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Lecture 4

Lecture 4 covers the basics of ecology, defining it as the scientific study of organisms and their interactions within ecosystems. It discusses biotic and abiotic components, types of ecosystems, food chains and webs, energy flow, and ecological succession. The lecture emphasizes the importance of keystone species and the impact of human activities on ecosystem stability and biodiversity.

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Lecture 4

Lecture 4 covers the basics of ecology, defining it as the scientific study of organisms and their interactions within ecosystems. It discusses biotic and abiotic components, types of ecosystems, food chains and webs, energy flow, and ecological succession. The lecture emphasizes the importance of keystone species and the impact of human activities on ecosystem stability and biodiversity.

Uploaded by

shammyshamrocks
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture 4

Lecture 4

1. What is Ecology?
Term coined by: Ernst Haeckel in 1869
Origin: Greek words Oikos (home) + Logos (study)
Definition: The scientific study of organisms in their natural habitat and their interactions
with the environment (biotic and abiotic).

2. Ecosystem
Arthur Tansley (1935) First coined the term “ecosystem”
Defined as a self-regulating system of interacting biotic (living) communities and
abiotic (non-living) environment.

Ecology is often defined as “the study of ecosystems”

3. Types of Ecosystems by Stability

Robust Ecosystems Fragile Ecosystems


Less affected by human activities Easily disturbed or destroyed
Example: Deep forests Examples: Mountains, Islands, Coral Reefs

India has 10 biogeographic zones


Further subdivided into 27 biogeographic provinces

Biotic (Living) Components


Biotic factors are the living organisms in an ecosystem that interact with each other and
with the environment. These can be broadly categorized as producers, consumers, and
decomposers.

1. Producers: Plants (Photosynthesis)


Definition: Organisms that can produce their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon
dioxide.
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Examples: Green plants, algae, phytoplankton.


Function:
They convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis.
They form the base of the food chain and support all other organisms by providing
food and oxygen.

2. Consumers: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary


Definition: Organisms that depend on other organisms (directly or indirectly) for food.
Types:
Primary consumers: Herbivores (e.g., deer, cows) that eat producers.
Secondary consumers: Carnivores (e.g., frogs, birds) that eat herbivores.
Tertiary consumers: Top predators (e.g., lions, hawks) that eat secondary
consumers.
Function:
Maintain population balance in the ecosystem.
Transfer energy from one trophic level to the next.

3. Decomposers: Microorganisms
Definition: Organisms that break down dead plants and animals into simpler
substances.
Examples: Bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes.
Function:
Recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Help in decomposition and cleaning the environment.

Abiotic (Non-living) Components


Abiotic factors are the non-living physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem that
influence the living organisms.

1. Sunlight, Water, Air


Sunlight:
Primary source of energy for ecosystems.
Drives photosynthesis in producers.
Water:
Essential for all life processes (e.g., hydration, photosynthesis, nutrient transport)
Affects species distribution and habitat type.
Air:
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Provides essential gases like oxygen (for respiration) and carbon dioxide (for
photosynthesis).

2. Macronutrients, Micronutrients
Macronutrients:
Required in large quantities.
Examples: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium
(Mg), Sulfr (S).
Functions: Support plant growth, enzyme activity, and cell function.
Micronutrients:
Required in trace amounts.
Examples: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B).
Functions: Catalysts in enzymatic reactions, growth regulators.

Biotic (Living) Abiotic (Non-living)


Producers: Plants via photosynthesis Sunlight, Water, Air: Energy and essential
elements
Consumers: Herbivores, Carnivores, Macronutrients, Micronutrients: Soil
Omnivores elements for life
Decomposers: Bacteria, Fungi -

Food Chain vs Food Web

Food Chain Food Web


Linear transfer of energy Network of interconnected food chains
Higher organism depends on one lower Higher organism feeds on many
species species
Isolated chains = less ecosystem stability Web interconnections = more stability
Extinction of one species affects entire chain Less impact from loss of one species

Unidirectional Flow
Energy flows in one direction, from producers to top consumers.

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Food Chain
A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one
organism to another in an ecosystem.
It begins with producers (autotrophs) and moves up through various levels of
consumers.

Trophic Levels in a Food Chain:


1. Producers – Green plants, algae (make food via photosynthesis)
2. Primary Consumers – Herbivores (e.g., deer, rabbit)
3. Secondary Consumers – Carnivores that eat herbivores (e.g., snakes, frogs)
4. Tertiary Consumers – Top carnivores (e.g., hawks, lions)
5. Decomposers – Bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and recycle
nutrients

10% Rule of Energy Transfer

When energy is passed from one trophic level to the next, only about 10% of the
energy is transferred.
The remaining 90% is lost as heat, used for metabolism, movement, or other life
processes.

Ecosystems maintain homeostasis, resisting minor disturbances. However, activities like


pollution, deforestation, and the removal of keystone species disrupt balance, leading to
ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and reduced resilience to environmental
changes.

Keystone Species
A species with a disproportionately large effect on ecosystem stability.

Concept by Robert T. Paine (1969)


Examples:
Jaguar – apex predator and umbrella species
Beaver – habitat creator (wetlands)
Ochre Seastar – predator controlling mussel population
California Mussel – prey of seastar

Ecological Succession
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Natural process of ecosystem development over time.

Types:
Primary: On barren land (e.g., lava flows, rocks, sand dunes)
Takes more than 1000 years
Secondary: On disturbed land (e.g., cut forests, post fire)
Takes 50-200 years
Eg - Forest fire-Regrow

Succession may happen by any means:


Seasonal environmental changes (natural): forest fire
Anthropogenic (human disturbances): clearing forest for agriculture or mining

In pond succession, the ecosystem transitions from aquatic to terrestrial over time and
seasonally resets after monsoon.

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