Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 1

Basic ecological concepts

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TERM – 2ND TERM

WEEK ONE

Class: Senior Secondary School 1

Age: 15 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 5 periods each

Date:

Subject: Biology

Topic: BASIC ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

  1. Explains ecology and give the various types of ecology
  2. Identify basic ecological concepts

iii. Identify components of the ecosystem

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers,

demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITY

STUDENT’S

ACTIVITY

STEP 1

INTRODUCTION

The teacher introduces the concept, ecology and explain the various types of ecology

 

Students pay

attention

STEP 2

EXPLANATION

Teacher list and explain some basic ecological terms to the students

Students pay

attention and

participate

 

STEP 3

DEMONSTRATIO

N

Teacher discusses the components of the ecosystem.

 

Students pay

attention and

participate

STEP 4

NOTE TAKING

The teacher writes a summarized

note on the board

 

The students

copy the note in

their books

 

NOTE

BASIC ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS

Ecology

Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. It encompasses the relationships between living organisms (biotic factors) and their physical surroundings (abiotic factors), investigating how these interactions influence the distribution, abundance, and behavior of organisms.

Types of Ecology

  1. Population Ecology: Focuses on the study of populations of a single species and their interactions with the environment, including factors influencing population size, density, and dynamics.
  2. Community Ecology: Examines interactions among different species in a particular area, exploring topics such as competition, predation, mutualism, and the structure of ecological communities.
  3. Ecosystem Ecology: Studies the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients within ecosystems. It considers both living organisms and their physical environment as integrated components.
  4. Microbial Ecology: Studies the interactions, diversity, and roles of microorganisms in various environments, including soil, water, and the human body.

Ecological concepts

  1. Environment: The surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives, including both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
  2. Biosphere: The zone of the Earth where life exists, encompassing the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere. It represents the sum of all ecosystems.
  3. Lithosphere: The rigid outer layer of the Earth, including the crust and uppermost part of the mantle. It provides a habitat for various organisms and plays a role in nutrient cycling.
  4. Habitat: The specific place or type of environment where an organism or community of organisms lives. It includes both biotic and abiotic factors.
  5. Niche: The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its interactions with other organisms and its utilization of resources.
  6. Ecosystem: A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. It involves both biotic and abiotic components and the flow of energy and nutrients.
  7. Community: A group of populations of different species living in the same area and interacting with each other.
  8. Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area and capable of interbreeding.

Components of Ecosystem

  1. Biotic Components are the living components of an ecosystem. These factors include all living organisms and their interactions within a specific environment. Biotic factors play a crucial role in shaping the structure and dynamics of ecosystems. The following are categories of biotic factors

   - Producers (Autotrophs): Organisms capable of producing their own food through processes like photosynthesis. Examples include plants, algae, and some bacteria.

   - Consumers (Heterotrophs): Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms. Categories include herbivores (plant eaters), carnivores (meat eaters), and omnivores (eating both plants and animals).

   - Decomposers: Organisms that break down and decompose dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment. Examples include fungi and bacteria.

   - Detritivores: Organisms that feed on detritus (dead plant and animal matter). Examples include earthworms and some insects.

   - Scavengers: Animals that consume dead animals, helping in the decomposition process. Examples include vultures and hyenas.

  1. Abiotic components are the non-living factors that constitute the physical and chemical aspects of an ecosystem. These elements influence the structure and function of ecosystems and play a crucial role in shaping the distribution and behavior of living organisms. Categories of abiotic components include: Climate, Soil, Water, Sunlight, Topography, Atmosphere and geology.

EVALUATION: 1. What is ecology

  1. Mention 4 types of ecology
  2. Identify the two components of the ecosystem and give at least three examples each.

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively