The Environment and

Organisms
Lesson 2
THE ENVIRONMENT AND ORGANISMS

ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS

o Ecology o Competition
o Ecological Hierarchy o Predation
o Ecosystem o Symbiosis
 biotic Components
 abiotic Components
 Describe Describe the ecological hierarchy.

Distinguish Distinguish between biotic and abiotic

components.

Explain Explain the importance of abiotic

OBJECTIVES factors to biotic factors.

Identify Identify the kinds of interrelationships

among living organisms.

Describe Describe how organisms interact with

each other and with their environment.
ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS
Ecology
• Ecology is the
scientific study of
how organisms
interact with each
other and their
environment.
Ecological Hierarchy
Ecological hierarchy is a
conceptual framework used to
understand and study the
organization of ecological
systems.
• Starting at the bottom, the levels
of ecosystem organization are:
o Organism
o Population
o Community
o Ecosystem
o Biome
o Biosphere
Ecological Hierarchy
Organism Any living thing. A fish. A bird. etc
Population A group of organism of the same kind. A school of fish. Flock of birds. etc.
Community Includes all organism in each area. All organisms.
All organisms plus the nonliving
Includes all organism in each area and their
Ecosystem environment.
nonliving environment.

A group of ecosystems that share a different Grassland, tundra, desert, rainforest,

Biomes
climates and typical organism. estuary, river, etc.
The biosphere is the largest ecological
category and consists of many different
biomes.
Biosphere includes every part of Earth where life exists,
including all the land, water, and air where
living things can be found.
Ecological Hierarchy
Biotic factors and Abiotic factors
Biotic factors Abiotic factors

• Biotic factors refer to the living • Abiotic factors refer to the non-living
components or organisms within an components or physical factors of an
ecosystem. ecosystem.
• These include plants, animals, • These include temperature,
fungi, bacteria, and other precipitation, sunlight, soil
microorganisms. composition, water availability, air
quality, and other aspects of the
• Biotic factors can interact with each physical environment.
other, such as through predation,
• Abiotic factors play a crucial role in
competition for resources, or shaping the structure and functioning of
mutualistic relationships. ecosystems, as they influence the
distribution, abundance, and behavior of
organisms within a given habitat.
Category of biotic factors in ecosystems

Autotrophs Heterotrophs
Autotrophs
• Autotrophs are organisms capable of producing
their own organic compounds and energy through
processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
• Autotrophs is also known as primary producers.
They form the base of the food chain in ecosystems,
as they provide energy and nutrients for other
organisms.
• Examples: green plants, algae, and certain
bacteria(sulfur bacteria).
• These bacteria are often found in extreme
environments such as deep-sea hydrothermal
vents or sulfur-rich hot springs.
Heterotrophs
• Heterotrophs are unable to produce their own organic
compounds and energy.
• Heterotrophs are called consumers. They obtain their
energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter
produced by autotrophs.
• Heterotrophs play important roles in the ecosystem by
participating in energy transfer. They consume the organic
matter produced by autotrophs.
• Heterotrophs are interconnected through various feeding
relationships, forming complex food webs that represent the
flow of energy and matter within an ecosystem.
 Herbivores - consume plants
Types of
heterotroph Carnivores - consume other

s based on animals

their Omnivores - consume both plants

feeding
and animals

strategies Decomposers - break down dead

organic matter
Cont.

• Decomposers are also unable to make their food.

Decomposers are responsible for recycling nutrients back
into the environment through processes like decomposition.
• They decompose waste products and dead organisms
for food and are returned to the soil to be recycled and
used by plants again. Bacteria and fungi are
decomposers.
Decomposers are classified based on the type of organic matter
they break down.
1. Scavengers feed on the soft tissues of dead animals.
Example: vultures
2. Detritivores that feed on detritus - remains of plants, animal
feces, and other organic debris. They can be found on the
soil like earthworms, millipedes, dung beetles; and at the
bottom of bodies of water such as sea cucumbers and
catfish.
Examples of abiotic factors
and their roles in ecosystems.
 Temperature

Temperature affects the metabolism, growth, and distribution of organisms.

