Biology

Components of the Ecosystem

len Alfred Ajibola - Wed, 18th December, 2019 @ 01:41 AM

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Academic Questions in Biology

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

Male Reproductive System - Len Academy

From the above diagram, which of the organ below isn't a requirement for the male reproductive system?

  • A. Bladder

  • B. Ureter

  • C. Glans Penis

  • D. Testis

  • E. Bulbourethral Gland

  • F. Epididymis

A walnut shaped male accessory sex organ located between the bladder and penis is the _____.

  • A. Ductus Ejaculatorii

  • B. Bulbourethral Gland

  • C. Prostate Gland

  • D. Ductus Deferens

  • E. Seminal Vesicles

  • F. Epididymis

In a food chain, the primary consumers are classified under trophic level  _____.

  • A. Zero

  • B. One

  • C. Two

  • D. Three

  • E. Four

  • F. Five

Cold blooded animals are referred to as _____.

  • A. Homeotherms

  • B. Endotherms

  • C. Poilokitherms

  • D. Ectotherms

  • E. Thermotherms

  • F. None of the above

All reptiles are vertebrates.

  • A. True

  • B. False

_____ cells are responsible for the formation of osteoblasts.

  • A. Osteocytes
  • B. Chondrocytes
  • C. Chondroblasts
  • D. Osteoclasts
  • E. Osteoprogenitor cells
  • F. Osteoblastic

_____ is a bone that constitute the axial skeleton.

  • A. Clavicle
  • B. Scapula
  • C. Patella
  • D. Radius
  • E. Sternum
  • F. Femur

Which of the following is false concerning cartilages and bones?

  • A. Cartilage does not have a direct blood supply while bones have direct blood supply
  • B. The process of ossification replaces a cartilage to bone
  • C. The protein that makes up cartilage is called chondrin while that that makes up bone is called ossein
  • D. Cartilage grows from both ends while bones grow from one of its epiphysis
  • E. They both have living cells within them
  • F. Haversian system is absent in cartilage but present in bones



Components of the Ecosystem:

The ecosystem is made up of two components. These are:

  1. Living or biotic component.
  2. Non-living or abiotic component.

As a student, it is recommended you comprehend the concepts of the ecosystem (or ecological concepts). This will aid you to better understand the components that make up an ecosystem.

Please read on various ecological concepts here.


  • Biotic component

The biotic component comprises all the living things that make up an ecosystem. These will include plants, animals and micro organisms.

Please read on the characteristics of living organisms here.


Within an ecosystem, the living organisms (biotic component) can be further grouped into the followings:

i. Producers: These includes all photosynthetic and chemosynthetic organisms in an ecosystem. The common factor shared by these organisms (producers) is their ability to manufacture food.

Note: The terms 'food chain, food web and food pyramid' are all associated with the ecosystem and they always commence with the producers.

Please read more on food chain in an ecosystem here.

When sunlight energy is required for the production of food, it's termed photosynthesis. When chemicals are used, it's referred to as chemosynthesis.

Always remember that all green plants photosynthesize.

Please read more on autotrophic nutrition and photosynthesis here.


ii. Consumers: The consumers in an ecosystem cannot manufacture their own food. They include all animals, certain plants and some microscopic organisms.

Interestingly, certain plants can act as both producers and consumers in an ecosystem. Although these plants can photosynthesize, they may also feed on other animals, especially insects. Such plants are termed as carnivorous or insectivorous plants.

Examples of carnivorous plants include pitcher plant, corpse flower and sundew.

Please read on the differences between plants and crops here.


iii. Decomposers: These biotic components typically consist of some fungi and bacteria. They act as decomposers by feeding on dead plants and animals, bringing about their decomposition in the process. Through this act, they release valuable nutrients into the soil; to be used by the producers in the manufacture of food via photosynthesis.

It is worthy of note to state that the decomposers will always end a food chain.

You can read on protists and their characteristics here.

The image below shows the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem:

Biotic and Abiotic components of the ecosystem - Len Academy


  • Abiotic components

The abiotic components of the ecosystem include all the non-living factors of the ecosystem. These factors are crucial for the survival of the biotic components. In short, without the abiotic factors, the biotic factors will cease to exist in an ecosystem.

Please read on the introduction to biomes here.


Below are some examples of abiotic factors present in an ecosystem:

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Amazing facts in Biology

Russia is home to the largest area of forest in our world with a land mass of 815 million hectares

Giant Squid - Len Academy

Giant squid lives deep in the ocean and they have the largest eyes in the world

The movements of the fingers are controlled by muscles of the palms and forehands

Platypus - Len Academy

Platypus (sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus) is an egg-laying, semiaquatic mammal found in eastern Australia. It has no stomach and as such, its food goes from the mouth through the esophagus and directly to their intestines.

Pufferfish - Len Academy

Pufferfish contain a toxin called tetrodotoxin. This makes them foul tasting and poisonous to predators. Tetrodotoxin is about 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide, and there is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans. Unfortunately, there isn't any known antidote to this poison.

Interestingly, a delicacy in Japan (called fugu) is made from pufferfish. This meal is very expensive, and must be prepared by trained and licensed chefs. An improper preparation of fugu may lead to the customer's death. Sadly, such deaths are recorded annually

Wombat - Len Academy ​​​​​​

Wombats are the only animal with a cube-shaped poo. They can stack up these cube-shaped poo, marking their territory with it

Robert Waldow - Len Academy

Robert Wadlow (1918–1940) remains the tallest man ever recorded in the Guinness World Records. He was an American who stood at 8 feet, 11 inches.

An abnormally enlarged pituitary gland had resulted into Robert Wadlow's giant size.

Cockroach is the fastest land animal on six legs

Laughing ape - Len Academy

Like humans, all apes laugh when tickled

Ostrich eye and brain - Len Academy

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain


Notable points in Biology

Layers of an Artery - Len Academy

An artery is composed of three layers:

  • The outermost layer is termed tunica adventitia (or tunica external). It consist mainly of collagen fibres and connective tissues that anchors the arteries to other nearby tissues.

  • The middle layer is named tunica media. It is made up of smooth muscles and elastic fibres that supports the artery in conveying blood at high pressures.

  • The inner layer is called tunica intima (or tunica internal). It is lined by a smooth tissue called endothelium, and is made up of a fine network of connective tissues.

Please read on the layers of an artery here

All living organisms possess various features in order to survive in their environment. This is the concept of adaptation. As an instance, a fish is able to live in water because it has gills and fins.

Also, a camel is able to survive in the desert because it has large feet to aid walking on sand without sinking. It also has long eyelashes to help protect it from the blowing sand and wind.

Plants are also able to live in different habitats because they have the required adaptive features towards that habitat. For instance:

  • Plants that live in/on water are termed hydrophytes.

  • Plants that live on land with moderate amount of water are termed mesophytes.

  • Plants that live on deserts or arid lands are termed xerophytes.

The point is:

All organisms have various features on them that enables them adapt in their habitat

For a thing to be considered living, it must possess all the basic characteristics of life. These include:

  1. Movement

  2. Respiration

  3. Nutrition

  4. Irritability or Sensitivity

  5. Growth

  6. Excretion

  7. Reproduction

  8. Death

  9. Adaptation

  10. Competition

Please read the explanations on all the basic characteristics of life here

During strenuous exercises like sprinting or running, your body may actually work in the shortage of oxygen. During this time, your body owes oxygen (called oxygen debt) and it must be replenished or repayed after the exercise is stopped. This is why you breathe excess of oxygen after you stopped the exercise.

This is the concept of anaerobic respiration

Food Chain - Len Academy

A food chain is a diagram that shows the relationship between plants and animals within a habitat on the basis of how they rely on each other for food.

Note: Habitat is a place where an organism live. It is of three types:

  • Terrestrial (Land)
  • Aquatic (Water)
  • Arboreal (Treetops)

You can read on food chain here