Envisci - EPC Biogeochemical Cycle to Types of Ecosystem.docx

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE Chemical and biological processes Examples Water cycle Nitrogen cycle Phosphorus cycle Carbon cycle 1. **Water cycle** The water or hydrologic cycle refers to the continuous circulation of moisture on earth, particularly between the atmosphere and the earth's su...

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE Chemical and biological processes Examples Water cycle Nitrogen cycle Phosphorus cycle Carbon cycle 1. **Water cycle** The water or hydrologic cycle refers to the continuous circulation of moisture on earth, particularly between the atmosphere and the earth's surface. Solar radiation provides the energy for the water cycle. 2. **NITROGEN CYCLE** Biogeochemical process through which nitrogen is converted into many forms, consecutively passing from the atmosphere to the soil to organism and back into the atmosphere. 3. **CARBON CYCLE** Carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide, comprises about 0.03 percent of the atmosphere. Worldwide circulation of carbon atoms is called the carbon cycle. 4. **PHOSPHORUS CYCLE** Describes the transformation and translocation of phosphorus in soil, water, and living and dead organic material 5. **ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION** Series of changes that occur in an ecological community over time 6. **COMPETITION** When two organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same place at the same time. Ex: food, water, shelter 7. **PREDATION** One organism captures and feeds on another organism **Predator**---one that does the killing **Prey**---one that is the food 8. **SYMBIOSIS** Any relationship in which two species live closely together Mutualism ---both species benefit (WIN-WIN) Ex. Insects and flowers - **Commensalism** - one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed (WIN- 0) Example: Barnacles on a whale - **Parasitism** ---one organisms lives on or inside another organism (host) and harms it. The parasite obtains all or part of its nutritional needs from the host. (WIN-LOSE) Example: fleas on a dog 9. **NICHE** functional role that it plays within an ecosystem. The niche of an organism within an ecosystem depends on how the organism responds and reacts to the distribution and abundance of these factors, and in turn how it alters the factors **HABITAT** **COMPETITIVE EXCLUSION PRINCIPLES** A given habitat may contain many different species, but each species must have a different niche. Two different species cannot occupy the same niche in the same place for very long. This is known as the competitive exclusion principle **ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES** **L.3 CORE ECOLOGICAL LAWS** BARRY COMMONER - Founder of modern ecology and one of its most provocative thinkers and mobilizers in making environmentalism a people's political cause - Responsible for the first celebration of **Earth day** in the world - His famous book, \"**The Closing Circle**,\" published in **1970**, provides a clear and understandable example of what **ecology truly means** **THE FOUR (4) LAWS OF ECOLOGY** 1. **"Everything is Connected to Everything Else"** - referring to all of the living organisms on Earth that what might affects one, generally affects all and consistently happening like a domino effect within the society - **Food Chain** is the transfer of energy and material through a series of organisms as each one is fed by the next - **Food Web** is a relatively complex series of feeding relationships which may comprise a group of food chains **HOMOEOSTASIS --** BALANCE **Keystone Species** - Huge predator or an unassuming plant, but without them the ecosystem may not survive - Without it, ecosystems would look very different. Some of it might not be able to adapt to environmental changes if their keystone species disappeared. - **BIOACCUMULATION** - It depends on time - **BIOMAGNIFICATION** - Depends on tropic level  - **Competition and Predation** - competition arises when resources are in limited supply and organisms strive to obtain these resources. - Predation often greatly reduces prey population density and alters community composition and species diversity. 2. **"Everything Must Go Somewhere"** - lahat ng bagay may patutunguhan, no word "waste" - **First Law of Thermodynamics**: energy can be transformed from one form to another but can never be created or destroyed. - **Second Law of Thermodynamics**: each time energy is transformed, it tends to go from a more organized and concentrated form to a less organized and more dispersed form. LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS (MATTER) - is neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions. In other words, the mass of any one element at the beginning of a reaction will equal the mass of that element at the end of the reaction. BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE - to recycle the elements on the earth. Biogeochemical cycle enables the transformation of matter from one form to another form. The byproducts of biogeochemical cycles functioning of ecosystems. 