An ecosystem is a certain area in which organisms interact with

each other and with their environment.

Examples: a pond, a rotting log, a forest, a desert
Energy flow refers to the amount of energy that moves through
a food chain.
Flow of Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
1. Sun is the ultimate source of energy.
2. Energy is transferred and transformed from one organism
to another.
3. Energy and nutrients pass through the food chain as one
organism feeds on another.
4. Decomposers extract energy from the remains of other
organisms.
5. Inorganic nutrients are cycled; energy is not.

Biodiversity (biological diversity) is the interrelationships

between the species and the balance and stability of the
biological community.
1. Habitat diversity refers to the diversity of habitats in a
given unit of area
2. Species diversity refers to the total number or relative
abundance of species
3. Genetic diversity refers to the total number of genetic
characteristics of a specific species, subspecies, or group
of species
Biodiversity helps make an ecosystem more stable. We are
now heading toward a biodiversity crisis because of rapid
decrease of the animal and the plant species. We depend on
them for food, clothing, medicine, shelter, oxygen, soil
fertility, etc. in order to survive.

Factors that tend to increase Biodiversity

1. A physically diverse habitat in which a number of
organisms are able to adapt and survive
2. Moderate disruption
3. High diversity in one trophic level that increases the
diversity of other trophic level
4. An environment highly modified by life processes
5. Processes that lead to evolution
Factors that tend to decrease Biodiversity
1. Environmental stressors
2. Extreme environmental disturbance
3. A severe limitation in the supply of food, water, and
habitat

4. Recent introduction of alien species without known

predators in the area.
5. Geographical isolation
A population refers to a group of organisms of the same
species that live in a particular area.
Properties of Population
1. Ecological density refers to the number of individuals
per unit of available space
2. Population dispersion the spatial distribution of
individuals.
a. Random dispersion individuals are neither repelled
nor attracted to one another. They are independent of
each other.
b. Regular dispersion individuals are about the same
distance from one another.

c. Clumped or Aggregated dispersion individuals

clumped together because of resources and habitat or
as social behavior.
Factors that influence population size
1.
2.
3.
4.

Birth (natality)
Immigration
Death (mortality)
Emigration

Models of Population Growth

1. Exponential Growth (J-shaped population growth form)
The population continues to grow over a relatively long
period of time and suddenly increases dramatically.
2. Logistic Growth (S-shaped graph)
Growth rate varies in population size.

As a population reaches resource limitations, its

growth slows down and stabilizes forming an S-shaped
graph.
Ecosystems carrying capacity is the maximum
population size of the species that the environment
can sustain without getting depleted.
Ways to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides

Practice composting
Get involved in environment projects in your community
Reduce demand for new resources
Use environmentally friendly products for cleaning
Reduce your energy demand