ECOSYSTEM
Prepaired by:
Jerico M. Ngayaan, LPT
ECOSYSTEM
It is a community of living (biotic)
and non-living (abiotic) elements that
interact as system within a specific
geographic area, forming a “bubble of life”.
The term encompasses all the aspects of
Earth’s ecosystems, from individual cells to
vast forests and even human system,
highlighting how living organisms, including
people, are interconnected with their
physical environments through cycles of
energy
. and nutrients.
ECOSYSTEM
Ecosystem are essential for both
Earth’s functioning and human survival,
providing vital ecosystem services like clean
air and water, food, and medicine.
They offer cultural and recreational
benefits, supporting biodiversity, economic
resources, and the planet’s natural cycles.
Maintaining healthy ecosystems ensures the
continuity of these services, providing
essential resources for human health,
livelihoods, and the overall stability of
Earth’s environment.
Importance for Earth’s ECOSYSTEM
Biodiversity and Stability: Ecosystems house a vast
array of plant and animal life, and healthy biodiversity
enhances ecosystem resilience, enabling them to adapt to
changes and disturbances.
Essential Cycles: They regulate and sustain fundamental
natural processes such as the carbon cycle, nitrogen
cycle, and water cycle, which are critical for life on
Earth.
Nutrient Cycling and Soil Formation: Ecosystems perform
vital functions like primary production, oxygen
production, and the formation of fertile soil, which are
necessary for all other ecosystem services.
Importance for PEOPLE
Provisioning Services:
Food, Water, and Medicine: Humans rely on
ecosystems for food, fresh water, and plant- and
animal-derived medicines.
Resources:
Ecosystems provide raw materials like
timber, fuel, fiber, and genetic resources used
for building, manufacturing, and other industries.
Importance for PEOPLE
Regulating Services:
Environmental Quality: Ecosystems maintain clean
air, purify water, regulate soil quality, and control
erosion.
Climate Regulation:
They play a key role in regulating the climate,
which is vital for human well-being and agriculture.
Cultural and Supporting Services:
Recreation and Aesthetics: Ecosystems provide
spaces for recreation, spiritual enrichment, and
aesthetic experiences, promoting physical and mental
well-being.
Importance for PEOPLE
Cultural Heritage:
They hold significant cultural value and
form an integral part of the cultural heritage of
many communities.
Economic and Health Benefits:
Healthy ecosystems support productive
livelihoods and human health by providing
essential resources and regulating disease.
Major Components of
Ecosystem
An ecosystem's These components
major components are are linked by the
the biotic (living) constant flow of
factors—such as energy (e.g., through
producers, consumers, food webs) and the
and decomposers—and cycling of essential
the abiotic (non- nutrients
living) factors—like (biogeochemical
sunlight, water, air, cycles).
and soil.
Biotic Components (Living Things)
1. Producers (Autotrophs):
Organisms that create their
own food, primarily through
photosynthesis, such as plants
and algae.
2. Consumers (Heterotrophs):
Organisms that obtain energy by eating
other organisms. They are classified into:
● Primary Consumers: Herbivores that eat
producers (e.g., deer, rabbits).
● Secondary Consumers: Carnivores or
omnivores that eat primary consumers (e.g.,
snakes, foxes).
● Tertiary Consumers: Organisms that feed on
secondary consumers.
3. Decomposers (Saprotrophs):
Microorganisms like bacteria and
fungi that break down dead organic
matter, returning nutrients to the
ecosystem.
Abiotic Components (Non-Living Things)
Sunlight: Provides the primary energy source
for photosynthesis.
Water: Essential for the survival of all
living things.
Air: Provides gases like oxygen and carbon
dioxide necessary for respiration and
photosynthesis.
Abiotic Components (Non-Living Things)
Soil and Nutrients: Provide minerals, support
plant growth, and are involved in nutrient
cycling.
Temperature and Climate: Influence the type
of organisms that can live in an area and the
overall growth and development of life.
Functional Components
Energy Flow: The movement of energy through
an ecosystem, starting with producers and
moving up the food chain.
Nutrient Cycling: The continuous circulation
of essential elements, such as carbon,
nitrogen, and water, through biotic and
abiotic components via biogeochemical cycles.
Types of Ecosystem
Earth's major ecosystems are
categorized as terrestrial, freshwater, and
marine, encompassing specific types like
forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundras on
land, and various bodies of water in aquatic
environments.
A distinct category is the "human
ecosystem," or human ecosystem, which is a
system where human activities and the natural
environment are interdependent, integrating
both biotic and abiotic factors to analyze
how human communities interact with and
modify their environment.
Earth's Major Ecosystems
A. Terrestrial Ecosystems:
Found on land and include various
biomes, such as:
1. Forests:
Characterized by dense tree cover,
including temperate, tropical, and boreal
(taiga) forests.
2. Grasslands:
Dominated by grasses, with examples in
temperate regions and savannas.
Earth's Major Ecosystems
3. Deserts:
Arid or semi-arid environments with
plants and animals adapted to harsh
conditions.
4. Tundra:
Cold, treeless regions with low-growing
vegetation.
Earth's Major Ecosystems
B. Aquatic Ecosystems:
Occur in water and are divided into:
1. Freshwater Ecosystems:
Include lakes, rivers, and wetlands,
with very little salt content.
2. Marine Ecosystems:
Located in the oceans and other
saltwater environments.
Earth's Major Ecosystems
C. Artificial Ecosystems:
Created and maintained by humans, such
as crop fields, aquariums, and urban areas.
The Human Ecosystem
Definition:
A "human ecosystem" is not a separate
type of natural ecosystem but rather a
framework used to understand the complex
interactions between human societies and their
natural environment.
Human-Dominated Systems:
It views human communities and their
ecological aspects as complex systems within
the Anthropocene era, a time when human
activity has a significant impact on the Earth.
The Human Ecosystem
Interdependence:
Human ecosystems emphasize the
interdependence of living organisms and non-
living (abiotic) factors within a human-
dominated environment.
Examples:
The concept can be applied to various
scales, from a human body to a large city,
examining how these systems adapt and respond
to environmental changes.
