Mr. T.

Vjayan

Biology Form 4

CHAPTER 8: DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM

Abiotic and Biotic Components of the Environment

Ecosystem: ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Ecosystem consist of 2 components:

a) Abiotic components: ________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
b) Biotic components: _________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Abiotic Components
a) pH value
Most organism live in neutral
environment (pH 6-7.5)
maize grow well in acidic
medium
Coconut grow well in alkaline
medium

b) Temperature
Affects biochemical reactions in
organism
Poikilotherms animals (cannot
control body temp.)
Homoiotherms animals (can
maintain body temp.)

c) Light intensity
Affect rate of photosynthesis

Abiotic Components of an Ecosystem

d) Humidity of air
Affect rate of transpiration in
plants
Affect rate of water evaporation
from animals

e) Topography
Shape of Earths surface
Altitude, slope, aspects
Less organisms at higher
altitude
Aspect refer to direction facing
of opposing the wind

f) Microclimate
Climate in a small habitat
Each type of microorganism
finds a habitat that has a
microclimate that is suitable for
it

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Biotic Components
a) Producer
- Synthesis own food through
photosynthesis

b) Consumer
- Feed on plants or
organisms
- Primary consumer
- Secondary consumer

other

c) Decomposers
- Bacteria and fungi that break
down dead plants and dead
animals into simple substances

Food chain organism obtain energy, each level is trophic level, few food chain form food web
- Energy transferred from one trophic level to another
- 90% energy lost at each trophic level

Interaction between Biotic Components

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

1. Symbiosis

Means living together.

Permanent and close relationship between 2 or more different species.
There are 3 categories:
Commensalism
Parasitism
Mutualism
a) Commensalism
- Relationship between 2 species that benefits one species but either benefit nor harms the other
species.

b) Parasitism
- Relationship between two organisms where the parasite benefits but the host is harmed.
- 2 types:

Endoparasites

Ectoparasites

Endoparasites
Tapeworms, flukes, plasmodium (caused malaria).
Adaptation:
no nervous systems and sense organ.
no digestive tracts, they absorb food through the
whole body surface.
have protective cuticle & anti-enzymes to prevent
being digested by hosts enzymes, acids or alkalis.
have flattened shape to cling on to the host.
carrying out anaerobic respiration.
great reproductive system.

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Ectoparasites
Animal ectoparasites on plant hosts
Have hook to attach themselves on their hosts
Have sharp mouth parts for hooking, sucking or
biting.
Animal Ectoparasites

c) Mutualism
Relationship between two organism which both benefit

2. Saprophytism

Animals that feed on dead organic matter that has been digested.
Saprophytes produce enzymes to digest and decompose the dead complex organic matter.

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

3. Prey-predator interaction

The relationship exists when a weaker animal (the _________) is hunted and eaten by another stronger
animal (the __________).
This relationship is important to keep different animal populations of an ecosystem in balance.

Competition

Interaction between 2 organisms living together in a habitat and competing for limited recourses.
Animal usually compete for food, shelter and breeding mates, while plants compete for space, light,
nutrients and water.
2 types:
Interspecific competition.
Intraspecific competition.

Process of Colonisation and Succession in an Ecosystem

Ecosystem: A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with the non-living environment
Can see existence of niche, habitat, population, community

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Colonisation and Succession

Process of colonisation: ____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
First plant species to inhabit a new place: ______________________________________
Pioneer species has special adaptive characteristics to adapt to new environment which is not suitable to
sustain life.
Pioneer species change new habitat gradually to make the habitat more suitable for another species to live.
New habitat which is not suitable for the pioneer species gradually replaced by another new species.
Process of succession: _____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Series of succession proceeds until a stable and matured community is formed called ____________________

Process of Colonization and Succession in a Pond

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Pioneer stage
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Succession by aquatic floating plants
Floating plants grow and cover water surface,
prevent sunlight from penetrating into the pond.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Succession by amphibious plants
Amphibious plants grow at sides of pond, spread
to centre of pond.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Succession by herbaceous plants
The continued deposition of organic matter
enables grass to gradually replace amphibious
plants

Succession by woody plants

The death of amphibious plants caused continued
deposition of organic matter and evaporation of
pond water will make the pond very shallow and
eventually dry it up.
Finally land plants and other woody plants will
replace the amphibious plants and form a jungle.
Climax community
The succession will stop when a level of balance
is achieved

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Colonization and Succession in Mangrove Swamps

Mangrove swamps found in tropical regions where fresh water meets salt water.
They have a bad environment for normal plants.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

3 types of mangrove trees:

a) Avicennia sp. (pioneer)
b) Rhizophora sp. (successor)
c) Bruguiera sp. (successor)

Adaptive characteristics of mangrove trees:

a) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
c) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
d) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
e) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

1. Avicennia sp. and Sonneratia sp. zone

Pioneer species
Avicennia sp. grows in part of the swamp that __________________________________ while Sonneratia sp.
grows at the _____________________________________________________________________________.
Adaptations of pioneer species:
a) __________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Widely spread root trap mud, bank slowly raised, contain less water.
Mangrove swamp is now more suitable for another mangrove tree which is ___________________________.

