Biology Department
SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY
GE 11C (2018) (Climate Change: Effects on People and
Ecosystem)
Lecture 1a: Ecosystems (Part 1)
Module 1a: Ecosystems (Part 1)
• Operational Definition
• Components of the Ecosystems
Definitions
Ecology
“logos”
Study/Science
“oikos”
house, dwelling place, habitation
Ökologie
Coined by German zoologist Ernst Haeckel
in 1873
Study of ecosystems
Recommended reading:
Santangelo, G, Bramanti, L (2006). Ecology through time,
an overview. Rivista di biologia. (99):395-424.
ECOSYSTEM
Functional unit of the relationship
between living things (biotic) and their
non-living physical environment
(abiotic).
Functional relationship: the entities
are needed by the other for survival.
Characteristics of Living Things
1. All living things are made up of a
single cell or a complex of many cells.
2. Complexity. The complexity of the
simplest living thing is far more complex
that the most complicated nonliving
thing.
3. Ability to respond (counter) to a
stimulus (environmental).
4. Growth (brought about by
metabolism exchange of materials)
Non-Living things grow by
deposition
5. Reproduction (self
perpetuated)
6. Evolution (ability to acquire new traits
and characteristics)
COMPONENTS OF THE ECOSYSTEMS
LIVING THINGS (Biotic)
• Autotrophes (Primary Producers)
“self” “nourishing”
A producer is an organism that makes it’s
own food from light energy or chemical
energy.
Chemosynthetic Bacteria
• Heterotrophes (Other nourishing)
Phagotrophes
(“phago” – to eat)
• Herbivores
• Carnivores
• Omnivores
Saprotrophes (decomposers)
(“sapro” – rotten, putrid)
• Bacteria
• Fungi
NON-LIVING THINGS (Abiotic)
• Physical matter
Inorganic: does not contain carbon
but includes CO, CO2, CO3, CN
Ex.
Water (H2O)
• Physical matter
Organic: contain carbon but excludes
CO, CO2, CO3, CN
Ex. fats and lipids, carbohydrates,
proteins, nucleic acids
• Climatic Regimes
Temperature
Precipitation
Atmospheric
Pressure
Humidity
Day length
• Physico-chemical parameters
Water
Dissolved Oxygen/B.O.D.
Temperature
Salinity
pH
Nutrients (NO3,PO4,SO4)
Hardness
Transparency/ TSS
• Physico-chemical parameters
Soil
eH (redox potential)
Soil grade
Nutrients
Moisture content
pH
• Institutions
Policies/Laws
Culture
Research
For virtual tours of unique
ecosystems in the world, visit:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/how-we-work/youthengagement/nature-lab/virtual-field-trips/
Recommend Videos:
Terrestrial Biomes and Ecosystems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQSXIWsUtg
Aquatic Biomes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AopH3SMh818
End of Module 1a