3. **"Nature Knows Best** - any major man-made change in a natural system is likely to be detrimental to that system 4. **"There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch"** - will always carry an ecological cost and will inevitably involve the conversion of resources from useful to useless. SAMANEA SAMAN -- ACACIA **L.5 ECOSYTEM TYPES** An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology where the living organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment STRUCTURE OF THE ECOSYSTEM - characterized by the organization of both biotic and abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in our environment. - It also includes the climatic conditions prevailing in that environment - Biotic Components - Abiotic Components **Ecosystem Services** 1. **Provisioning Services** - Directly harvest in Environment - The air 2. **Regulating Services** - Moderate other dominal 3. **Cultural Services** - The knowledge 4. **Supporting Services** - Water cycle and so on FUNCTIONAL UNIT OF ECOSYSTEM ▪ Productivity-- It refers to the rate of biomass production. How fast living things ▪ Energy flow-- It is the sequential process through which energy flows from one trophic level to another. The energy captured from the sun flows from producers to consumers and then to decomposers and finally back to the environment. ▪ Decomposition-- It is the process of breakdown of dead organic material. The top-soil is the major site for decomposition. ▪ Nutrient cycling-- In ecosystem nutrients are consumed and recycled back in various forms for the utilization by various organisms. Infinite Ecosystem or paulit - ulit An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean, spanning thousands of miles. There are two types of ecosystem the **TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM** and **AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM**. **TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM** **Forest ecosystems** are areas of the landscape that are dominated by trees and consist of biologically integrated communities of plants, animals and microbes, together with the local soils (substrates) and atmospheres (climates) with which they interact - Forests are temperature of the significant carbon sinks and participate in controlling and balancing the overall Earth. - **Tropical evergreen forest** Location: Found near the equator in regions with high rainfall and stable temperatures throughout the year(e.g., Amazon Rainforest) Characteristics - Lush and dense vegetation with tall trees. - High biodiversity with a wide variety of plant and animal species - Canopy is always green, as some trees shed leaves but are quickly replaced - Limited undergrowth due to lack of sunlight reaching the forest floor. - Continuous photosynthesis occurs year-around - **Tropical deciduous forest** Location: Found in regions with distinct wet and dry seasons , typically bordering tropical evergreen forests ( e.g Indian Subcontinent) Characteristics - Trees shed their leaves during the dry season to conserve water - Greater seasonal variation in vegetation compared to evergreen forests. - Support a diverse range of wildlife - More undergrowth and shrubs compared to evergreen forest - Many trees are adapted to drought conditions - **Temperate evergreen forest** Characteristics: - Maliit na leaves parang karayon - Pine trees - Dominated by broadleaf and needleleaf evergreen trees. - Lower biodiversity compared to tropical forests. - More variation in plant species due to seasonal changes. - Canopy cover remains constant throughout the year. - Supports a range of wildlife species - **Temperate deciduous forest** Location: Found in regions with distinct seasons, including old winters and warm summers (e.g., Easter United States, Europe). Characteristics: - Trees shed their leaves in the autumn as a response to cold and reduced sunlight - High biodiversity with various tree species. - Undergrowth includes ferns, shrubs and herbs. - Support a wide range f wildlife species including mammals, birds and insect. - Soil in these forests is often rich and fertile. - **TAIGA** Location: Taiga is found in the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. It forms a broad belt around the Earth, encircling the Arctic regions. Characteristics: - The taiga is home to a variety of wildlife, including mammals like moose, wolves, bears, and lynx. Many bird species also inhabit this biome. - Insects, particularly mosquitoes, can be abundant in the summer months. - The soil in the taiga is often acidic and has low nutrient levels. This is due to the slow decomposition of organic matter in the cold climate. TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM **Grassland Ecosystem** - type of ecological community characterized by extensive areas covered primarily with grasses, along with other herbaceous plants and occasional shrubs or trees. - Grasslands are found on every continent except Antarctica and play a crucial role in the global ecosystem. - **Dominant Vegetation**: Grasses are the dominant form of vegetation in grassland ecosystems. They are