tech paper
Ecosystem Components and Interactions
I. Introduction
An ecosystem is a complex relationship between a community of organisms and the environment that they dwell in where energy is exchanged and transformed. Ecosystem includes the biotic (living organisms), the abiotic (physical and chemical factors), and the interactions made between these. They continually interact with each other, thus making complex systems with intersecting properties wherein “everything is connected”. In ecosystem ecology, we study about an individual, a community and a population. Interactions and relations between the biotic and abiotic components like prey-predator, producer-consumer are also under the study of ecosystem ecology.
II. Objectives At the end of the exercise, the student was able to: 1. Enumerate the different components of the ecosystem 2. Describe the interaction of the different components of the ecosystem 3. Understand the functioning of the ecosystem
III. Methodology Our small class was accommodated by our recitation instructor to visit four different ecosystems inside the UPLB campus, namely: agro ecosystem, grassland, freshwater, and forest ecosystem. The ecosystems were separately observed and studied to obtain the data needed.
IV. Results and Discussion
Table 1.a Biotic components of natural ecosystem
Biotic component
Habit or type
Number
Distribution Pattern
Physical Factors Affecting Organism
Autotroph
Plants 1. Banana
2. Palmera
3. Fern
4. Moss
5. Algae
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Moss
4
2
3
Too many to count
Random
Random
Random
Random
Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather
Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather
Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather
Heterotrophs
Macroheterotrophs None Microheterotrophs 1. Snail
I. Introduction
An ecosystem is a complex relationship between a community of organisms and the environment that they dwell in where energy is exchanged and transformed. Ecosystem includes the biotic (living organisms), the abiotic (physical and chemical factors), and the interactions made between these. They continually interact with each other, thus making complex systems with intersecting properties wherein “everything is connected”. In ecosystem ecology, we study about an individual, a community and a population. Interactions and relations between the biotic and abiotic components like prey-predator, producer-consumer are also under the study of ecosystem ecology.
II. Objectives At the end of the exercise, the student was able to: 1. Enumerate the different components of the ecosystem 2. Describe the interaction of the different components of the ecosystem 3. Understand the functioning of the ecosystem
III. Methodology Our small class was accommodated by our recitation instructor to visit four different ecosystems inside the UPLB campus, namely: agro ecosystem, grassland, freshwater, and forest ecosystem. The ecosystems were separately observed and studied to obtain the data needed.
IV. Results and Discussion
Table 1.a Biotic components of natural ecosystem
Biotic component
Habit or type
Number
Distribution Pattern
Physical Factors Affecting Organism
Autotroph
Plants 1. Banana
2. Palmera
3. Fern
4. Moss
5. Algae
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Moss
4
2
3
Too many to count
Random
Random
Random
Random
Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather
Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather
Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather Sunlight, soil, water, temperature, weather
Heterotrophs
Macroheterotrophs None Microheterotrophs 1. Snail
References: Lit. Cited 1. Erle Ellis (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Ecosystem". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth October 7, 2008; Last revised Date September 8, 2011; Retrieved January 19, 2013 2. Borman, F.H. and G.E. Likens. 1970. "The nutrient cycles of an ecosystem." Scientific American, October 1970, pp 92-101. 3. Wessells, N.K. and J.L. Hopson. 1988. Biology. New York: Random House. Ch. 44.