2. Rhizophora sp. zone

Higher, less waterlogged.
Adaptations of Rhizophora sp.:
a) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Prop roots able to trap mud. Pioneer species and Rhizophora sp. That are old will die and decay, add humus to
soil.
Banks are raised up higher. Soil becomes compact, more fertile and less saline.
Soil is suitable for ___________________________________.
3. Bruguiera sp. Zone
Grow well in hard clay soil that may flood during high tide.
Have buttress roots for support and knee-shaped ___________________________________ for gaseous
exchange.
More sedimentation of decayed substance occur, new mud banks are being built up seawards, old banks move
inland away from sea. Soil becomes harder and dry land is formed.
Bruguiera sp. Replaced by other types of plants.
Finally tropical rainforest (climax community) is formed.

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Population Ecology
Sampling technique study population size of an organism.
Collect, count, make observations on organism studied.
Sampling done at random and systematically.

1. Capture-mark-release and recapture technique

Estimate population size of animals

Assumptions:
a) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________________________
c) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
d) __________________________________________________________________________________
e) __________________________________________________________________________________

No. caught in 1st sample

No. of garden snails

No. caught in 2nd sample
No. caught
No. marked

Estimated population

Steps to increase accuracy of the expt:

a) __________________________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________________________
c) Marking on each graden snail should:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Quadrant sampling technique

Investigate distribution of plants, carried out at random
Use quadrant of specific size
Area covered by quadrant is sample to be studied
Size of quadrant depends on size and type of organism to be studied.
Density:

Frequency:

Percentage coverage:

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Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Characteristics of distribution:
a) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Concept of Biodiversity

Biodiversity: wide variety of species of organisms on the Earth.

Classification of Organisms

Kingdom

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Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Hierarchy system of Classification

Classification

Tiger

Cockroach

Hibiscus

Maize

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Importance of biodiversity:
a) Maintain balance in nature
b) Enable all organisms to survive
c) Provide important pool of plant and animal resources that are potential use to mankind

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Human

Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Impact of Microorganisms on Life

Types:

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Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

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Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

Abiotic Components
Affecting
The Activity Of
Microorganisms

Roles of Useful Microorganisms

1. Decomposition
Decomposition: complex organic substances broken down into simple substances.
Means for saprophytic bacteria and fungi to obtain food and energy
2. Nitrogen cycle
Maintain balance of nitrogen content in water, soil and atmosphere.
Main process:
a) Nitrogen fixation
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Nitrogen in air trapped in soil is absorbed by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, convert into nitrogen
compounds eg. Nitrates.
Carried out by _______________________________________________________________
During thunderstorms, energy from lightning cause oxygen and nitrogen to combine to form
oxides of nitrogen. Gas dissolves in rain drops to form nitric acid, combine with minerals in
soil to form nitrites and nitrates.
b) Decomposition
Carried out by _______________________________________________________________
Break down protein in dead plants and animals into ammonium compounds.
c) Nitrification
Carried out by _______________________________________________________________
Ammonium compounds are ____________________________________________________

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Mr. T. Vjayan

Biology Form 4

i.

____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
ii.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Nitrates formed are absorbed by plants for growth
d) Denitrification
Convert ____________________________________________________________________
Carried out by ______________________________________________________________
Nitrogen returned to atmosphere

NITROGEN CYCLE
Atmosphere
fixation

Denitrifying
bacteria
Thiobacillus sp.
Plants

Nitrogen
fixing
bacteria

Animal

Nostoc sp.,
Rhizobium sp.

Dead animal & plants

Ammonia / Ammonium

Fertiliser

Nitrosomonas sp.
Nitrites
Nitrobacter sp.

Nitrates

3. Alimentary canals of termites

Flagellated protozoa lives freely in mutualism in alimentary canals of termites.
Protozoa secrete enzymes cellulase to digest cellulose into simple sugars, absorbed by termites.
4. Digestive system in humans
In caecum and colon, bacteria break down remainder carbohydrates in caecum to hydrogen, CO2, methane
gas.
Bacteria break down remainder protein in large intestine to amino acids and into hydrogen sulphide and indole
(smell of faeces)
Bacteria in colon synthesise vitamin B12 and vitamin K, absorbed by large intestine.
Bacteria digest cellulose into simple sugars, absorbed. Slow process.

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