Ecology studies the interaction between organisms and their environment.

Moreover, Principles are also

interconnected with each other and that helps in preserving endangered species. Endangered Species,
are the organisms that have a drastic or gradual decline in population. For our group, we chose the
Mindanao’s Horned Frog as the subject of the study. All animals are part of the ecosystem where it is
consists of communities where group of organisms residing in the same location interact to each other
and their habitats. There are populations where a group of same species are living. In Mindanao,
According to a study published in the Herpetological Conservation and Biology Journal, the horned frog
is a threatened species. The frog population was studied from 2008 to 2017. The researchers surveyed
adult frogs in their breeding areas for the study. There 2 Factors that controls the population: Density
Dependent and Density Independent Factor. Density dependent factor is the factor where in it controls
the population size whether it increases or decreases. Example of a density dependent factor is the
predation, the more horned frogs, the less snails will exist. On the other hand density independent
factor is any factor that limits the growth of an organism. For example, a drought. An organism cannot
live to a habitat that always have drought because they need water to survive. With these factors, it
now determines the population growth and decline of a certain organisms. Where there is a high rate of
biotic matters, it’s energy flow varies in an ecosystem. Energy flow is the movement of energy through
living things in an ecosystem All living organisms can be classified as producers and consumers, and
those producers and consumers can be classified further as a food chain. It’s biome is in wetland
considering that It is most commonly found near a source of fresh water (the habitat) where it can lay its
eggs, or in dense underbrush, leaf litter, or other fallen object covering the ground. The ecoregion's
climate is tropical wet, with temperature and rainfall influenced by elevation, which can reach 2,700
meters. This region's vegetation includes hill dipterocarp forests, lower and upper montane forests, elfin
woodland (mossy forest), and summit grasslands. Rainy seasons and frequent monsoons are also
common in the area. It’s niche is that makes the humid and wet debris-filled muddy forest floors its
home. All living organisms can be classified as producers and consumers, and those producers and
consumers can be classified further as a food chain. For example, The Horned Frog is a consumer. It
consumes the majority of the insects found on Mindanao, as well as snails, spiders, worms, and
occasionally smaller frogs. In the food web, Snakes, bears, and birds pose a threat to the horned frog.
This frog species is on the verge of becoming endangered. It is on the verge of extinction. The animal
isn't a major concern for environmental scientists right now, but they're keeping an eye on it. Because
the horned frog is an amphibian, it may be harmed by environmental changes and pollution. This is due
to the animal's sensitive skin. Then there is the cycle of matter, Both Biotic and Abiotic need gasses in
order to function or to survive and that is why the cycle of matter is present. This cycle is any of the
natural pathways through which essential elements of living matter circulate and is referred to as a
biogeochemical cycle. The term biogeochemical is a shortened form for considering the biological,
geological, and chemical factors of each cycle. Gases such as Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus which is
essential for biotic and abiotic components for their niche. For an ecosystem, it has its 3 pillars that
control population: The Carrying Capacity, S Curve, and Competitive organism. Carrying Capacity is the
number of organism that an ecosystem can support. If in human situation, it is like how many students
can a certain foundation could support their school scholarships. S-Curve or sigmoidal curve is the
population growth of a specie in its new habitat. It has 4 phases: the establishment phase where they
would assess/adapt if their new habitat is manageable for them to survive. The explosive or (logarithmic
phase) where they drastically propagate in numbers. The deceleration phase where due to the
increased population of the species, there would be competition because of low supply of food,
nutrients or their habitat itself. It is the phase that the population decreases. and lastly, dynamic
equilibrium phase where the species are on the steady state since there is an decrease to its population.
This phase is also can be seen on the bacterial growth phase in our Environmental Microbiology.
Competitive Organism can surface if there is a low resource of anything that is needed for a biotic
component to sustain.

Ecology is essential in conserving endangered species particularly the Mindanao’s Horned Frog,
considering that these species are part of the ecosystem and they are just outnumbered due to factors
that we discussed awhile. These principles are interlinked to each other for the reason that when one of
the principles are affected, other principles would also be affected with their functions. It is important
that we study and understand how ecology works for us to know how to approach, decide and take
action in preserving species. Not just to preserve but we might found a solutions on how to changed
that title "endangered" into "unthreatened" species.