Chapter 6: Concept of Ecology

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

a) know the meaning of the term ecology.

b) understand the concepts of communities, habitats and ecosystems

Keywords

1. abiotic
2. biotic
3. ecology
4. ecosystem
5. community
6. habitat

Introduction

In this chapter you are going to explore the concept of ecology in order to understand the different communities, habitats and ecosystems around you. You must have realised that in order to survive, some organisms depend on their surroundings for their life necessities like food, shelter and protection.

Understanding the interactions among the living things and their surrounding introduces you to the concept of ecology. You will then get to understand the nature and types of ecosystems, their distinguishing features and the living and non-living components that constitutes them.

6.1 Meaning of terms used in ecology

6.1 Activity Finding the meaning of common terms used in ecology

Key question

What are the meanings of the common terms used in ecology?

What you need

Computer with internet connection

Pen

Biology textbook

Manila paper

Notebook

Marker

What to do

1 In groups, research and discuss the meaning of the following terms used in ecology: 6 • Ecology

Ecosystem

Habitat •

Niche

Community and Population

2 Make a write-up of the terms and their meanings.

3 Share your findings with the rest of the class.

4 Harmonise your information and pin it up on the class noticeboard.

6.2 Ecosystems

An ecosystem can be distinguished from others because of the unique nature of organisms it contains and the area it occupies. In this activity you are going to research on different ecosystems and their distinguishing features.

Activity 6.2 dentifying ecosystems and their distinguishing features

Key question

What are the characteristics of different ecosystems?

What you need •

Computer with internet

Pictures of different ecosystems connection

Biology textbooks ·

Notebook

Pen

Manila paper

Marker

Figure 6.1:

What to do

1 In groups, research about the ecosystem and study the pictures of different ecosystems provided above and identify the characteristics of each one of them.

2 Identify and note down the dominant species.

3 Using the characteristics identify the different ecosystems.

4 Make a write-up and present it to the class.

5 Harmonise your information by discussing with the class members.

An ecosystem has living components that is to say, those that have life and therefore carry out life processes and non-living components that is to say, those that do not have life. It is the interaction between these two components that sustains the ecosystem and make it stable. In this activity you are going to visit an ecosystem and identify the living and non-living components.

Activity 6.3 •Identifying the living and non-living components of an ecosystem

Key question

What are the living and non-living components of an ecosystem?

What you need

Notebook

Pen

What to do

1 In your group visit a local ecosystem.

2 Identify its living and non-living components.

3 Identify the dominant organisms.

4 Identify the communities and habitats within the ecosystem.

5 Share your findings with other groups.

6 Harmonise your information by discussing among yourselves. 7 Pin up the harmonised work on the class noticeboard.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter, you have learnt that: ecology is the study of the interrelationship between organisms and their environment.

ecosystem is a unit of the environment consisting of living and non-living components whose interaction results in a self-sustaining system.

examples of ecosystems are forests, grasslands, the soil, lakes, swamps, and deserts.

each ecosystem has its own characteristics and therefore a unique set of organisms that live in them.

an ecosystem consists of several communities, populations, habitats and niches.

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