MODULE 1

TOPIC: NATURE AND ECOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

Our existence, lifestyles and growth depend entirely on the sun and the community population", probably the most comprehensive definition is the
earth. The energy from the sun is called solar capital. In the same way, the simple one most offers given' a study of animal and plants in their relations
planets, air, water, fertile soil, forests, grasslands, wetlands, oceans, lakes, to eachother and to their environment. Ecology may be studied with
wildlife, minerals and natural purification and recycling process are treated particular reference to animals or to plants, hence animal ecology an plant
as Earth's capital. We use the term 'environment1 to describe, in the ecology. Animal ecology, however, cannot be adequately understood except
language of G.T Miller, The Plant's fife - support system for us and for all against a considerable background of plant ecology. What animal and plants
other forms of life'. In effect, the environment is me sum-total of solar are given equal emphasis, the term bioecology is often used. Causes is plant
capital and earth capital. It also includes the thing created by humans. ecology usually dismiss animals as but one of many factors in the
Environment now extends far beyond the bounds of the local environment; environment. Synecology is the study of communities, and autecology the
thus it is the intimate enclosure of the individual or a local human study of species. There is some confusion in these terms since Europeans
population and the global domain of the human species. commonly use 'ecology' in manover sense - meaning the environmental
relations of organisms or of communities. The broader study of
Ecology as a discipline is focused on studying the interactions between an
communities, including species interrelations and community structure and
organism of some kind and its environment. In ecology, 'niche' refers to the
function as well as environmental relations (Synecology), is generally
role an organism or species play in its ecosystem. An organisms niches
termed ―bioecology‖ or "biosociology" by Europeans.
includes everything affected by the organism denying its lifetime. We study
ecology to learn how nature works. So ecology is a study to achieve a new ENVIRONMENT
goal to help scientists to develop methods to protect the natural world -
Its meaning and significance
physical environment.
History reveals that human race was once afraid of nature and the natural
ECOLOGY
forces. Human beings worshiped nature and considered nature as superior
The word ecology derived from the Greek word 'Oikos meaning habitation, to human race. Enormous increase in human population raised the demand
and logos meaning discourse or study, implies a study of the habitations of for development and increased the consumption of various natural
organisms. Ecology was first described as a separate field of knowledge in resources resulting in environmental deterioration.
1866 by the German Zoologist Ernst Haeckel, who invented the word
The term environment describes the sum total of physical and biotic
Ecology for 'the relation of the animal to its organic as well as its inorganic
conditions influencing the responses organisms. More specifically, the sum
environment, 3 particularly its friendly or hostile relations to those animals
of those portions of the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere into
or plants with which it comes in contact.
which life penetrates is the biosphere. There are no characteristics of
Ecology has been variously defined by other investigators as "Scientific permanent inhabitants of the atmosphere, although the air is traversed by
natural history", "the study of biotic communities, or "the science of manly kinds of animals and plant propagules. Of the hydrosphere, there are
two major bicycles, marine and fresh water, of the lithosphere there is one
land.

A-habitat is a specific set of physical and chemical conditions (for example,

space, substratum, climate) that surrounds a single species, a group of
species or a large community. The ultimate division of the biosphere is
microhabitat, the most intimately local and immediately set of conditions
surrounding an organism, the burrow of a rodent, for instance, or a
decaying log. Other individuals or species are considered as a part of the
community to which the organisms belong and not part of its habitat. The
term biotope defines a spatial or topographic unit with a characteristic set
both of physical and chemical conditions and of plant and animal life.

