Week 1 lesson 1
Date:
Topic: Basic ecological concepts
Learning outcome: At the end of the lesson,
students should be
able to:
(i) define ecology
(ii) explain the branches of ecology
(iii) list and explain the component of the
ecosystem
Content:
Definition of ecology
Branches of ecology (Autecology and
Synecology)
Component of the ecosystem (Biotic and
Abiotic component)
Ecology
Ecology is the study of living organisms (plants
and animals) in relation to their environment. The
study deals with the relationship of living
organisms with one another and with the
environment in which they live. Ecology measures
factors affecting the environment; it studies the
distribution of living organisms and how they
depend on one another and their non-living
environment for their survival. Ecology is divided
into two main branches:
1.Autecology: It is concerned with the study of
a single individual organism or a single species
of organism and their environment. Example,
the study of Tilapia fish in a particular stream.
2.Synecology: It is concerned with the study of
the interrelationships between groups of
organisms or species of organisms living
together in an area.
Component of an Ecosystem
There are two components of an ecosystem
namely abiotic and biotic .
(i) Abiotic components: They are non-living
parts of the ecosystem which include:
Climatic factors e.g. temperature, light
intensity, wind, humidity, water current,
turbidity, rainfall etc.
Edaphic factors e.g. soil, rocks, topography
etc.
Other factors such as air, storms, water
etc.
(ii) Biotic components: This includes all
living things/organisms in an environment.
It is also called the biotic community. It is
made up of;
Food producer’s e.g. autotrophs (green
plants)
Food consumer’s i.e. heterotrophs such as
animals, protozoa and some bacteria
Decomposer’s i.e. saprophytes like fungi,
and some bacteria
Evaluation
1.Define ecology
2.Explain the branches of ecology
3.Explain the component of the ecosystem
Week 1 lesson 2
Learning outcome: Students should be able to:
(i) list the various ecological concepts
(ii) explain habitat, population, community and
ecosystem as part of an ecological
concepts
Content:
Ecological concepts
Biotic and Abiotic component of the ecosystem
Ecological concept
1.Environment: It includes all the factors in an
organism’s surroundings, living or non-living.
The external surroundings including all of the
biotic and abiotic factors that surround and
affect the survival and development of an
organism.
2.Biosphere: This refers to all parts of the
atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere
where life can be found and is made up of
various ecosystems. Lithosphere: It is the solid
portion of the earth. It is made up of rocks and
mineral materials.
3.Hydrosphere: It is the liquid or aquatic part of
the earth. It covers about 70% of the earth’s
crust.
4.Atmosphere: It is the gaseous portion of the
earth. It is a layer of gases surrounding the
earth. It contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen,
0.03% carbon(iv)oxide and 0.97% rare or inert
gases.
5.Habitat: This is the place where an organism
lives. It is the place that is suitable to the
organism’s way of life e.g. the habitat of fish is
water. Habitat can be aquatic habitat (such as
rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, seas, lagoons
etc.) or terrestrial habitats e.g. savanna, forest,
desert etc.
6.Ecological niche: This is the functional role and
space/specific portion of habitat occupied by a
particular organism or species.
7.Population: It is defined as the total number of
organisms of the same species living together
in a given area.
8.Community is made up of all the populations of
living organisms that exist together in a
habitat.
9.Ecosystem: This is a self-supporting unit that is
made up of a living part and a non-living part.
It is a community of plants and animals
interacting with themselves and with the non-
living factor in their environment.
Evaluation
1.Explain the following concept
(a) community
(b) population
(c) habitat
Week 1 lesson 3
Learning outcome: Students should be able to:
(i) classify the following organisms/materials
based on the component of the ecosystem
mention the habitat each organism belong to
Content:
Habitat
Biotic and Abiotic component of the ecosystem
Procedure: The students will be placed into
groups of five and the following
organisms/materials/substances will be placed
before each group which includes: rock, stone,
soil, oil, water, corn, beans, rice, orange, banana,
tomato, yam, carrot, water melon, earthworm,
lizard, snake, toad, rat, mushroom, yeast. Each
group will be required to attempt the following
questions:
i. Identify each of the various
organisms/substances/materials displayed
above
ii. Place each organisms/substances/materials
provided into their respective component of
the ecosystem
iii. Give reason for placing each
organisms/substances/materials into their
respective component of the ecosystem
Component of ecosystem
Biotic Abiotic
component component
Types of Habitat
Terrestrial Aquatic Habitat
Habitat
Habitat
Procedures: The students will be placed into groups
of five and the following organisms will be placed
before each group which includes: tilapia fish, cat
fish, crab, snail, lizard, snake, rat, earthworm, and
domestic fowl. Each group will be required to
attempt the following questions:
i. Identify the various organisms displayed
above
ii. Place each organisms into their types of
habitat
iii. Give reason for placing each organism into
their respective habitat
Evaluation
1. Classify the following organisms/materials
based on the component of the ecosystem
2. Mention the habitat each organism belong to
Reference: Essential Biology for Senior Secondary
Schools by M.C Michael (Page 76-78), College
biology for senior secondary school by Idodo Umeh
(pages 496-509)
Assignment
1. Explain the following ecological terms:
biosphere, habitat, ecological niche,
population, community, ecosystem
2. Name two examples each of plant and
animals that lives in a fresh water pond
State four characteristics of a salt marsh
habitat.
