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Chapter 3: ECOLOGICAL LEVELS b. Behavioral Mechanism in the broadest sense is the overt action an organism takes to
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LESSON I: ORGANISM adjust to environmental circumstances as to its survival.
➢ TROPISM refers to direct movement and orientation found in plants (i.e.
Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to: sunflower)
1. Define the important key terms o Phototropism – facing to the sun of a sunflower
2. Describe the ecological level: Organism o Heliotropism – vertical orientation of leaves of trees during sunny day
3. Appreciate the adaptive mechanism of the lower forms of animals to its o Geotropism – the downward growth of roots
environment ➢ TAXIS this refers to “arrangement”, is now generally used to refer to STIMULUS-
Topic Outline: RESPONSE MOVEMENT.
Lesson1: Organisms o Kinesis – this is the undirected reactions such as avoidance of
Lesson 2: Population unfavorable environment
Lesson 3: Community o Directed reaction - is the orientation directly towards or away from the
Lesson 4: Biomes stimulus (moth flying towards a light).
➢ Other behavior manifestation:
Ecological Levels is the organization that starts from organisms to ecosystems. ▪ Crocodile lowers their abdomen to absorb heat from the ground.
▪ Crocodile higher their abdomen to protect them from too much
ORGANISM or species – this refers to a single individual within the environment.
heat of the ground.
When an organism can grow, survive and reproduce, that organism
▪ Crocodile opens their mouth to release body heat.
is ADAPTIVE to its environment.
C. Physiological Mechanism refers to special function of the organism in terms of its
activities.
Adaptive Mechanism:
➢ Diel (day) Periodicity refers to events which recur at intervals of 24 hours or less
a. Morphological Mechanism refers to the form and structure of organisms.
➢ Circadian (about a day) rhythm refers to the persistent periodicity regulated by the
Ex. Feathers – protection against hot or cold environment
biological clock that couples environmental and physiological rhythm.
Blubbers – “thick fat”, protection against cold environment
o Nocturnal – this is an activity of the organisms that are active only during
Fur/Hair – protection against cold environment
the period of darkness.
Hump of camels – reduce the excessive evaporation rate
o Diurnal – are active during the day
Thorns –
o Crepuscular – are active during twilight periods.
Spine –
HABITAT AND ECOLOGICAL NICHE
Thick Cutin –
> Habitat is the place where an organism live or the place where one would go to find.
> Ecological niche, refers to the functional role in the community.
Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024
 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

SPECIATION or the formation of new species and development of species diversity D. POPULATION AGE DISTRIBUTION is an important population characteristic
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occurs when gene flow within in the common pool is interrupted by
an isolating mechanism
which influences both natality and mortality.
➢ 3 ecological ages:
Two types of speciation: a. pre-reproductive
1. SYMPATRIC speciation – when isolation occurs through ecological or genetic b. reproductive
means within the same area. c. post-reproductive
2. ALLOPATRIC speciation – when isolation occurs through geographic separation
of population descended from a common ancestor. E. POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
➢ 3 types: a) Clumped distribution
Lesson 2: Ecological Level-Population b) Uniform distribution
Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to: c) Random distribution
1. Define population
2. Describe the different characteristics of population
3. Draw and discuss the growth form of the population

POPULATION is a collective group of organisms of the same species occupying the

same area and that interact to each other.
Figure 1 Population distribution
Source: https://tinyurl.com/17vjv094
Characteristics of population:
A. POPULATION DENSITY is a population size in relation to some unit of F. POPULATION DISPERSAL or MIGRATION is the movement of individuals into or
space. out of the population.
➢ Crude density is the number or biomass per unit total space while ecological ➢ 2 forms:
density is the number or biomass per unit habitat space. a) emigration – one-way outward movement, leaving one area to elsewhere
➢ Relative abundance these may be “time relative” example, the number of b) immigration – one-way inward movement, moving in one area to live there
birds seen per hour. Or they may be percentage of various kinds such as the
percentage of sample plots occupied by a species of plants. G. POPULATION GROWTH FORMS
➢ 2 basic patterns:
B. NATALITY refers to “birth rate”
C. MORTALITY refers to “death rate”