• In general, metabolic rate tends to increase with temperature up to a certain
point. This is because chemical reactions, including those involved in metabolism,
typically proceed more quickly at higher temperatures due to increased molecular
motion.
• Different species have specific temperature ranges at which they thrive, and
deviations from these ranges can influence their growth rates.
• Example: plants may have specific temperature requirements for germination,
and animals may have optimal temperatures for juvenile development.
• Temperature is a key factor in determining the geographical distribution of
species. Species are often limited to areas where temperatures fall within their
thermal tolerance range. Extreme temperatures, whether too high or too low, can
limit the distribution of species and influence their abundance in certain regions.
 Precipitation
The amount and distribution of rainfall or snowfall in an area influence
the availability of water for plants and animals. It affects plant growth,
water availability for drinking, and the survival of aquatic organisms.
• Adequate precipitation is essential for maintaining soil moisture, which
is crucial for plant growth.
• Precipitation in an area help determine the type of vegetation that can
thrive there.
• Different plant species have specific water requirements, and
precipitation patterns influence the composition and structure of
ecosystems.
• Adequate precipitation is essential for maintaining healthy aquatic
ecosystems, providing habitats for fish and other aquatic organisms.
• Insufficient precipitation can lead to drought conditions, affecting
agriculture, water supply, and ecosystems.
• Excessive precipitation can result in flooding, impacting both terrestrial
and aquatic environments and potentially causing damage to
infrastructure and loss of life.
Sunlight
Sunlight is crucial for
photosynthesis, the process by which
autotrophs convert sunlight into
energy. It affects the productivity of
plants and the availability of food and
energy for other organisms.
• Through the process of
photosynthesis, solar energy is
captured by autotrophs, which are
then consumed by heterotrophs,
transferring energy through the
food chain.
Soil composition

The composition of soil, including its nutrient content

and pH level, influences the types of plants that can
grow in an area. It also affects the availability of
nutrients for organisms and the overall fertility of the
ecosystem.
• Soil fertility, determined by nutrient availability,
influences the types of plants that can thrive in a
particular area.
• The pH of soil affects the availability of nutrients for
plants. If the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, it can
limit the plants' ability to take up essential nutrients,
affecting their growth.
pH level
The acidity or alkalinity of water or soil affects the types of organisms that
can survive and thrive. Different organisms have specific pH requirements
for optimal growth and survival.
• pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline (basic) a substance is. It's like
a scale from 0 to 14, where 7 is neutral. Below 7 is acidic, and above 7
is alkaline.
• pH levels matter to living things. Some organisms prefer acidic
conditions, some like neutral, and others thrive in alkaline environments.
• Fish and other aquatic organisms are sensitive to changes in water pH.
A significant shift in pH can stress or harm these organisms, impacting
their health and reproduction.
Water
• Water is essential for photosynthesis.
• Agriculture relies heavily on water for irrigation.
• Access to clean and safe drinking water is essential for human health.
Water scarcity or contamination can lead to waterborne diseases and
impact the well-being of communities.
• Industries require water for various processes, including manufacturing,
cooling, and cleaning.
• Periods of water scarcity, such as droughts, can have severe
consequences for ecosystems, agriculture, and communities. Conversely,
excessive rainfall and flooding can lead to water-related disasters, causing
damage to infrastructure and disrupting livelihoods.
• Water scarcity can reduce suitable habitats for aquatic and terrestrial
species, affecting their distribution and abundance.
• Different animal species have specific water requirements for drinking,
breeding, and other activities. Water scarcity can reduce suitable habitats
for aquatic and terrestrial species, affecting their distribution and
abundance.
Air composition
• The air we breathe is
mostly nitrogen and
oxygen.
• Animals, including
humans, need oxygen to
breathe and survive.
• Plants, use carbon dioxide
from the air to make their
food through a process
called photosynthesis.
Topography
The physical features of the land, such as
elevation, slope, and presence of mountains or
bodies of water, influence factors like
temperature, rainfall patterns, and the distribution
of organisms.
• Elevation affects things like temperature
because higher places tend to be cooler.
• A steep slope can make water run off quickly,
affecting how water flows in rivers and streams.
It also influences how easy or difficult it is for
plants and animals to move around.
• Mountains can block the movement of air
masses, leading to differences in temperature
and rainfall on different sides of the mountain.
Organism Interaction
Topic 2
Community interactions

Community interactions refer to the relationships and interactions among

different species within a biological community. These interactions can have
various effects on the individuals involved and can shape the structure and
dynamics of the community.

