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Lesson 2: INTERACTIONS IN THE BIOSPHERE
INTRODUCTION
In the last lesson, we discussed the concept of the biosphere where all living
organisms are found in the earth and we enumerated its three fundamental parts.
The Lithosphere which we discovered as its rocky outer part, the Hydrosphere which is
its discontinuous layer of water, and the Atmosphere as its gas and aerosol part.
We characterized each of them separately but in this second Unit, we will
unfold how these parts of the biosphere is linked together to sustain life. And to do
this we must first discuss the concept of ecosystem wherein it is defined as the region
within the biosphere where interactions between biotic (living things) and abiotic
(non-living things) factors occur.
Did You Know?
The study of the interaction between living (biotic) and non-living
component is ECOLOGY.
Lesson 2.1.0 Biotic Factors
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify the biotic factors in the environment
Define the roles of producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore and decomposer
Biotic factors of the environment include all living organisms that inhabit it. The
trees that you see outside, grasses, birds, insects, and even you are considered as a
part of it mainly because you are living.
Living organisms can be classified in different ways. However, in our class we will
categorize them according to their roles in the ecosystem.
1. Producers – these organisms are those that are able to produce their own
food through photosynthesis. Examples of producers (autotrophs) are green
plants, algae, and tiny aquatic organisms called phytoplankton which use light
energy to carry on photosynthesis.
2. Consumers- these are organisms that rely on other organisms to survive
because they cannot produce their own food. They are thus called
heterotrophs for this matter.
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Consumers have varying roles depending on their hierarchy in the food chain.
a. Primary consumers also known as herbivores are animals that eat
producers (plants or phytoplanktons) as a source of food. Herbivores, such
as leaf eating insects and seed-eating birds are usually quite numerous in
ecosystems, where they serve as food for the next organisms in the chain.
b. Secondary consumers are animals that eat other animals. These type of
organisms can be further subdivided into categories based on what kind of
prey they capture and eat. Some organisms primarily eat herbivores like
aphids, some only eat carnivores, while others which are referred to as
omnivores include plant and animals in their diet.
c. Decomposers are organisms that use non-living organic matter as a source
of energy and raw material to build their bodies. Whenever an organism
sheds part of itself, excretes waste products, or dies, it provides source of
food for decomposers.
Figure 2.1. Energy Pyramid showing the basic structure of interaction in all biological
communities characterized by the manner in which food energy is passed from one trophic
level to the next.
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Lesson 2.1.1 Flow of Energy through Biotic Factors
In the past lesson, we learned that biotic factors in the
environment refer to all the living organisms inhabiting it and that
they can be classified according to their roles in the ecosystem.
We learned that they can be producers, consumers or
decomposers.
This type of interaction within the biosphere highlights
their trophic or food relationship with each other or how they obtain the energy that
they need to survive. In this continuation of our previous lesson “Biotic Factors”, we
will discuss how the flow of energy interlinks the different living organisms.
In most ecosystems, the main source of energy is the sun and the producers
are the only organisms that can convert this light energy into useful forms like
carbohydrates (sugars, starches) and proteins.
And only when the producers are eaten THINK ABOUT THIS!
by another organism, that this energy is
transferred. Each step in the flow of energy Question:
through ecosystem is known as trophic level. Can omnivores occupy
the first trophic level?
Producers constitute the first trophic
level and herbivores constitute the second Answer:
trophic level. Carnivores that eat herbivores are
Can omnivores
third trophic level and carnivores that eat other
carnivores are the fourth trophic level. photosynthesize?
Omnivores meanwhile occupy different trophic
levels, depending on what they happen to be
eating at the time.
Further, because of the second law of thermodynamics, which states that
whenever energy is converted from one form to another, some of the energy is
converted into a non-useful form (typically, low quality heat). Thus there is always less
energy following an energy conversion.
When energy passes from one trophic level to the next, there is less useful
energy left with each successive trophic level. This loss of low quality heat is
dissipated into the surroundings and warms the air, water or soil. In addition to this
loss of heat, organisms also expend energy to maintain their own life processes. It
takes energy to chew food, defend nests, walk to waterholes, or produce and raise
offspring. Therefore, the amount of energy contained in higher trophic levels is
considerably less than that at lower levels.
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Approximately 90 percent of the useful energy is lost with each transfer to the
next highest trophic level. So in any ecosystem, the amount of energy contained in
the herbivore trophic level is only about 10 percent of the energy contained in the
producer trophic level. And the amount of energy at the third trophic level is
approximately 1 percent of that found in the first level.
The passage of energy from one trophic level to another, as a result of one
organism eating another is known as the food chain.
Figure 2.2. Food Chain – a
chronological pathway or
an order that shows the
flow of energy from one
organism to the other.
However, in reality, food chains overlap at many points – because animals
often feed on multiple species – forming complex food webs.
Figure 2.3. Food Web –
represents multiple
pathways through which
energy and matter flow
through an ecosystem. It
includes many intersecting
food chains.
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Furthermore, aside from the trophic relationship of organisms, there is also
another category of interactions between them which has to do with close and
usually long-term interactions. These interactions are called symbiosis.
In this type of interactions, both organisms can affect each other positively,
negatively or it could remain unharmed. Often, organisms provide resources or
services to each other.