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

J-shaped b) Positive acceleration phase - Period of slow

increase in
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➢ Phases of growth forms:
a. Lag phase – slow growth – the population
Population size is very
small, do even doubling c) Logarithmic or exponential phase - Period
the population only of rapid rise in population due to
produces a very small availability of food and
increase in numbers. requirements in plenty and no
competition.
b. Exponential phase (log
phase) – Fast growth – d) Negative acceleration phase - Period in
Population growth at which these is a slow rise in population as the
maximum as limiting environmental resistance increases.
factors (eg. food
availability, potential e) Stationary phase - Finally, growth rate
mates) are all abundant. becomes stable because mortality and
natality rates become equal.
c. Stationary phase – no
growth – population ➢ Carrying capacity – refers to the
remains fairly constant Figure 3; S-shaped pattern og population
maximum population that an area will Source: https://tinyurl.com/54wosnby
with small fluctuations
due to variations in support without undergoing deterioration
limiting factors.
Figure 2; J-shaped pattern og population
Source: https://tinyurl.com/54wosnby
H. POPULATION STRUCTURE: TERRITORIALITY and ISOLATION
S-shaped ➢ Forces which bring about isolation or spacing of individuals, pairs or groups in
a population.
➢ In S - shaped or sigmoid growth the population show an initial gradual ➢ ISOLATION usually is the result of 1) inter-individual competition for resources
increase in population size, followed by an exponential increase and then a in short supply or 2) direct antagonism. In both cases, random and uniform
gradual decline to near constant level. distribution may result

Sigmoid growth curve is formed of five phases.

➢ TERRITORIALITY may refer to “home range” = if this area is actively defended,
it is called territory.
a) Lag phase - Period where individuals adapt to the new environment.

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

Lesson 3: Ecological Level- Community B1) Shrub layer - a layer of small to medium SHADE TOLERANT SHRUBS.
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Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Define community
2. Discuss the difference between pattern and process
3. Discuss the vertical structure of a forest and aquatic environment.

COMMUNITY is an assemblage of plant and animal populations that live in a

particular area or habitat.

Characteristics of a Community:
A. Pattern vs. Process
• Pattern is what we can easily observe directly - in terms of the vegetation
zonation, species lists, seasonal distribution of activity, and association of
certain species.
• Process gives rise to the pattern- herbivory, competition, predation risk,
nutrient availability, patterns of disturbance, energy flow, history, and Figure 4: Vertical vegetation zonation
evolution. Source: https://tinyurl.com/3tcfo2v6

B. Vegetation Vertical structure - is determined largely by life form of the plants, B2) Herb or ground layer- the nature of this layer will depend on the soil moisture and
including their size, branching, and leaves, which influences and is influenced by the nutrient conditions, the slope position, the density of the canopy and understory, and the
vertical GRADIENT OF LIGHT. aspect of the slope, all of which vary from place to place throughout the forest.
A. Canopy - the primary site of energy fixation through PHOTOSYNTHESIS
which has a major influence on the rest of the forest depending on the C. Forest floor - the site where
amount of sunlight that penetrates to lower layers. DECOMPOSITION takes place and where nutrients are released from DECAYING
B. Understory - generally consists of TALL SHRUBS and understory TREES, and ORGANIC MATTER for reuse by the forest plants.
younger trees, some of which are the same species as those in the canopy.
Species that are unable to TOLERATE SHADE will die; others will eventually ➢ Tropical rain forest also may have a sixth layer:
grow to reach maturity after some of the older trees in the canopy die or are Emergents - emergents are trees that rise above the general canopy.
harvested.

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

C. AQUATIC CHARACTERISTICS VERTICAL STRATIFICATION: Horizontal Zonation of the marine water

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➢ Distinct vertical distribution of water density Based on variable such as light
and temperature
• Intertidal zone-zone between high
and low tide
➢ Factors: • Neritic zone – shallow water zone
Light: absorbed by organisms and water; intensity decreases w/depth 2 • Oceanic zone – the open ocean
zones based on light penetration:
Photic: light penetrates; sufficient for photosynthesis
Aphotic (profundal): very little light penetrates; insufficient
for photosynthesis
Temperature:
a. Light-penetrated layer: warmed by heat energy of sunlight
b. Thermocline: narrow zone of rapid
temperature change; separates
uniform warm upper layer and cold
deeper waters Figure 6: The horizontal and vertical
c. Deep Water (Benthic zone): bottom of Vertical zonation of Marine water: zonation of a marine water
Source:
any aquatic ecosystem o Euphotic zone – the light of penetration level
https://tinyurl.com/lqmajetr
o Aphotic zone – vastly thicker part of the sea
Horizontal Zonation of the freshwater: o Abyssal zone – the deep and dark part of the sea
• Littoral zone is the shallow water region with
light penetration
D. Ecological succession is defined as gradual changes of species that
• Open water
live in an area over time.