 Types of community interactions:

1. Competition
2. Predation
3. Symbiosis
a. Mutualism
b. Commensalism
c. Parasitism
1. Competition

• Competition between organisms arises when

more than one organism struggles to obtain the
same essential resources in the same habitat.
Both participants in the interaction are potentially
harmed. The one who is harmed less is
considered the winner, and the one who is harmed
more is the loser. It controls the population size by
limiting the number of organisms that can survive
on the area's resources.
 Interspecific competition happens between
members of two or more different species over
various limiting resources such as food, water,
light, soil resources, or space. It often leads to
extinction, specifically with the species that are less
well-adapted, less likely to survive, and the species
Two types may go extinct.
• Example: predators of various species might

of
compete for the same prey just like lions and
leopards that compete for similar prey.

competition Intraspecific competition arises between members

of the same species and may compete over mates,
water, sunlight, territory, or food energy sources. This
type of competition is a basic factor in natural
selection that leads to the evolution of better
adaptations.
 Predation involves one species (the
predator) hunting, capturing, and
consuming another species (the prey).
• Predators exert selective pressure on
prey populations, influencing their
abundance, distribution, behavior, and
2. Predation even evolutionary adaptations for
defense or escape.
• For example: if a predator population
increases, more prey individuals may
be hunted and eaten, leading to a
decrease in prey abundance. Prey
may respond by moving to different
areas where predators are less
common, changing their behavior to
avoid detection, or developing
physical traits that make them
harder to catch, (such as better
camouflage or faster running speed).
3. Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a close and long-term relationship between two
different species that live together and interact with each other. In
a symbiotic relationship, at least one of the species benefits from
the association.
• Three main types of symbiotic relationships.
1. Mutualism
2. Commensalism
3. Parasitism
Mutualism
 In mutualistic symbiosis, both species
involved benefit from the relationship.
 They provide each other with
resources, such as food, shelter, or
protection, resulting in a mutually
advantageous arrangement.
Example: the relationship between
flowering plants and their pollinators.
 the plants provide nectar as a food
reward, and the pollinators transfer
pollen, aiding in plant reproduction.
Commensalism
 Commensalism is a symbiotic
relationship in which one species
benefits while the other is unaffected.
 The species benefiting from the
association gains an advantage, such as
obtaining a food source or a suitable
habitat, while the other species neither
benefits nor suffers harm.
Example: a bird building its nest in a tree.
 the bird benefits from the nest site, while
the tree is unaffected.
Parasitism
 Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship
where one species (the parasite) benefits
at the expense of the other species (the
host).
 The parasite lives on or in the host,
obtaining nutrients and resources, often
causing harm or even disease to the host.
Examples:
1. ticks feeding on the blood of mammals
2. intestinal worms living in the digestive
tract of animals.
 Fly Maggot

Wheat Algae

Millipede Bacteria Sparrow

Spanish Moss Squirrels Barnacles

Remora

Fig wasps
Figs
 Field digger wasps
Tawny owl and mice

Venus fly trap Insect in Venus fly trap

(meat-eating plant)
Rafflesia plant is known as the "corpse flower" Larger tapeworms can produce symptoms such
because it smells like dead flesh. And unlike as abdominal discomfort, obstruction, diarrhea,
most plants, this flower does not use energy weight loss and anemia.
from the Sun to make its own food. Instead, it
gets all its nutrients and water from a vine in
the grape family.
Mistletoe Mistletoe in tree

Yuca moth Yucca plant