Ecosystem: An Analysis of Its Concept and Components

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted by a class divided into four groups to determine the components of a tropical evergreen forest. A 10 x 10 m area in the Arbor Square was provided for each group to assess the contents and classify them under biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. The relationship of both components within their environment and the factors that affect are further discussed in the paper.

Keywords: Ecosystem, Biotic Components, Abiotic Components, Tropical Evergreen Forest

INTRODUCTION

        Ecosystem is defined in ecology as a biological community where organisms do act to their physical environment. It compromises a complex network of interconnected systems. The two basic components of an ecosystem include both the biotic and abiotic components. The non-living or also known as physic-chemical factors such as air, soil and water are under the category of abiotic factors. On the other hand, the living portion of an ecosystem compromises the association of a lot of interrelated populations belonging to different species occupying a common environment. Some of the populations are the animal, plant and microbial communities. It can also be categorized into three main classifications; the producers also known as the autotrophs, the consumers or the phagotrophs and lastly the decomposers or the saprotrophs. All these components establish relationships with the other components to survive and the concept of adaptation may also rise within an ecosystem when sudden changes occur. These changes may be caused by the natural forces or may also be anthropogenic or caused by human activities.

Nowadays, ecosystems tend to be degraded brought by destructions cause by either natural or anthropogenic forces. Poaching, hunting and conversion of forest lands to commercial or industrial lands, pollution, climate change and overexploitation of resources are just some of the factors affecting not only the components of an ecosystem, but the ecosystem as a whole.

Looking at these ecosystems and digging deeper into the concept of ecosystem and its relationship to its components with all the necessary pieces of information, it may be of help in determining which organism/s is/are frequently occurring at a specific area. It may also be a determining factor in recording which organism/s is/are limited in the site. Having these data, one can assess how a species vary within an ecosystem.  

Methodology

Data Collection

        To collect all the necessary data for this exercise, a 10x10 meter plot was established. The 10x10 meter plot was then used for the researchers to determine the biotic and abiotic components present at a specific ecosystem. The plot will be the site where each group would list down all the abiotic and biotic factors found at the site. They were also tasked to identify all the species present, how often these organisms occur at the area, its geographical range and distribution and its role in the ecosystem. After collecting all the data, each group would compare their records to the other groups.

Site Description

        The exercise was conducted at the Arbor Square found at the College of Forestry and Natural Resources. The site was well-suited for the exercise for there was presence of the two main components building up the ecosystem.  

RESULTS

Table 1. Biotic factors, species and the component of each species obtained within 10m x 40m plot established in Arbor Square, CFNR, UPLB.