Ecosystem Study

Chapter 14 - Ecology and Habitat Study

• Ecology is the branch of biology studying how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
• A habitat is the specific place where an organism lives.
• An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other in a specific environment.
• An ecosystem can contain many habitats.
• A habitat is a part of an ecosystem.
• A habitat is smaller than an ecosystem but contains a large number of species.
• A habitat contains one or few species.

Objectives

• Understand ecology
• Differentiate between habitat and ecosystem
• Knowledge of performing a habitat study
• Identify examples of adaptation, competition and interdependence
• Appreciate how matter and energy flow through ecosystems

Keywords

• Ecosystem
• Ecology
• Community
• Niche
• Habitat
• Biotic
• Abiotic
• Competition
• Interdependence
• Adaptation
• Frequency

14.1 What is Ecology?

• Ecology studies how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

14.2 Populations, Communities, Habitats and Ecosystems

• A population consists of organisms of the same species in a given area.
• A community comprises different populations in a given area.
• Organisms within a community have a unique niche (role).
• Niches help keep the community balanced and stable.
• The ecological niche of a species is its role in a community and how it interacts with other organisms.

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

• Ecosystems get energy primarily from sunlight.
• Producers use light energy through photosynthesis to create chemical energy.
• Consumers eat plants or other animals to get energy.
• Only 10% of energy is transferred between trophic levels.

Types of Consumers

• Herbivores eat plants.
• Carnivores eat other animals.
• Omnivores eat both plants and animals.
• Decomposers break down dead matter and recycle it.

Trophic Levels

• A trophic level is an organism's position in a food chain.
• Producers are at the first trophic level.
• Primary consumers are at the second level.
• Secondary consumers are at the third level.
• Tertiary consumers are at the fourth level.

Energy Pyramid

• An energy pyramid shows the relative numbers of organisms at each trophic level.

14.4 Flow of Matter in an Ecosystem

• Matter cycles between living and non-living parts of an ecosystem.
• The carbon cycle and water cycle are important cycles.
• Nitrogen also cycles through ecosystems.

14.5 Habitat Study

• Why study a habitat?
  • Learn about the different lifeforms living there.
  • Understand how animals/plants are adapted.
  • Understand human impact on habitats.
  • Identify factors causing harmful changes.
  • Protect habitats from harm.

14.6 Steps in a Habitat Study

• Identify a habitat (e.g., grassland).
• Section area for study.
• Measure specific factors (air/soil temperature, soil pH, light intensity).
• Use equipment like thermometers, pH sensors, light meters.
• Identify producers (using keys).
• Identify consumers (using keys).
• Observe & describe biotic factors (e.g. competition, interdependence, adaptation ).
• Determine decomposers.
• Use techniques to capture and identify animals (e.g. pooter, beating tray, pitfall traps).
• Count populations (e.g., quadrat sampling, capture-recapture).

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

• Abiotic factors are non-living aspects (e.g., air temperature, soil conditions).
• Biotic factors are living things (e.g., plants, animals, and their interactions).

This lesson covers key ecological concepts such as habitat studies, population dynamics, and species interactions. Topics include identifying environmental adaptations, understanding the 'capture/recapture' method versus quadrat studies, and defining ecological niches. The role of decomposers is also discussed.