When the interaction between two
organisms is beneficial for both, it is called
mutualism- a win-win symbiotic relationship. An
example of this kind of interaction is the
relationship of ant and acacia tree.
The acacia tree provides food in the form
of sugar solutions in little structures on their
stems. Certain species of ants feed on these
solutions and live on the tree, which they will
protect by attacking other animal that tries to
feed on it.
Thus, the ant benefits from the acacia by receiving food and shelter while the
acacia also benefits from the ant as it gets protection against animals and plants that
tries to feed or take advantage on it.
You can watch this amazing mutualistic relationship of ants and acacia by
clicking on the link below.
CLICK TO WATCH
[Link]
Moving on, symbiotic relationships are not always positive for both
participants. Sometimes, in a relationship of two organisms, only one of them gets the
benefit while the other is harmed lethally. This time of symbiotic relationship is called
parasitism, wherein an organism known as a parasite, lives on another organism
known as the host, from which it derives nourishment.
An example of this type of relationship is the relationship of a caterpillar and
wasp larvae. The wasp larvae benefits from this relationship by lurking inside the flesh
of the caterpillar, soaking up its nutrients and blood. The caterpillar on the other hand
is harmed by this.
You can watch this drastic relationship of wasp larvae and caterpillars by
clicking on the link below.
CLICK TO WATCH
[Link]
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Another type of symbiotic relationship is called commensalism wherein one
organism benefits from their relationship but the other is neither affected positively
nor negatively.
The relationship of remoras and
sharks is one classic example of this type
of symbiotic relationship. Wherein
remoras attached themselves to sharks
through the sucker on top of their
heads. In this way, they can hitch hike a
ride as the shark swims along.
When the shark feeds, the
remora frees itself and obtains small bits
of food that the shark misses. Then the
remora frees itself and obtains small bits
of food that the shark misses.
Then the remora reattaches. The shark does not appear to be positively or
negatively affected by remoras. Many commensal relationships are rather
opportunistic and may not involve long-term physical contact.
You can watch this one sided relationship of remoras and sharks by clicking
on the video below.
CLICK TO WATCH
[Link]
Aside from symbiosis, there are two more general types of organism-to
organism interaction that are common in all ecosystems. These are competition and
predation.
An interaction in which two organisms strive to obtain the same limited
resource is called competition. In the process, both organisms are harmed to some
extent. However, this does not mean that there will be no winner.
If a number of pine trees, for example, is planted and grows near each other.
Over time these trees will compete for limited resources that are available in the
environment like water, minerals and sunlight.
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None of these trees grow rapidly as it could because access to resources is
restricted by the presence of other pine trees. Eventually, those that received more
resources grow faster. The taller trees then will get more sunlight and other shorter
trees will receive less. Some of these smaller trees will be suppressed from their
growth and some others unlucky enough will eventually die.
The last type of interaction is predation which is the most common one. It
occurs when one organism known as a predator kills and eats another known as prey.
The predator benefits from killing and eating the prey thus the prey is harmed.
Classic examples of predator-prey relationship are
the interaction of lions and zebras,
robins and earthworms, wolves and
moose and the toads and beetles.
However, it is not only animals that
exhibit this kind of behavior. Even
few plants show predatory behavior
like the Venus flytrap which has
specifically modified leaves that can
quickly fold together and trap insects
that are then digested.
You can watch this predator-prey relationship of Venus flytrap and flies by
clicking on the video below.
CLICK TO WATCH
[Link]
Practice Task 5
A. Fill out the table below using the following symbols to exhibit the relationship
of two organisms corresponding to the specify type of interaction provided.
Write a plus sign (+) for an organism that benefited, minus sign (-) for an
organism that is harmed, and letter (n) if an organism is neither benefited nor
harmed.
Interaction Organism 1 Organism 2
a Example - +
1. Mutualism
2. Commensalism
3. Parasitism
4. Predation
5. Competition
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G! THE
B. Use the clues below to accomplish this
LIVIN’ GAME
1
8
CROSSWORD Puzzle. Enjoy!
2
2
3 4 6
1 3 5
4
9
6
9
11
10
DOWN ACROSS
1. An organism that both consume autotrophs and
1. In this type of organism-organism relationship heterotrophs.
one organism benefits while the other is not 2. This is a more complex illustration of the flow of
affected positively or negatively. energy and matter in the ecosystem.
2. This is the type of energy produced when 3. These organisms use non-living organic matter
energy moves from one trophic level to as a source of energy.
another. 4. These organisms can make their own food
3. Each step in the flow of energy through through the process of photosynthesis.
ecosystem is known as____________. 5. This is the most common organism-organism
4. An organism that preys upon other interaction wherein an organism kills and eats
organisms. another organism called prey.
5. The diet of these organisms is concentrated 6. The amount of energy contained in lower
only on green leafy plants. trophic levels is _________ compared to that of
6. Organisms that are being eaten by another the higher trophic level.
organism. 7. This is the source of energy in most ecosystems.
7. These are long-term interactions between 8. This diagram shows the flow of energy from one
organisms. organism to the other in an ecosystem.
8. An interaction wherein two organisms 9. The trophic pyramid exhibits the transfer of
compete for the same limited food. __________ in the ecosystem.
9. This type of organism live inside a body of a 10. A relationship that benefits both the two
host. organisms involved.
11. How many percent of energy is approximately
lost whenever there is a transfer from one
trophic level to another.
