Ecosystem: protozoa and mammals.

An ecosystem has three main components working together. The abiotic component includes non-living things like soil, water, air, and sunlight that support life. The biotic component consists of all living organisms, which we divide further. Producers are plants that make their own food using sunlight. Consumers eat other organisms—herbivores eat plants while carnivores eat meat. Decomposers like bacteria break down dead matter and return nutrients to soil.

In a Nigerian savanna ecosystem, grass is a producer, a grasshopper is a primary consumer, and a lion is a secondary consumer. Protozoa like amoeba act as decomposers in water, breaking down organic matter. Mammals like antelopes and hyenas also play important roles as consumers, maintaining ecosystem balance through predator-prey relationships.

Ecological factors are environmental conditions that affect how organisms live and survive in their habitats. These include light, temperature, water, soil, and air. Each factor plays a specific role in supporting life. For instance, plants need sunlight to make food through photosynthesis, while both protozoa and mammals need water to survive. Temperature determines which organisms can live in particular areas—this is why you find different animals in the Sahara Desert compared to the rainforests of Cross River State.

In Nigeria's Lagos Lagoon, fish and protozoa thrive because of the right balance of salinity, temperature, and oxygen levels in the water. When these ecological factors change, organisms must adapt or relocate. Understanding how ecological factors influence protozoa and mammals helps us predict population changes and manage our natural resources better.