adapted to thrive in areas with periodic fires, grazing by herbivores, and fluctuating moisture levels. - **Biodiversity**: Grasslands support a diverse range of plant and animal species. They are home to various grass species, wildflowers, insects, rodents, birds, and larger herbivores. - **Climate**: Grasslands can be found in a variety of climates, from tropical to temperate regions. They experience distinct seasons, including periods of rainfall and dry spells. - **Location**: Found in tropical regions, primarily between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn - **Climate**: Characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. Rainfall is seasonal, and droughts are common during the dry season. - **Vegetation**: Dominated by grasses, with scattered trees and shrubs. Trees are often adapted to withstand drought conditions. - **Wildlife**: Supports a diverse range of wildlife, including large herbivores like zebras, giraffes. **Temperate Grasslands (Prairies)** **Location**: Found in temperate regions, away from the equator but not reaching the polar regions. **Climate**: Experience distinct seasons, including cold winters and warm summers. Precipitation is moderate, and droughts can occur. **Vegetation**: Dominated by various grass species, with few trees and shrubs. Grasses are adapted to withstand periodic fires. **Wildlife**: Home to a variety of herbivores like bison, pronghorns, and ground-dwelling rodents. Predators such as coyotes and birds of prey are also present. **Tundra Ecosystem** The tundra is a vast and unique ecosystem characterized by extremely cold temperatures, low biodiversity, and frozen soil. It is found in the northernmost regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as in some high-altitude areas. - Extreme Cold: Tundras are known for their frigid temperatures. Winters are long and harsh, with temperatures often dropping well below freezing. Summers are short, and even then, temperatures rarely rise above 50°F (10°C) - Low Biodiversity: Tundras have relatively low species diversity compared to other ecosystems. The extreme conditions make it challenging for many plants and animals to survive. Mosses, lichens, and grasses are some of the few plants that can thrive in this environment. - Because rainwater cannot soak into the permafrost, there are many shallow ponds and marshy areas of the tundra during the summer. **Desert Ecosystem** - A desert ecosystem is a region characterized by extremely low precipitation levels, resulting in arid, dry conditions. Deserts cover about one-third of the Earth\'s land surface and can be found on every continent. - They are known for their harsh environmental conditions, including high temperatures during the day and extreme temperature drops at night. - **Sand Desert** - type of desert ecosystem characterized by vast expanses of sandy terrain. It is dominated by loose, granular sand dunes that can be shaped by wind into various forms. - Sand deserts often have shifting dunes and are found in regions with low vegetation cover. - Rock Desert - also known as a rocky desert, is a desert ecosystem dominated by rocky or stony terrain. Instead of sandy dunes, the landscape is characterized by exposed rocks, boulders, and gravel. - Vegetation cover is generally sparse, and plants are often adapted to grow in crevices or sheltered areas. - Stony Desert - a desert ecosystem characterized by a surface covered predominantly with small to medium-sized stones or pebbles. The stony substrate can make it challenging for plants to take root, resulting in limited vegetation cover. - Stony deserts may have interspersed patches of sandy or rocky terrain. - Plateau Desert - a type of desert ecosystem found on elevated plateaus or mesas. It is characterized by flat or gently rolling terrain with limited relief. While plateaus may have unique geological features, they can exhibit desert conditions, including low precipitation and sparse vegetation - Cold Desert - low temperatures, especially during the winter months. Unlike hot deserts, which experience extreme heat, cold deserts have cold winters and milder summers. - They are found at higher latitudes and altitudes and can experience snowfall. **Vertical zonation** - Temperature and precipitation change with elevation as well as with latitude. In mountainous regions, temperatures are cooler, and precipitation is usually greater at high elevations. - Vertical zonation is the term applied to vegetation zones which are defined by altitude. FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM **AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM** The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with the marine ecosystem - **Lentic Ecosystem** still or slow-moving freshwater environments. They include bodies of water like lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Characteristics: - Water in lentic ecosystems is generally stationary or has very slow flow. - These ecosystems vary in size from small ponds to large lakes. - They often have distinct layers, with different temperatures and oxygen levels at different depths. - Lentic