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Seminar 1 - Ecosystems and Human Interference
Seminar 1 - Ecosystems and Human Interference
English 2
Department of Biology
autotrophic bacteria are chemosynthetic. They obtain energy by oxidising inorganic compounds
such as ammonia, nitrides, and sulphides, and they use this energy to synthesise organic
compounds. Chemosynthesizers have been found to support communities in some caves and also at
hydrothermal vents along deep-sea oceanic ridges.
Heterotrophs:
Heterotrophs need a performed source of organic nutrients. They are called consumers because they
consume food. Herbivores are animals that graze directly on plants or algae. In terrestrial habitats,
insects are small herbivores, while in aquatic habitats, zooplankton, such as protozoans, play that role.
Carnivores feed on other animals; birds that feed on insects are carnivores, and so are hawks that
feed on birds. This example allows us to mention that there are primary consumers (e.g. insects),
secondary consumers (e.g. birds), and tertiary consumers (e.g. hawks). Sometimes tertiary
consumers are called top predators. Omnivores are animals that feed on both plants and animals. As
you likely know, most humans are omnivores.
The decomposers are heterotrophic bacteria and fungi such as molds and mushrooms that break
down dead organic matter, including animal wastes. They perform a very valuable service because
they release inorganic nutrients that are then taken up by plants once more. Otherwise, plants would
have to wait for minerals to be released from rocks. Detritus is the remains of dead organisms plus
the bacteria and fungi of decay. Fanworms feed on detritus floating in marine waters, while clams take
it from the substratum. Earthworms and some beetles, termites, and maggots are soil detritus feeders.
VOCABULARY EXPLORATION
A. Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate word from the text.
a) The biosphere is that part of the 1) (crust), the 2) (gases), and the 3)
(water) that contains living things. Within the 4) , populations interact
among themselves and with the 5) (physical and chemical) environment.
b) The populations in the biotic community of an ecosystem are either 6)... or 7)
The first ones 8) organic nutrients and the second ones 9) organic nutrients.
c) Green plants and diatoms are 10) .
Giraffes and caterpillars are 11)
An osprey and a praying mantis are 12) .
Most human beings are 13) .
Mushrooms and bacteria are 14) .
2. tissue
3. substratum
4. weathering
d) an opening that allows air, gas or liquid to pass out of or into a place
5. humus
e)
6. matter
7. swamp
8. suspend
h) any animal that lives by preying on other animals from a lower trophic level
9. vent
i)
10. graze
j) the remains of
11. predator
k)
12. detritus
l) the natural processes by which the actions of atmospheric and other environmental
any group of cells of similar structure in animals or plants that performs a specific
function (e.g. muscles)
it includes all the organisms (the biotic component) and the non-living (or abiotic)
component of their environment within which they occur naturally
dead organisms
an area of ground that is very wet or covered with water in which plants are
growing
agent result in the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rock and
earth materials
Ca. Search in the text and find which words could be replaced by the following ones:
1. breathing
2. provides
3. protects
4. variety
5. richness
6. operate
7. prevailing
8. acquire
9. released
7.
8.
9.
D. The following text defines the term ecology, however the sentences are mixed up. Put the
sentences in order so that the text becomes coherent.
a. It was in 1866 when a German biologist and evolutionist Ernst Haackel (1834-1919) used the word oecology
to denote the study of organisms and their interactions with the world around them.
b. Ecology is the study of the relationships between living species and between them and their environment.
c. Fieldwork involves the collection of information to see what happens to particular species- such as population
numbers, diet, form, size, and behaviour, and their physical environment- such as the composition of rocks, soil,
air, and water.
d. As scientific discipline Ecology is relatively new. Ecologists study species in their natural context but they also
carry out laboratory studies and experiments.
e. Although Ecology is not primarily about solving environmental issues, ecologists are already proposing ways
of meeting human needs that are sympathetic to the environment, and drawing attention to ecological
implications of just about everything that humans do.
f. The data can be used to identify patterns and trends, and some of these can be tested in the laboratory.
g. He based it on the Greek word meaning household and Haackel clearly saw the living world as a
community in which each species had a role to play. The modern spelling of ecology was first used in 1893.
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E. Find the derivatives of the following words: Then create your own sentences with these.
noun
verb
dissipate
adjective
disintegrated
evolution
interact
involve
predator