week 2 3

ECOLOGICAL
CONCEPTS AND
PRINCIPLES
OBJECTIVES
1. Define the following terms

 ECOLOGY
 ECOSYSTEM
 ENVIRONMENT
2. Discuss the Components of Ecosystems
 Biotic VS Abiotic factors
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ECOLOGY
 is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and
their physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between
plants and animals and the world around them.
 is a branch of science, including human science, population, community,

ecosystem and biosphere. Ecology is the study of organisms, the environment and
how the organisms interact with each other and their environment. It is studied at
various levels, such as organism, population, community, biosphere and ecosystem.

ECOSYSTEM
 is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as
weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. Ecosystems
contain biotic or living, parts, as well as abiotic factors, or nonliving parts.
 is a system consisting of biotic and abiotic components that function

together as a unit. The biotic components include all the living things
whereas the abiotic components are the non-living things. Thus, an
ecosystem science definition entails an ecological community consisting of
different populations of organisms that live together in a particular habitat.
ENVIRONMENT
 Is everything that is around us, which includes both living and

nonliving things such as soil, water, animals and plants, which
adapt themselves to their surroundings. It is nature’s gift that
helps in nourishing life on Earth.

COMPONENTS OF
ECOSYSTEMS
There are two main components of an ecosystem
which are in constant communication with each
other. They are the
biotic components and the abiotic components.

Biotic Components of Ecosystem
The living components of an ecosystem are called the
biotic components. Some of these factors include
plants, animals, as well as fungi and bacteria. These
biotic components can be further classified, based on
the energy requirement source. Producers, Consumers,
and Decomposers are the three broad categories of
biotic components.

Producers are the plants in the ecosystem, which can generate
their own energy requirement through photosynthesis, in the
presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. All other living beings
are dependent on plants for their energy requirement of food
as well as oxygen.

Consumers include herbivores, carnivores, and
omnivores. The herbivores are the living organisms that
feed on plants. Carnivores eat other living organisms.
Omnivores are animals that can eat both
plant and animal tissue.

Decomposers are the fungi and bacteria, which are the
saprophytes. They feed on the decaying organic matter
and convert this matter into nitrogen and
carbon dioxide. The saprophytes play a vital role in
recycling the nutrients so that the producers i.e. plants
can use them once again.

Abiotic Components of Ecosystem
Abiotic components are the physical and/or the chemical factors
that act on the living organisms at any part of their life. These
are also called as the ecological factors. The physical and
chemical factors are characteristic of the environment. Light,
air, soil, and nutrients, etc. form the abiotic components of an
ecosystem.

ABIOTIC FACTORS

SOLAR RADIATION
Sunlight is an abiotic factor in an
ecosystem, which comprises of solar
thermal energy and light which are
both transmitted by radiation. Solar
energy from the Sun is the primary
form and source of energy to the
ecosystem.

 Atmosphere
1.Due to the atmosphere, life is sustained on the earth.
2.Plants use the carbondioxide when animals use oxygen gas.
3.The atmosphere also protects the animals from the harmful UV

radiation from the sun.

4.Humans and other animals are susceptible to the
damage by harmful UV radiation.
5.On exposure, it may cause some genetic change as

well as has the capacity to trigger skin cancer.
6.It looks like a shield that provides protection to the

creatures on earth.

Water
1.Water is an essential abiotic factor. Not only plants but
animals even tiny micro-organisms also need water for their
survival. In the absence of water, plants will die, i.e
producers will die. Even the plants in the desert require some
amount of water.
2.Due to dehydration, animals will die. i.e consumers

3.In the case of micro-organism, they need water for proper
functioning which we call water activity. We can take a simple
example by giving insight into our kitchen. Dry fruits can be stored
for a long time as compared to juicy fruits.
2.Among the various factors, the water activity of an organism also

plays a vital role in the spoilage of the different foods.
3.If there is no water, life on earth is not possible. So, researchers

assume that if water can be found on other planets, there might be
some evidence of life too. Thus, it is often said, water is life.
Temperature
1. Temperature is an important abiotic factor in an ecosystem.
2.With the variations in the temperature, variations occur in the type

of plants and animals. For eg: Yak lives in cold regions where there is
low temperature.
3.Nature has adjusted the body like the presence of long furs which
make it possible to survive.
4.Similarly, in the case of microorganisms, depending on the

temperature they are classified as psychrophiles, mesophiles,
thermophiles, thermotolerant, extremophiles.
5.The presence of microbes in the Yellow stone hot spring to the Antarctic
regions suggests that variations of temperature have evolved various
mechanisms, making it suitable for survival.
6.The temperature determines the rate of the metabolic reactions. It affects

various enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
7.At the higher temperature, enzymes denature but some enzymes are
thermostable.
Example: Taq polymerase isolated from the bacterium Thermus aquaticus can
withstand the higher temperature.
8.It is used in the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most of the other enzymes
will be denatured and cannot be functioned
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well at this temperature.
PRESENTATION TITLE 21
SOIL
1.Soil is an important abiotic factor. It is made up of rocks along with the
decomposed plants and animals.
2.With the help of the roots, plants acquire the water and minerals from the soil.
Soil are also of various types, whose nature and composition vary and have
different functions.
3.The water holding capacity is also determined by its composition.
4.In the aquatic environment, depending upon the characteristics of the

11/22/2023
sediment, it determines the type of the benthic animals 22
Thank you
MARK MIKO S. MENDOZA

Environmental Science Q1 Week 2 3

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ECOLOGICAL

1. Define the following terms

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 is a branch of science, including human science, population, community,

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 is a system consisting of biotic and abiotic components that function

 Is everything that is around us, which includes both living and

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2.Plants use the carbondioxide when animals use oxygen gas.

3.The atmosphere also protects the animals from the harmful UV

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5.On exposure, it may cause some genetic change as

6.It looks like a shield that provides protection to the

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2.Due to dehydration, animals will die. i.e consumers

2.Among the various factors, the water activity of an organism also

3.If there is no water, life on earth is not possible. So, researchers

2.With the variations in the temperature, variations occur in the type

4.Similarly, in the case of microorganisms, depending on the

6.The temperature determines the rate of the metabolic reactions. It affects

3.The water holding capacity is also determined by its composition.

4.In the aquatic environment, depending upon the characteristics of the

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