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BIOLOGY
Name
Course
Date
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Discussion 1
Humans and the ecosystem
Introduction
In biology, the ecosystem is one of the most important fields in studying and understanding the
functions and relationships of living things. Ecosystem refers to the community of both living
and non-living organisms as well as the much interactions between them. All human beings have
many relationships with other living organisms given that they are also living things and are
composed of cycle nutrients and cells. They also share characteristics with other living
organisms such ass growth and development, homeostasis, reproduction, sensitivity as well as
energy changes in their bodies. As a result of these related properties, there is a huge correlation
between human beings and the environment such that human beings are highly influenced by the
environmental factors surrounding them. It also good to note that this variation in the
environment is influenced by the ecosystem itself with much dependence on other living and
nonliving organisms.
Relationship between humans and the ecosystem
However, in the entire ecosystem, living and non-living organisms influence each other through
various ways such as the energy flow throughout the entire ecosystem. The ecosystems among
the living and nonliving things are facilitated by the recurrent energy and nutrient cycles which
are acquired from other external sources. During the first level of this energy cycle, plants, algae,
and certain bacteria use the energy from the sun for photosynthesis whereby they produce
specific organic material. On the other hand, it’s good to note that these living things in the first
energy cycle are known as the primary producers (In Mooney & In Zavaleta, E. (2016). The
organic plant produced by the primary consumers is them consumed by animals that solely feed
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on plants which are commonly known as herbivorous in the second energy cycle (second trophic
level). These animals are the secondary consumers. In the third trophic level, these herbivorous
are consumed by the predators whereby the presence of large predators represent higher levels of
trophic.
In this case, decomposers are the fungi, worms, insects and bacteria which breaks down the
wastes from these energy cycles and dead living organisms such that the nutrients present are
returned to the soil. Low energy transfer rate between these trophic levels shows the importance
of decomposers over other producers in facilitating the flow of energy since they produce a huge
amount of organic plant material and take nutrients back to the ecosystem. The following is the
energy flow diagram in an ecosystem;
Heat
Sun
Producers
Inorganic
nutrient
pool
Heat
Consumers
Decomposers
Heat
A human body comprises of many organs all necessary for human survival is a good example of
an ecosystem. All these organs contribute to the main goals which are survival and adaptation
just like the main components of the ecosystem contribute towards the main goal which is the
energy flow (UN-Water, 2016). The human body is a home for many bacteria whereby the
human body is known to host prokaryotic cells ten times more than the commonly expected
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eukaryotic cells. Particularly, a human being’s mouth carry up to 400 unidentified and identified
bacteria species where some of these bacteria are beneficial to the human being in consideration.
A good example of this case is the gut digestion-aiding bacteria which produce vital vitamins
used by the body of a human being.
However, a human body contain bacteria which are in an ecological community which make
community ecology principles more crucial in understanding how bacteria live in our bodies
whether they are harmful or not. All their species adapt to the ecological niche and the entire
human body and they also exist in a manner that encourages ecological balance. It’s this balance
that slows down pathogens invasion (Hassan, 2016). It’s good to note that this invasion
encourages competition for space and nutrients between the invading bacteria and the resident
one which is responsible for antimicrobial proteins production required in related species’
growth.
On the other hand, it’s also good to note that diseases that affect the human body are caused by
shifts in micro biota mix experienced when normal flora is disrupted. A good example of this
scenario is the effects of using broad spectrum antibiotics that decrease the amount of bacteria
present in a human body’s colon. In this case, the growth of clostridium difficult is spurred
which is not acceptable since the ecological balance is not efficiently enhanced as their presence
should be in low amounts. The effects on the human body are therefore experienced in the colon
lining since this bacterium produce harmful toxins. Although few individuals normally host this
microbe mix, other bacteria normal levels ensure that the amount of clostridium difficile is kept
low. Super infections only occurs when this balance in bacterial amounts is altered.
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Conclusion
The human body is made up of several organs where each organ has its own unique
responsibilities depending on its location on the body. The skin has the niche to detect
temperature variations in the environment surrounding the human body. A good example of an
urbanized city in the United States is the New York City. This urbanization has made coyotes
roam the city streets as well as other charismatic wild species. Human beings should other
species habitats by providing them with alternative habitats such a game parks and other habitats.
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Discussion 2
Early childhood development
Introduction
Early childhood refers to the period between the prenatal development of a child and his eighth
birthday. This is a critical time since a child’s experience at this time serves as the main
foundation platform for the rest of his life. During early childhood development, a child’s
physical, health, language and social aspects highly influence the child’s economic participation.
School success, health, basic learning as well as social citizenry. As a result of the basic impact
early childhood development has on the entire life of a human being, professions in this field are
supposed to play their roles with great care and dedication.
The classroom and outdoor play environment
The key professionals in this field are the teachers and the whole process takes place in a
classroom. It’s good to note that in the classroom environment, the teacher should implement the
following activities so that the desired goals of childhood development are met. The teacher
should play the role of a guide to the children in the classroom and should, therefore, work hand
in hand with the children so that the set goals are realized (McCartney & Phillips, 2014). The
professional should become a partner in learning and has a responsibility to encourage children
to determine their answers such that the children learn and share experiences with the teacher in
the classroom. An early childhood education teacher should also support learning. He or she
should ensure that all learning materials that children find engaging are available in the
classroom and these materials should be interesting to the children such that they will develop an
interest in learning since it will be fun and easy.
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On the other hand, a teacher should also nurture children in all ways of development such as
cognitive, physical and social aspects. He should also take a time to listen to the children while
in the classroom as well as actions and words interpretation. He should also communicate with
all the stakeholders in the education sectors including parents, the general public as well as
support staff on a child’s progress in the classroom. The components of early childhood
development include these stakeholders in the field of education. Playing is also important since
children are able to exercise and relieve classrooms stress they might have. It also encourages
proper physical growth. All these activities will adhere to nature, experience and think as
Rousseau, Dewey and Piaget's theories explain.
The current theories of early childhood development enhance math and science as well as young
children’s development. A child’s movement and experiences accumulate and build the
knowledge’s building blocks commonly known as concepts. A healthy child, therefore, changes
concrete materials in their daily activities by collecting data and the repeated exposer of finding
out the order of this data. This child’s determined order creates the basis under which the child
develops concepts. It's common knowledge that young children copy scientists naturally thereby
learning huge amounts of information on a daily basis when they move and explore the world.
Despite the absence of flash cards and well-structured lessons at school, a child learns and
understands the science and mathematics fundamental concepts from each movement,
impression as well as the actions he makes (Palaiologou, 2013). However, research has proved
that science and mathematics lessons can affect efficient brain development which actually
influence concept development.
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Conclusion
Due to the effects mathematics and science have on young children, greater mathematics and
science integration in early childhood development is key. The types of opportunities and
amounts should be regulated to suit the capabilities of the young children. It should also much
the children’s brain capacity with proper learning materials in place. Additional professions
should also be added to this field so that they are enough to address all the children’s welfare.
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References
In Mooney, H. A., & In Zavaleta, E. (2016). Ecosystems of California
UN-Water, (2016).Water and jobs.
Hassan, R. M, (2016). Ecosystems and human well-being: Current state and trends : findings of
the Condition and Trends Working Group. Washington, DC: Island Press.
McCartney, K., & Phillips, D. (2014). Blackwell handbook of early childhood development.
Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Palaiologou, I. (2013). Child Observation for the Early Years: 9780857257451.