Ecosystem

Symbiotic Relationships Observed

Description of Mechanism of Ecosystem

The ecosystem of Barangay Sta. Lucia is characteristic of that of  an urban ecosystem comprising buildings, structures, trees and greens which synthesizes human and natural habitats.  It is a community of plant species, animals and humans inhabiting urban space except that the natural system tends to be disrupted by: (1) disproportionate percentage-covers of building/non-trees versus trees/grass, and (2) human activities such as construction, garbage dumping and waste littering, burning of fossil fuels. Due to these, the landscape is altered, biodiversity is affected and the ecosystem becomes imbalanced. 

Despite the existence of environmental stresses on the components of such urban ecosystem, green spaces while limited depict life as well.  A possible keystone species in this ecosystem are butterflies which can effectively pollinate just like bees.  Butterflies like to perch on larger flower heads when they hunt nectar, collecting pollen on their legs and body as they search for food. The legs and the butterfly’s proboscis are longer and farther away from the flower’s pollen so less pollen collects on its body parts than it does on bees, but still they are very effective pollinators.

Many of the plant species observed in Barangay Sta. Lucia bear flowers, thus pollinators, i.e. butterflies and bees, play an important role in the continuance of the species’ life cycle, as well as sustaining biodiversity.