CHAPTER 2

ECOSYSTEM
BY : CIKGU FATEN
2.1 ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM

• Green plants convert light energy into chemical energy

through photosynthesis
• Chemical energy is transferred to consumers in the food
chain and food web
 PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND
DECOMPOSERS
PRODUCER
An organism that produces its own
food through photosynthesis.
Most plants are producers
 PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND
DECOMPOSERS
PRIMARY CONSUMER
An organism that eats another
organism. Primary consumers are
herbivores and omnivores that eat
producers. Eg : caterpillars
 PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND
DECOMPOSERS
SECONDARY CONSUMER TERTIARY CONSUMER
Is an omnivore and Is a secondary carnivore that
carnivore that eats the eats a secondary consumer.
primary consumer Size of tertiary consumer is
usually bigger than a primary
or secondary consumer
 PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND
DECOMPOSERS
DECOMPOSER
An organism that breaks down dead animals and plants into
simpler materials or nutrients. This interaction is known as
saprophytism
 FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD WEB

FOOD CHAIN
To show the feeding relationship between organisms

FOOD WEB
The interconnection of a few food chains
FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD WEB
 ENERGY FLOW IN A FOOD WEB
• Energy also transferred from one organism to another
organism in the food web
• Energy is lost through : respiration, movement, excretion
etc
EXERCISE 2.1
 2.2 NUTRIENT CYCLE IN AN
ECOSYSTEM
• The transfer of nutrients and energy is continuous in an
ecosystem
• Nutrients are obtained from a balanced ecosystem and used
by living things
• The nutrients are returned to the environment to be used
again
 2.2 NUTRIENT CYCLE IN AN
ECOSYSTEM
WATER CYCLE
• Water is absorbed by roots and released into atmosphere -
transpiration
• Animals carry out respiration, defecation and excretions -
increase water contents
• Roots of plants hold the soil tightly - slows down flow of
water underground and prevents soi erosion
• Leaves that fall from trees reduce rate of evaporation -
prevents soil from becoming dry
WATER CYCLE
CARBON AND OXYGEN CYCLE
 CARBON AND OXYGEN CYCLE
ROLE OF LIVING THINGS IN CARBON AND OXYGEN
CYCLE

• Plants and animals carry out respiration - uses oxygen and

releases carbon dioxide
• Decay of dead plants and animals by bacteria and fungi in
the soil - uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide
• Green plants maintain the content of CO2 and O2 in the air
through photosynthesis
 CARBON AND OXYGEN CYCLE
HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT DISRUPT THE NUTRIENT
CYCLE

Unrestricted logging Burning of fossil fuels Overconsumption of water

resources
 CARBON AND OXYGEN CYCLE
STEPS TO SOLVE INTERFERENCE TO THE NUTRIENT
CYCLE

Create planned agricltural Use public transport Store rain water for daily
systems use
 CARBON AND OXYGEN CYCLE
STEPS TO SOLVE INTERFERENCE TO THE NUTRIENT
CYCLE

Replant trees Tighten laws

EXERCISE 2.2
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
HABITAT SPECIES
Natural surroundings or home A group of organisms that
of an organism have common characteristics
and can reproduce to breed
offsprings
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
POPULATION COMMUNITY
A group of organisms of the A few populations of
same species that live in the different organisms that live
same habitat together in one habitat and
have mutual interaction with
one another
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
ECOSYSTEM
A few communities that live together in one habitat and have
mutual interaction with one another including all the non living
components such as water, air and soil
2.3 INTERACTION BETWEEN
ORGANISMS
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
SYMBIOSIS
Happens when two or more
organisms of different
species live closely together
and interact with one another.
• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
MUTUALISM
An interaction that benefits both organisms

• The sea anemone protects the clown

fish from predators and supplies food
to it.
• The clown fish cleans the sea anemone
and provides nutrients to the sea
anemone in the form of waste
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
MUTUALISM
An interaction that benefits both organisms

