ECOLOGY – is the science that deals with the study of the interrelations of organisms with

the physical environment and with other organism.

ECOSYSTEM – is an assemblage of living and non living elements contained within a
boundary such that these elements have functional relationships with each other
and can maintain the flow of energy and complete chemical/material cycle.
ENVIRONMENT – refers to all factors in an organism’s surroundings that affect its
behavior, survival and reproduction.

Major Types of Ecosystem:

1. Aquatic Ecosystem
In aquatic ecosystems salinity is a limiting factor. Living things in these ecosystems are
therefore prevented from transferring from one major aquatic habitat to another by this limiting
factor.
2. Terrestrial Ecosystem
The terrestrial ecosystem is often referred to as the biome. Biomes, are classified
according to the types of vegetation or plant types present in a particular place.

TYPES OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

1. Freshwater environment. Freshwater is best represented by the lakes and streams. The
first exemplifies the still water type and the second, the flowing water type. The food web
starts with the phytoplankton and the aquatic green plants both at the banks and the waters
and ends with the large predators like the birds and reptiles as the ultimate consumers.
In the lake, the algae and the green plants proliferate in the shallow areas and on the
surface. These support a variety of consumers in the likes of snails, hydra, planaria, and the
nymph of crustaceans and insects. These in turn are food to the consumers like the frogs,
lizards, turtles and small fishes. Main consumers of these groups are the birds, snakes and
eventually man.
The streams show variations in plant and animal forms. These variations are essential for
survival in the swiftly moving waters of the rapids in the streams. These are modifications in
structure which include suckers, hooks and sticky surfaces for animals as well as holdfasts in
plants. Behavioral modifications in animals have likewise been noticed. Most animals in
these areas are strong swimmers. The others are mostly bottom dwellers and/or burrowers.
Ponds, lakes, mud puddles, creeks, rivers, springs and streams are all examples of
freshwater ecosystems.

2. Marine environment. The marine environment is a tropical paradise in terms of its

resources. Coral reefs that abound the seas are one of the riches communities in the world.
The reef acts physically like a rocky shore for anchorage of algae, sessile animals like the
anemones, squirts are bivalves as well as shelter for the motile animals like the sea urchins,
brittle stars, sea snakes and host of small and large fishes and cephalopods. In the marine
ecosystem, the primary producers are the phytoplankton and the algae also called sea weeds.
The zooplankton feed on the phytoplankton. These combined make the sea a rich
pastureland for the small fishes and the invertebrates. The large fishes and mammals thrive
on these bounty. Dead organisms and the debris from the feeding ones sink to the bottom
and become food for the bottom dwellers of the oceans and seas. A lot of food, nutrients
and energy are lost in the sediments of the ocean bottom.

3. Estuarine environment. These are areas which are physically connected to the open sea
and yet are very close to land and freshwater resources. They are called estuaries. These are
tidal zones which occur where freshwater meets the sea. Their closeness to both land and
sea affect their salinity and nutrient composition. The organisms that thrive in these areas
have a wide degree of tolerance for changes in temperature, salinity and tidal movements.
When the tide is low, most animals avoid dessication by burrowing. This behavior also
protect them from predaceous shore birds. Plants in these areas produce aerial roots with
thick glossy leaves. Coastal bay, river mouths, and marshes are example of estuarine
environment.

TYPES OF BIOMES

1. Tropical Rainforest. This type of forest is fairly widely distributed along the equatorial
regions including the Philippines. In this region there is very little seasonal fluctuation.
The annual temperature remains fairly constant. Tall trees abound-mostly hardwoods
and evergreens. Ferns, mosses and fungi are abundant and decomposer organisms
thrive in the soil.

These are very efficient so that all organic matter are changed into usable forms in the
forest floor very rapidly. The tropical forests are haven to a variety of interesting
animals. Primary consumers like bugs, butterflies and ants are common. Secondary
consumers include the frogs, small birds and monitor lizards. Carnivores which are
mostly predators are abundant. Tropical rainforests are the sources of exotic lianas,
bromeliads, orchids, and anthuriums, which the collectors value so much.

2. Tropical Savanna. Areas like this occur where rainfall is insufficient to support the
forest. It covers a mixture of grasslands, shrubs and scattered tall trees like acacia.
Animals are mostly the grazing type like the antelopes, zebra, giraffe and elephants.
Africa has wide tracts of tropical savanna.
- is a tropical grassland that has scattered trees and therefore supports population of
both browsers and grazers. The temperature is warm and there is adequate yearly
rainfall, but a severe dry season limits the number of different types of plants.
Browsers – feed on tree vegetation (elephants & giraffes); grazers ( zebras) –
animals that feed on grass. Acacia tree is the common tree vegetation

3. Desert. Temperature in the desert is variable. Very high temperature at day time and
low temperature at nighttime is common. The amount of rainfall is very low but the
evaporation rate is very high, so the surrounding is always dry. Plants have evolved
structures to adju8st to these extremes. They tend to have waxy leaves or none at all,
succulent stems for storing water and spines to prevent grazing animals from damaging
them and loss precious water. Animals restrict water loss by producing dry feces and
minimal urine, and by being burrowers and/or nocturnal. Cactus, palm trees, shrubs,
rats, insects, kangaroos and a variety of reptiles thrive in this area.
- are vast arid areas with less than 25 cm of rainfall a year. The days are hot
because a lack of cloud cover allows the sun’s rays to penetrate easily, but the
nights are cold because heat escapes easily into the atmosphere. Desert
vegetation is extremely varied: annuals, herbaceous and woody perrenials,
deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees. Best known desert plants are the
cacti which have stems that store water and also carry on photosynthesis.
All cacti have wide spreading root systems and can absorb great quantities of
water during brief periods of rainfall. Camels are animals well-adapted to this
kind of environment. Its broad feet enable them to walk on sand and the fat
reservoir in their humps allows them to drink and eat infrequently.

4. Temperate deciduous forest. There is abundant rainfall in this region. Temperature

is moderate with distinct seasonal patterns. Herbs and shrubs are well developed. A
large number of trees that produce pulpy fruits and nuts are present. Bears, squirrels,
foxes, woodpeckers abound.
- forest found in moderate climates with well-defined winter and summer
seasons. The dominant trees are broad-leaved deciduous trees such as oak
 and hickory, or beech, hemlock, and maple, which lose their leaves in the fall
and regain them in the spring. The tallest of these trees form a canopy, the
upper layer of leaves are the first to receive sunlight.

5. Grasslands. The dominant species here are grasses. Scattered shrubs may occur where
water is available. Hoofed animals are common.

6. Taiga. This is also called coniferous forest. Plants found in this area are the evergreens
like the pine trees, spruces, firs and birch trees. These trees can withstand extreme cold
during winter. Bears, birds, and wolves are inhabitants of the taiga.

7. Tundra. This is characterized by extremely low temperatures and soil below the surface
is permanently frozen. The region is treeless and the vegetation consists of lichens,
mosses, grasses and shrubs. The growing season for these plants is very short (about 2
months). Only a few animal species can thrive in this inhospitable region –mostly
migratory ones like birds and insects.