ecosystems may support a variety of aquatic plants and animals, including fish, amphibians, insects, and waterfowl. - Nutrient levels in lentic systems can vary widely, affecting the types of organisms that can thrive there **LAKE ECOSYSTEM** - Lakes are large bodies of standing freshwater that are surrounded by land. - Lakes are typically larger and deeper compared to ponds. - They can have considerable depth, with distinct zones like littoral, limnetic, and profundal. - Lakes can form by various processes, including tectonic activity, glaciation, volcanic activity, and even human-made dams. - Lakes support a wide range of aquatic plants and animals, including fish, amphibians, birds, and various invertebrates. - Examples: Lake Danao **WETLAND ECOSYSTEM** - Wetlands are transitional areas where water meets land, and they can include a variety of habitats like swamps, marshes, and bogs. - Wetlands may be periodically or permanently inundated with water, and they can be freshwater, brackish, or even saltwater. - They are characterized by specialized vegetation adapted to waterlogged conditions. They support a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, amphibians, fish, and insects. - Wetlands provide crucial ecosystem services like water filtration, flood control, and habitat for many species. Wetlands are Described by Their Vegetation - **Swamps** are wetlands with trees. - **Marshes** are wetlands without trees. - **Bogs** are areas of water saturated ground usually composed of deep layers of undecayed vegetation known as peat - **Lotic Ecosystem** - characterized by flowing water. They include rivers, streams, and creeks. **CHARACTERISTICS:** - Water in lotic ecosystems is constantly moving, which affects the physical and chemical properties of the environment. - These ecosystems can vary from small, fast-flowing streams to large, slow-moving rivers. - Lotic systems often have a gradient of habitats, with faster-flowing, shallower areas at the headwaters and slower, deeper areas further downstream. - They support a diverse array of aquatic life, including various fish species, insects, crustaceans, and amphibians. - Nutrient levels in lotic systems are typically more consistent compared to lentic systems due to the constant flow of water. - **RIVER ECOSYSTEM** - A river is a natural flowing watercourse that typically starts from a source, such as a spring or mountain, and flows towards a larger body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake. - Rivers play a vital role in the Earth\'s hydrological cycle, transporting water, sediments, and nutrients across landscapes. - They are essential for various ecological processes and provide habitats for a wide range of plants and animals. - **MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM** - Mangroves are a diverse group of salt-tolerant trees that grow along warm, calm marine coasts around the world. - **SEAGRASS ECOSYSTEM** - A vital part of the marine ecosystem due to their productivity level, seagrasses provide food, habitat, and nursery areas for numerous vertebrates and invertebrates. - **MARINE ECOSYSTEMS** - A marine ecosystem refers to a community of living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environment within a marine (saltwater) environment. - This includes oceans, seas, and other bodies of saltwater. Marine ecosystems are incredibly diverse and can range from shallow coastal areas to the deep sea. - They include a wide variety of organisms, such as fish, marine mammals, corals, plankton, and various species of algae. - **CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM** - A coral reef ecosystem is a diverse and complex marine environment characterized by the presence of coral reefs. - Coral reefs are underwater structures formed by colonies of tiny animals called coral polyps, which secrete calcium carbonate to create a hard exoskeleton. These reefs provide a habitat for an extraordinary array of marine life. - Coral reef ecosystems are known for their high biodiversity, rivaling even tropical rainforests. They support a wide range of organisms, including various species of corals, fish, mollusks, sponges, and many others. The mutualistic relationship between corals and certain types of algae called zooxanthellae is critical to the survival of coral reefs. - The algae provide corals with nutrients through photosynthesis, while the corals provide a protected environment for the algae. MANGROVES SEAGRASS CORAL REEF INTERACTION A diagram of a seagrass and coral reef Description automatically generated VARIOUS HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT AFFECT AN ECOSYSTEM 1. **Agriculture** 2. **Deforestation** 3. **Overpopulation** 4. **Plastic Production** 5. **Emission of Greenhouse Gases and other Greenhouse Gases** 6. **Destruction of the Trees** 7. **Draining Streams/Rivers and destruction of critical freshwaters aquifer recharge areas (water population).** 8. **Overhunting and Overexploitation** 9. **Invasive Species** **INVASIVE SPECIES** - Swietenia macrophylla, commonly known as mahogany. - Rhinella marina, commonly known as The cane toad frog.