ECOSYSTEM-TYPES-AND-COMPONENTS.pdf
- 1. What is FOREST ECOSYSTEM ?
- 2. Topic Outline: ❑ What is a System? ❑ The Ecosystem Concept ❑ Experimentation in Ecology ❑ Types of Ecosystem ❑ Ecosystem Components
- 3. ➢ A system consists of interdependent parts that make up a whole. ➢ Each part has a specific function, yet the expression of the role of the whole system is dependent upon the proper functioning of all other parts. ➢ A whole system will fail to function unless it receives an input from the outside on which the system can act to produce a specific output. ➢ The components plus their interactions and with the necessary input deliver the specific output which each part cannot do on its own. The whole is greater than the sum of each part. Wh a t i s a S Y S T E M ?
- 4. Interconnected parts of a system
- 5. ➢ Ecosystem is defined as any unit that includes all of the organisms in a given area interacting with the physical environment so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined trophic structure, biotic diversity, and material cycles (i.e., exchange of materials between living and nonliving parts within the system). ➢ The study of ecosystems mainly consists of the study of certain processes that link the living, or biotic, components to the non-living, or abiotic, components. Energy transformations and biogeochemical cycling are the two main processes that comprise the field of ecosystem ecology. The Ecosystem Concept
- 7. Forest ecosystems, which consist of bacteria, plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, soil, water and air, differ from other ecosystems in that trees and other woody vegetation dominate them. Each of these components plays an important role in the function and health of the forest.
- 8. Linkages among components of an ecosystem Sun (solar energy) Plants Photosynthesis Herbivores Carnivores Consumption Detritivores Decomposition SOIL (Nutrients and Water) Atmosphere (O2, CO2 and Water)
- 9. EXPERIMENTATION IN ECOSYSTEM Until 1960S, ecological experimentation were largely descriptive (animal behavior, species in the area) More recently: emphasis on experimentation (trials to test phenomena). Involves active manipulation then observe Study of ecology is based on collection of theories that form the foundation of our understanding of the natural world
- 10. ➢ In any ecology and environmental science study, the systems or holistic approach is used in addressing ecological problems. That is, we look at the different natural systems, what their component parts are and how they interact with one another in order to produce the outputs. ➢ This approach complements to the interdisciplinary characteristic of ecology & environmental science.
- 11. ➢ Theory – a statement of explanation of cause & effect that seems plausible but cannot be directly confirmed or rejected by experimentation ➢ Important because they permit the formulation of testable hypothesis or questions regarding natural phenomena ➢ The key to the advancement of science in general and ecology is people asking questions about nature and collecting evidence or data to answer those questions EXPERIMENTATION IN ECOLOGY
- 12. ➢ Hypothesis – a statement about cause and effect that can be tested experimentally (e.g. change in leaf size) ➢ Reflects past experiences and knowledge regarding similar questions; it is based on what is already known ➢ Testing a hypothesis involves collecting data by experimentation ➢ Observational or descriptive studies are limited because mere observed phenomena do not provide evidence of cause and effect and do not allow for rigorous hypothesis testing EXPERIMENTATION IN ECOLOGY
- 13. ➢ Experiments may be performed in a laboratory (under controlled conditions) or in the field (under natural conditions) ➢ Inductive method: from specific knowledge and expands to more general knowledge ➢ Deductive: general – specific ➢ Two variables in controlled experiment: independent (not affected) and dependent (affected) variable) EXPERIMENTATION IN ECOLOGY
- 15. T y p e s o f Ecosystem Terrestrial Ecosystem Freshwater Ecosystem Marine Ecosystem
- 16. Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecosystems that exists on continents and islands of the world and comprehend a series of dynamic open interactions of the living or non-living entities, their activities and interrelations. It is a land-based community of organisms including forests and grassland.
- 17. COMPONENTS ➢ Physical Component- temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, light, etc ➢ Soil Component- physical (texture, etc) & chemical properties of soil ( salinity, pH, organic matter). Salinity is the measure of all the salts dissolved in water. Salinity is usually measured in parts per thousand (ppt or ). The average ocean salinity is 35ppt and the average river water salinity is 0.5ppt or less. This means that in every kilogram (1000 grams) of seawater, 35 grams are salt.
- 18. ➢ Plant Component ▪ Forestland –community dominated by trees ▪ Brushland –community dominated by brushes and shrubs.
- 19. ▪ Cropland-community seasonally planted with cash crops or permanent agricultural crops ▪ Marginal land- community with denuded soils and with few number of flora and fauna living therein. ▪ Mangrove- community found in tidal flats along seacoast extending along the rivers where the water is brackish.
- 20. COMPONENTS ➢ Animal Component- –includes the mammals, reptiles, and birds or avian groups ➢ Saprobe Component- –includes viroin, virus, fungi (phytomycetes-damping off), and bacteria.
- 21. Freshwater Ecosystem ecosystem that exists on ponds, marshes, swamps, lakes, and streams where living and non-living entities are interacting upon each other to produce and exchange energy and materials to each component
- 22. ▪ Lentic ecosystem–found on lakes and ponds ▪ Lotic ecosystem found in springs, brooks, creeks, and rivers ▪ Wetland ecosystem – found in marshes and swamps
- 23. Freshwater Ecosystem ➢ Freshwater habitats are relatively small but their importance is far greater than their size because: 1. Most convenient and cheapest source of water (domestic, agriculture and industry) 2. Bottleneck in water cycle 3. Provides more convenient and cheapest tertiary waste disposal system Limnology – a comprehensive study of all the components of inland aquatic ecosystems and their interrelationships.
- 24. Marine Ecosystem ecosystem that exists in the oceans, shores, and estuaries where living and non-living entities are interacting.
- 25. Marine Ecosystem ➢ The sea is big (covers 70% of earth’s surface) ➢ The sea is deep and life extend to all depths ➢ The sea is continuous allowing free movement of marine organisms ➢ The sea is continuously circulating ➢ It is dominated by waves and tides influenced by moon and sun ➢ Sea is salt ➢ Sea is alkaline, strongly buffer but low in nutrients
- 27. DID YOU KNOW?
- 28. Marine Ecosystem ➢ Neritic zone – shallow water zone of continental shelf ➢ Intertidal zone –area bet. high and low tides (Littoral zone)The sea is continuous allowing free movement of marine organisms ➢ Bathyal zone -trenches and canyons (Oceanic region) ➢ Hadal zone –the very deep areas of the ocean (Abyssal region) Z O N E S
- 29. @Earthpen
- 30. Ocean Zones
- 31. ➢ Seaweed component – this includes all plants or seaweeds living on the seabed. ➢ Tide pool component – this includes all organisms in the intertidal zone of the sea. ➢ Estuaries component - this includes all organisms found in the semi-closed coastal body of water that has a free connection with the open sea.
- 32. End of topic 2 Reference: Lecture Notes in Forest Ecology by For. Martin T. Obrero