NASC5 EXERCISE 1

Introduction Ecology may be broadly defined as the study of the interrelationships or interactions among the different components of the ecosystem. All the ecosystem components are directly and /or indirectly linked with one another. “There is constant interchange of various kinds within each system, not only between the organic and inorganic” (Tansley,1935). The linking forces are two processes: the energy flow process, and the biochemical cycle. In other words, ecosystem components are linked to one another by the transfer of energy and nutrients via trophic (feeding) relationships. It can be said that these two processes unify the ecosystem to function as a unit. Of equal importance in the functioning of the ecosystem is the evolutionary process, which is unique to living organism. Students of environmental biology will learn about the interactions and relationships of the vsrious components of the ecosystem by directly observing the organism in their natural habitat. Observation in the field will be strengthened by group discussions and by answering the guide questions given in the exercise.
Objectives:
At the end of the exercise, the student should be able to:
1. Enumerate the different components of the ecosystem
2. Describe the interaction of the different component of the ecosystem
3. Understanding the functioning of the ecosystem
Procedure:
As a group, visit four different types of ecosystems found in the vicinity of the UPLB Campus, namely agro ecosystem (rice, corn, vegetables), grassland (tropical, pasture), freshwater (stream), and forest ecosystems.
For each ecosystem, study the different components comprising it by first locating a 10x10m area to observe. Fill up Table 1 and 2 by following the procedure below:
A. Autotophic organisms
a. At each area survey the plants growing in it. List the growth habit (tree, shrub, herb, vines or creepers)
b. Count the number of different species of plants that you observe in the plot.