Vertical zonation of Fresh water

Types of Succession:
– Limnetic zone – the depth zone of the open
Figure 5: The horizontal and vertical zonation of Primary Succession occurs in place where different factors are not
water where the boundary of light penetration a freshwater
available for the survival of the organism to live.
occurred. Source: https://tinyurl.com/lqmajetr
o The first organisms that inhabited in a bare rock are known as
– Profundal zone – The bottom and deep
PIONEER ORGANISM, which refers to LICHENS.
water which beyond the depth of penetration of light
▪ Bare rocks are inhospitable place for organism to live.

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

o Because of some factors: Secondary Succession - is a process started by an event (e.g. forest
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▪ Lacking or abundant moisture
fire, harvesting, hurricane, etc.) that reduces an already established ecosystem (e.g. a
forest or a wheat field) to a smaller population of species, and as such secondary
▪ Poor or lack of nutrients succession occurs on preexisting soil whereas primary succession usually occurs in a
▪ Lack of space place lacking soil.
➢ Once lichens begin to die due to the strained factors, bare rocks will be
broken down and formed the first layer of SOIL. And this layer will give rise The comparison of primary and secondary succession.
some plants that suited to the nutrients present on the soil. As more plants
die, the soil layer becomes thicker, making it possible for wildflowers,
grasses, and other plants to grow.
➢ A stable group of plants and animals that are the result of ecological
succession is known as a CLIMAX COMMUNITY.
o A climax community is a more or less permanent and final stage of
a particular succession, often characteristic of a restricted area.

Aquatic Secondary Succession

Figure 9: Aquatic Secondary

Succession
Source:
https://tinyurl.com/3nq88m6
m
o Figure 7: Stages ofare
Climax communities Primary Succession by slow rates of change,
characterized
Source: https://tinyurl.com/5fsmgcfa
compared with more dynamic, earlier stages. They are dominated
by species tolerant of competition for resources.

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

E. Interactions of population in a Community ➢ Examples of Commensalism:

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Competition
➢ Competition occurs when organisms in the same community seek the same
✓ Ant colonies harbor rove beetles as commensals. These beetles mimic
the ants’ behavior, and pass as ants. They eat detritus and dead ants.
limiting resource. This resource may be prey, water, light, nutrients, nest
sites, etc. Mutualism is an interspecific interaction between two species that benefits both
➢ Types: members.
✓ Competition among members of the same species is intraspecific. ➢ Populations of each species grow, survive and/or reproduce at a higher rate in
✓ Competition among individuals of different species is interspecific. the presence of the other species.
➢ Individuals experience both types of competition, but the relative ➢ Mutualisms are widespread in nature, and occur among many different types of
importance of the two types of competition varies from population to organisms
population and species to species ➢ Examples of Mutualisms
1. Flowering plants and pollinators. (both facultative and obligate)
Predation, Parasitism, Herbivory 2. Parasitoid wasps and polydna viruses. (obligate)
➢ Predators, parasites, and herbivores obtain food at the expense of their 3. Ants and aphids. (facultative)
hosts or prey. 4. Termites and endosymbiotic protozoa. (obligate)
Predators tend to be larger than their prey, and consume many preys during 5. Humans and domestic animals. (mostly facultative, some obligate)
their lifetimes.
Lesson 4: Ecological Level - Biomes
Parasites and pathogens are smaller than their host. Parasites may have
one or many hosts during their lifetime. Pathogens are parasitic microbes- Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:
many generations may live within the same host. Parasites consume their
host either from the inside (endoparasites) or from the outside 1. Define biomes
(ectoparasites). 2. Discuss the different biomes
3. Give the different factors that describe the biomes
Commensalism is an interspecific interaction where one species benefits and the
other is unaffected. BIOME is the largest geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals
with similar life forms and environmental conditions.
➢ Commensalisms are ubiquitous in nature: birds nesting in trees are
commensal. ➢ Biomes are distributed across the Earth based primarily on climate. Therefore, in
➢ Commensal organisms frequently live in the nests, or on the bodies of the areas that are far apart, you will sometimes find similar plants and animals
other species. because the climate is similar.