• Lichens are algae and fungi that live

together.
• The fungi supply water and minerals to
the algae.
• The algae carry out photosynthesis
and supply food to the fungi.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
MUTUALISM
An interaction that benefits both organisms

• The mynah gets food from the buffalo

by eating the lice that stick to the
body of the buffalo.
• The body of the buffalo is free of lice.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
COMMENSALISM
The interaction between two organisms which only benefits
one organism without harming or benefitting the other

The remora fish(commensal) latches on

the shark (host) and gets its food from
scraps scattered by its host
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
COMMENSALISM
The interaction between two organisms which only benefits one
organism without harming or benefitting the other

The bird’s nest fern (commensal) grow in

between the branches of trees (host) to
get sunlight
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
PARASITISM
• An interaction that benefits one organism only and harms the
other
• Parasite is the organism that benefits.
• Host is the organism that is harmed.
The tapeworm (parasite) that lives in the
human intestine (host) absorbs nutrients.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
PREY-PREDATOR
• Involves one organism that eats another organism.
• Prey is the organism that is eaten by the predator.
• Predator is the organism that hunts another organism for
food.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
COMPETITION
Competition happens when organisms in one habitat compete
for limited supply of basic needs such as light, space, water,
food and mates.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Biological control is a method that uses organisms that are
natural predators, parasites or pathogens to reduce the
number of pests in an area
Owls are kept in palm oil
plantations to control the
population of rats.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Biological control is a method that uses organisms that are
natural predators, parasites or pathogens to reduce the
number of pests in an area
The guppy is a predator to
mosquito larvae in a pond
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Biological control is a method that uses organisms that are
natural predators, parasites or pathogens to reduce the
number of pests in an area
The ladybird beetle eats
aphids, a crop pest.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Biological control is a method that uses organisms that are
natural predators, parasites or pathogens to reduce the number
of pests in an area
Ducks are reared in paddy
fields to eat pests such as
snails and insects.
 2.3 INTERDEPENDENCE AND
INTERACTION AMONG ORGANISMS
ADVANTAGES
• More environmental friendly
• Cheaper
• Does not affect humans’ health.

DISADVANTAGES
• Takes a long time before any effect is seen
• The balance of the ecosystem might be disrupted because a
new species is introduced into that ecosystem
 2.3 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
POPULATION SIZE IN AN ECOSYSTEM
DISEASE

Population of animals and

plants decreases when a
disease strikes
Eg : avian flu in poultry and
tobacco mosaic virus in
tobacco crops
 2.3 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
POPULATION SIZE IN AN ECOSYSTEM
PRESENCE OF PREDATORS

Size of zebra population in

the savanna ecosystem
decreases with the presence
of its predators such as the
lion
 2.3 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
POPULATION SIZE IN AN ECOSYSTEM
SOURCE OF FOOD

If a food source decreases,

animals can be threatenedby
extincton
Eg : The crow population has
increased due to the
abundance of food scraps
 2.3 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE
POPULATION SIZE IN AN ECOSYSTEM
CHANGE OF WEATHER

Droughts cause soil to

become dry and infertile and
increase the risk of forest
fires.
The population of plants and
animals decrease
 2.3 CHANGES IN THE ECOSYSTEM
LIMITED WATER SUPPLY

If there is a long drought

seasin, this change in the
ecosystem will upset the
balance between populations
in the paddy field
 2.3 CHANGES IN THE ECOSYSTEM
MIGRATION

• Moving of animal from one place to

another due to a change of season
• The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
migrates to Kuala Gula, Perak from
September to April every year.
• The number of insects such as
grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, flies
and worms decreases as they are
eaten by the egrets.
 2.3 CHANGES IN THE ECOSYSTEM
CHANGE IN POPULATION
SIZE

• The size of a population can

decrease or increase because of
changes in another population.
• For example, the increase of
pests such as beetles and
caterpillars causes the
population of plants to decrease.