Unit 1: Introduction

Ecosystem

• Ecosystem: refers to a community of living organisms and their nonliving environment that interact as a functional unit. 

• The components of an ecosystem can be categorized into biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components.

Biotic Components

• The living beings that affect other species in an ecosystem, either directly or indirectly, are known as biotic components. 

• For instance, the waste products of microbes, plants, and animals.

Abiotic Components

• Every chemical and physical component in an ecosystem, or non-living component, is considered an abiotic component. 

• Abiotic elements can differ between ecosystems and between regions. 

• Their primary role is to support life. 

• They control and limit an ecosystem's biotic component variety, quantity, and population increase. Hence, they are known as limiting factors.

Unit 2: Biotic Components

Producers 

• Such are plants as well as other autotrophic organisms that can produce energy through the process of photosynthesis.

  • Plants: Grass, trees, and flowers

  • Algae: In aquatic environments

Consumers 

• These are heterotrophic organisms that obtain their energy from other organisms or their products. They are further subdivided into herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

  • Herbivores: Cows, rabbits, and deer

  • Carnivores: Lions, wolves, and eagles

  • Omnivores: Humans, bears, and pigs

Decomposers 

• These are organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down dead organic matter into smaller components, making nutrients available to other living things in the ecosystem.

  • Bacteria: Bacillus and Clostridium

  • Fungi: Mushrooms and moulds

Predators 

• These are animals that consume and kill other animals for food.

  • Lions (preying on gazelles)

  • Sharks (preying on fish)

  • Eagles (preying on smaller birds)

Prey 

• These are organisms that are targeted and slaughtered by other creatures to obtain nourishment.

  • Gazelles (preyed upon by lions)

  • Fish (preyed upon by sharks)

  • Mice (preyed upon by eagles)

Parasites 

• These are living things that reside within another organism (the host) and feed on it, often harming people.

  • Tapeworms (parasitic in the digestive system of hosts)

  • Fleas (parasitic on mammals like dogs or cats)

  • Malaria parasites (transmitted through mosquitoes to humans)

Unit 3: Abiotic Components

Atmosphere

• The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth and provides the air we breathe while also influencing the climate.

  • Nitrogen (about 78% of Earth's atmosphere)

  • Oxygen (about 21% of Earth's atmosphere)

  • Carbon dioxide (a small but important component)

Water

• The substance that covers the majority of the Earth's surface and is required for life to exist.

  • Oceans: Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean

  • Lakes: Lake Baikal and Lake Victoria

  • Rivers: Amazon River and Nile River

Soil

• The loose layer of material that covers the Earth's surface and provides nutrients to plants and other organisms.

  • Clay soil (has high fertility due to its ability to retain nutrients, but it tends to hold water tightly, making it heavy and often poorly drained)

  • Sandy soil (warms up quickly and is easy to work with, but it doesn't hold nutrients well)

  • Loamy soil (often considered ideal for gardening as it provides a suitable environment for plant growth)

Sunlight

• The primary energy source for Earth's life. Crucial for photosynthesis. Influences climate and weather pattern

  • Visible light (wavelengths between 0.4 and 0.8 micrometres)

  • UV light (wavelengths shorter than 0.4 micrometres)

  • Infrared (wavelengths longer than 0.8 micrometres)

Temperature

• The organisms that can live in a given area are affected by its average temperature.

  • Tundra biome with low temperatures: Arctic tundra

  • Desert biome with high temperatures: Sahara Desert

  • Temperate forest biome with moderate temperatures: Deciduous forests

Climate

• A region's long-term weather patterns, which influence the types of organisms that can live there.

  • Tropical rainforest climate: Amazon rainforest

  • Arctic climate: Arctic regions

  • Desert climate: Sahara Desert

  • Temperate climate: Parts of Europe and North America