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

o One factor affecting climate is latitude. Typically, the farther you E. Temperate Deciduous Forest - Moderate climate
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move north or south of the equator, the colder the temperature gets.
o Another factor affecting climate is elevation. The higher you go in
➢ Most trees will lose their leaves in the winter
➢ Temperatures range between –30oC and 30oC
elevation, the colder the temperature gets. ➢ Averages from 75 to 150 cm of precipitation
➢ Types of Biomes: ➢ Well-developed understory
A. Tropical Rainforest - Typically found near the equator
➢ Receives more than 200 cm of rain annually F. Temperate Boreal Forest - Also known as Taiga
➢ Temperatures typically fall between 20oC and 25oC for the ➢ Typically found between 45o and 60o North latitude
entire year ➢ Cold climate with summer rains
➢ As many as 50% of all the world’s animal species may be ➢ Very few reptiles
found here ➢ Limited understory
➢ Snow is primary form of precipitation (40 – 100 cm annually)

B. Tropical Savanna - Grasslands with a few scattered trees G. Tundra - Means treeless or marshy plain
➢ Experience a wet and dry season ➢ Characterized by permafrost – permanently frozen soil starting as high as a few
➢ Hot temperatures centimeters below the surface – which severely limits plant growth
➢ Annual rainfall is between 50 and 127 cm ➢ Winter temperatures average –34oC while summer temperatures usually average
➢ More species of grazing mammals than any other biome below 10oC
➢ Low precipitation (15–25 cm per year) but ground is usually wet because of low
C. Desert - Typically found between 25o and 40o latitude evaporation
➢ Receives less than 25 cm of rain each year
➢ Temperatures typically range between 20oC a nd 25oC but some extreme
deserts can reach temperatures higher than 38oC and lower than –15oC

D. Grassland - Because of the dry climate, trees are found only near water sources
such as streams usually receives between 50 and 90 cm of rainfall each year
➢ Summer temperatures can reach up to 38oC, and winter temperatures can
fall to –40oC

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

Lesson 5: Ecological Level-Ecosystem

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An ecosystem includes all living organism (biotic factors) and their non-living
BIOTIC FACTORS ABIOTIC FACTORS

environments (abiotic factors), in a given area, interacting with each other.

Write the biotic and abiotic factors in the given picture.

A
s
s
ignment: Make a collage of an aquarium ecosystem. And then write the biotic
& abiotic organisms present and processes involved

BIOTIC FACTORS ABIOTIC FACTORS Processes involved to

sustained the ecosystem

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

Name: _________________________________________________________ Score: _____

UNIVERSITY Exercise 4
___________________7 Sunflower
Ecological Level
_______________________________________________________________________________
Read the statement below and write whether MORPHOLOGICAL, _______________________________________________________________________________
PHYSIOLOGICAL & BEHAVIORAL that describe the adaptive mechanism of ___________________8 Thick cutin of a cactus
an organism. Write how does it performs. _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________1 Blubber of a whales ___________________9 Thorns/spine of some flowering plants
___________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________
___________________2 Crocodile higher their abdomen on the ground ___________________10 Winter sleep
___________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________
___________________3 Crocodile lowers their body on the ground
___________________________________________________________________________ Identify what is being asked.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________11 The place where an organism live or the place where one
___________________4 Feathers of birds
would go to find
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________12 This refers to functional role of an individual to its
___________________________________________________________________________
environment.
___________________5 Furs of a bear
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________13 The direct movement and orientation of the plant
___________________________________________________________________________ organism.
___________________6 Summer sleep ___________________14 This refers to the stimulus-response movement
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________15 An activity of an organism that is active during the period
___________________________________________________________________________ of darkness of the environment

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024

 MODULE IN
URDANETA CITY Environmental
College of Teacher Education Science
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta

Name:____________________________________________________Score:________ Name: __________________________________________________ Score:___________

UNIVERSITY Exercise 5 Exercise 6

Biomes Ecosystem

➢ Determine the categories of the biomes, RAINFOREST, TUNDRA, TAIGA, Unjumbled the word and write them in correct order to show the levels of organization
SAVANNA, GRASSLAND, and DESERT. and match them to the correct picture.
➢ Match the following animals with their regions.

Winnie T. Arquines, MASE | 2nd Semester 2023-2024