In order for organisms to exist they must respond or adjust to the conditions
of their environment. The first living organisms probably evolved in the sea
and must have possessed very generalized adjustments to this relatively
uniform and favorable habitat. However, these early organisms are inherent
in them the potential for expansion, as they later spread into other and
more rigorous habitats, particularly fresh water and land. As evolution a) Biotic (living) –
proceeded, organisms became more and more limited in the range of their
The word biotic refers to having to do with living organisms. Biotic elements
ability to respond as they became specialized in their adjustment to
refer to the biological component of the ecosystem, consisting of population
particular habitants. This led to the great diversification of species that we
of plants, animals and microorganisms in complex communities. The biotic
see at the present time, with each species restricted to its particular
factors influencing an organisms, viruses and other parasitic organisms
microhabitat and place in the community.
cause diseases. There are all parts of an organisms biotic environment. The
Structure of the Ecosystem biotic component of the ecosystem consists of 3 distinct groups of
organism, the producers, consumers and decomposers. The producers are
The structure of an ecosystem is characterized by the organization of both
those organisms capable of photosynthesis, production of organic material
biotic and abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in
solely from solar lift and carbon dioxide. This organic material serves as a
our environment. It also includes the climatic conditions prevailing in that
source of both energy and mineral nutrients. Both are required by all living
particular environment.
organisms. Examples include both terrestrial and aquatic plants such as
The structure of an ecosystem can be split into two main components, phytoplankton. The consumers are organisms whose very survival depends
namely: on the organic material manufactured by the producers. The consumer
represents animals of all sizes ranging from large predators to small
1. Biotic Components parasites, such as mosquitoes and flies. The nature of the consumers
2. Abiotic Components dependence on the producers takes various forms. Some consumers
(herbivores such as rabbits) are directly dependent on primary producers of
for energy. Others (carnivores such as tigers) depend indirectly on primary
producers. The last group of living organisms is the decomposers. These 3. It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the
include microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, yeast etc. as well as a ecosystem.
diversity of worms, insects and many other small animals. They all rely on 4. It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
dead organisms for their existence and survival. In their efforts to survive
and obtain energy they decompose materials released by plants and 5. The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components
that involve the exchange of energy.
consumers to their original elements (C,O,H,N,S,P). This is what keeps
material cycling within the ecosystem. The biotic community together with
So the functional units of an ecosystem or functional components that work
the physical environment forms are interacting system called ecosystem. together in an ecosystem are:
b) Abiotic –
➢ Productivity – It refers to the rate of biomass production.
Abiotic factors* include the flow of energy necessary to maintain any ➢ Energy flow – It is the sequential process through which energy flows
organism, the physical factor that affect it and the supply of molecules from one trophic level to another. The energy captured from the sun
required for its life functions. Other physical factors include climate, flows from producers to consumers and then to decomposers and
finally back to the environment.
temperature, precipitation, including its types (rain, snow, hill) around and
➢ Decomposition – It is the process of breakdown of dead organic
seasonable distribution, types of soil present (sandy or clay, dry or wet, material. The top-soil is the major site for decomposition.
fertile or infertile). All forms of life require atoms such as carbon, nitrogen ➢ Nutrient cycling – In an ecosystem nutrients are consumed and
and phosphorous and molecules such as water to construct and maintain recycled back in various forms for the utilization by various organisms.
themselves. The organisms constantly obtain these materials from
environmental by eating food or taking them us through the process of
Types of Ecosystems
photosynthesis.
An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean,
In the ecosystem, the abiotic (non-living) \components perform 3 important spanning thousands of miles. There are two types of ecosystem:
function water and oxygen for organisms. 2nd, they act as a reservoir of the
6 most important elements for life, carbon(C), hydrogen(H), Oxygen (O), a) Terrestrial Ecosystem
b) Aquatic Ecosystem
nitrogen (N), Sulphur (S) and phosphorus (P). These elements constitute
95% of all living organisms. 3rd, the Earth contains only a fixed amount of
Terrestrial Ecosystem
these elements. Thus, continual functioning of the ecosystem requires one Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are
thing at least. These elements have to be recycled because they are critical different types of terrestrial ecosystems distributed around various geological
to the welfare of the ecosystem as a whole. zones. They are as follows:

Functions of Ecosystem 1. Forest Ecosystem

The functions of the ecosystem are as follows: 2. Grassland Ecosystem
3. Tundra Ecosystem
1. It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems 4. Desert Ecosystem
and renders stability.
2. It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and
abiotic components.
 • Forest Ecosystem
A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, particularly trees, animals and References
microorganisms that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the
environment. Forests help in maintaining the temperature of the earth and are https://archive.mu.ac.in/myweb_test/M.A.Part%20-%20II%20-
the major carbon sink. %20Paper%20VII.pdf
• Grassland Ecosystem
In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and herbs. https://byjus.com/biology/ecosystem/
Temperate grasslands and tropical or savanna grasslands are examples of
grassland ecosystems.
• Tundra Ecosystem
Tundra ecosystems are devoid of trees and are found in cold climates or
where rainfall is scarce. These are covered with snow for most of the year.
Tundra type of ecosystem is found in the Arctic or mountain tops.
• Desert Ecosystem
Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with little rainfall
and scarce vegetation. The days are hot, and the nights are cold.

Aquatic Ecosystem
Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water. These can
be further divided into two types, namely:

1. Freshwater Ecosystem
2. Marine Ecosystem

• Freshwater Ecosystem
The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes,
ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast
with the marine ecosystem.

• Marine Ecosystem
The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans. These have a more
substantial salt content and greater biodiversity in comparison to the
freshwater ecosystem.
 ACTIVITY no. 1

Instruction: Kindly Print the Activity and answer correctly. II. Identify what is ask in the question.
Deadline: Submit your output during our face-to-face class. _________________1. the living things that have a direct or indirect
influence on other organisms in an environment
I. Encircle the correct answer _________________2. they are directly thriving on the dead and decaying
1. Temperature, light, air, water, soil, and climate are all __________ parts organic matter.
of the environment. _________________3. consist of several plants, animals and microorganism
A. Biotic that live in coordination with the abiotic factor of environment.
B. Abiotic _________________4. an ecosystem that are exclusively land-based
C. Boreal _________________5. organisms that produce energy, also known as
D. Living Producers.
_________________6. type of ecosystem that operates themselves under
2. Choose the phrase that correctly finishes this statement: "A species is..." natural conditions.
A. A specific part of the abiotic environment. _________________7. an ecosystem that are present in the body of water.
B. A way of describing all the living parts of an ecosystem. _________________8. include all chemical and physical elements i.e. non-
C. A group of organisms that can successfully mate with each other and living components collection of plants, animals
reproduce. and microorganisms that live within an environment where the grasses are
D. Part of the natural decomposing materials in soil the primary form of vegetation.
_________________9. organisms that consume producers
3. An organism that creates its own food is called: and other consumers, also known as Consumers.
A. A producer _________________10. Have characteristic of natural ecosystems but are
B. A consumer created and maintained by human being.
C. A scavenger
D. A decomposer III. Discuss your answer briefly.

1. What do you understand by the term ecosystem?

4. A consumer is:
A. An organism that produces its own food. 2. What are the biotic components of an ecosystem?
B. An organism that does not need food to survive.
C. An abiotic organism. 3. What are the abiotic components of an ecosystem?
D. An organism that cannot produce its own food 4. Why Environmental Science and Engineering subject is important?

5. Which of the following two organisms are producers?

A. Plants and phytoplankton.
B. Plants and consumers.
C. Consumers and phytoplankton.
D. Phytoplankton and chlorophyll.