Environmental Science g2

PRESENTED BY GROUP 2
COMPONENTS
OF
ECOSYSTEM
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the chapter, students should be able to;
• Discuss biotic and abiotic factors

• Differentiate autotrophs and heterotrophs
• Factors influencing plant and animal distribution
• Important ecosystem processes
• Analyze environmental issues
BIOTIC AND
ABIOTIC
FACTORS OF
ECOSYSTEM
WHAT IS BIOTIC FACTORS?
Biotic factors refers to the biological influences on
organisms within an ecosystem. This includes all
ecological community and relationships such as;
insects- flower relationships, seed dispersal,
scavenging, symbiosis (mutualism, parasitism and
commensalism), overpopulation, animal behavior,
aposematic coloration.
WHAT IS ABIOTIC FACTORS?
Are those that relate physical, or non-living, factors that shape the
ecosystem. These include the climatic conditions of terrestrial,
freshwater and marine ecosystems; including temperature,
perception, and humidity, wind, nutrients available; substrate soil,
atmospheric gases, currents and sunlight.
Together, biotic and abiotic factors determine the survival
and growth of an organism and the productivity of the
ecosystem in which the organism lives.
MAJOR ABIOTIC FACTORS
The Abiotic Factors determine the type of organisms that can successfully live
in a particular area. Some of the major non-living factors of an ecosystem
include:
Sunlight: Essential for photosynthesis

Water: Vital for all living things
Temperature: Affects survival ranges
Oxygen: crucial for respiration

Soil: Influences habitat and nutrient
availability influence on organisms
BIOTIC FACTORS IN ECOSYSTEM
The Biotic Factors include the plants, animals, fungi,
bacteria, and any other living things that live in an
area:
1. PRODUCERS
AUTUTROPHS: Make their own food through photosynthesis such as plants
2. COSUMERS
HETEROTROHPS: Depend on autotrophs for food
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONSUMERS
CARNIVORES
HERBIVORES
OMNIVORES
3. DECOMPOSERS: Recycle nutrients by
breaking down dead tissue and waste
product. Bacteria and fungi are decomposers.
HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEM CHANGES
A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home. A habitat

meets all the environmental conditions an organism needs to
survive. For an animal, that means everything it needs to find and
gather food, select a mate, and successfully reproduce.
The main components of a habitat are: shelter, water, food,

and space. A habitat is said to have a suitable
arrangement when it has the correct amount of all of these.
Sometimes, a habitat can meet some components of a suitable
arrangement, but not all.
Shelter Water
An organism’s shelter protects is essential to all forms of

it from predators and weather. life. Every habitat must
Shelter also provides a space for have some form of a water
eating, sleeping, hunting, and supply.
raising a family. Shelters come
in many forms.
Space
Food
The amount of space an
The availability of food is
a crucial part of a habitat’s organism needs to thrive
suitable arrangement. varies widely from
species to species.
CHANGES TO ECOSYTEM
- Ecosystems are constantly in state of change due to competition amongst wildlife
- Natural disasters or human activity may disrupt the way an ecosystem is

functioning.
- Natural causes of changes in ecosystem include wildfire, disease, and flooding.
- Human causes of changes in ecosystem include clearing land for other use,
pollution, and introducing invasive species.
- As climate change continues, some ecosystem may expand while others may face
harsh challenges.
KEY PROCESS IN
ECOSYSTEM
1. PHOTOSYNYHESIS
Carried out by plants, influenced by
light, temperature, and water
availability
2.DECOMPOSITION
Organic matter converted into
inorganic compounds by decomposers
such as microorganisms like bacteria
and fungi; and larger organism like
earthworms.
FACTORS
INFLUENCING THE
DISTRIBUTION OF
PLANTS AND
ANIMALS
1. TEMPERATURE
The ability to withstand extremes in temperature varies widely among
plants and animals. Temperature variations impact plants and animals
ENDOTHERMS VS. ECTOTHERMS
Endotherms may Ectotherms use source

maintain body of heat such as solar
temperature by: radiation direct and
changing the position of indirect and conduction
fur or feathers; sweating to help adjust their body
and panting; shivering; temperature
behavioral means such as
seeking shade or water,
burrowing, or varying
period of activity.
HIBERNATION VS. ESTIVATION
Hibernation is winter Estivation is summer

dormancy dormancy
HOW PLANTS RESPOND TO
TEMPERATURE?
Plants obviously cannot move to escape high or low temperature.

- Photosynthesis and temperatures.
- Adaptations for withstanding extreme temperature.
2. WATER
The precipitation determines, along with mean temperature, the world-
wide distribution of biomes.
Primary problem for plants in areas is lack of water. Plants adapted for
dry conditions include:
- Xerophytes, such as cacti that usually have special means of storing and conserving
water. They often have few or no leaves, which reduce transpiration.
- Phreatophytes plants, that grow extremely long roots, allowing them to acquire at or
near the water table.
- Perennials plants, that usually germinated in the spring to life when eater become
available.
- Ephemerals plants, that usually germinates in the spring following winter. They grow
quickly, flower and produce seeds before dying.
3. FIRE
is vital for many ecosystems.
EFFECTS OF FIRE
• Many plants depend on fire to heat and scar their seeds as a process for
germination
• Decaying trees release nutrients into the soil and serve as a base for new
plants to sprout.
• Much of plant life has evolved to use fire directly as a catalyst for
reproduction benefited by the nourishment left in its path.
FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS
-Larger animals have higher survival rated. Bird benefit

from dispersed seeds after fires. Insects often struggle to
survive, affecting birds that rely on them for food. Trees
can benefit from the death insects that reside in their
trunks.
4. LIGHT
 Lights shapes daily and seasonal activities.

 Photosynthesis is the energy source for ecosystem.
 Energy flows through gross primary production and net primary production.
VENUS
JUPITER production. This is where the sun’s

o Gross primary
energy that is assimilate.
o Respiration
MARS where needed for maintenance and
reproduction.
o Net primary production. The energy remaining after
respiration and stored a organic matter. The energy
available to other organisms in a food chain.
-These factors, temperature, water,
fire and light, interact to determine
where plants and animals thrive.
-Understanding these influences is

key to conserving biodiversity and
preserving ecosystem.
END OF SLIDE
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PRESENTED BY GROUP 2

At the end of the chapter, students should be able to;

• Discuss biotic and abiotic factors

Sunlight: Essential for photosynthesis

Oxygen: crucial for respiration

A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home. A habitat

The main components of a habitat are: shelter, water, food,

An organism’s shelter protects is essential to all forms of

- Ecosystems are constantly in state of change due to competition amongst wildlife

- Natural disasters or human activity may disrupt the way an ecosystem is

- Natural causes of changes in ecosystem include wildfire, disease, and flooding.

ENDOTHERMS VS. ECTOTHERMS

Endotherms may Ectotherms use source

Hibernation is winter Estivation is summer

Plants obviously cannot move to escape high or low temperature.

-Larger animals have higher survival rated. Bird benefit

 Lights shapes daily and seasonal activities.

JUPITER production. This is where the sun’s

-Understanding these influences is

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