Scribd
Upload
24 views

Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a structure consisting of living organisms that interact with each other and their non-living environment. It includes biotic components like producers, consumers and decomposers as well as abiotic components like air, water and nutrients. Ecosystems regulate ecological processes, support life and maintain stability through nutrient cycling, energy flow and decomposition.

Uploaded by

Ali Sani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
24 views

Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a structure consisting of living organisms that interact with each other and their non-living environment. It includes biotic components like producers, consumers and decomposers as well as abiotic components like air, water and nutrients. Ecosystems regulate ecological processes, support life and maintain stability through nutrient cycling, energy flow and decomposition.

Uploaded by

Ali Sani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology where the living


organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment. In other
words, an ecosystem is a chain of interactions between organisms and their
environment. The term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansley, an English
botanist, in 1935.
Structure of the Ecosystem:
The structure of an ecosystem is characterised by the organisation of both biotic
and abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in our
environment. It also includes the climatic conditions prevailing in that particular
environment.
The structure of an ecosystem can be split into two main components, namely:
Biotic Components
Abiotic Components
The biotic and abiotic components are interrelated in an ecosystem. It is an open
system where the energy and components can flow throughout the boundaries.
Biotic Components
Biotic components refer to all living components in an ecosystem. Based on
nutrition, biotic components can be categorised into autotrophs, heterotrophs and
saprotrophs (or decomposers).
Producers include all autotrophs such as plants. They are called autotrophs as they
can produce food through the process of photosynthesis. Consequently, all other
organisms higher up on the food chain rely on producers for food.
Consumers or heterotrophs are organisms that depend on other organisms for food.
Consumers are further classified into primary consumers, secondary consumers
and tertiary consumers.
Primary consumers are always herbivores as they rely on producers for food.
Secondary consumers depend on primary consumers for energy. They can either be
carnivores or omnivores.
Tertiary consumers are organisms that depend on secondary consumers for food.
Tertiary consumers can also be carnivores or omnivores.
Quaternary consumers are present in some food chains. These organisms prey on
tertiary consumers for energy. Furthermore, they are usually at the top of a food
chain as they have no natural predators.
Decomposers include saprophytes such as fungi and bacteria. They directly thrive
on the dead and decaying organic matter. Decomposers are essential for the
ecosystem as they help in recycling nutrients to be reused by plants.
Abiotic Components
Abiotic components are the non-living component of an ecosystem. It includes air,
water, soil, minerals, sunlight, temperature, nutrients, wind, altitude, turbidity, etc.
Functions of Ecosystem
The functions of the ecosystem are as follows:
It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and renders
stability.
It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic
components.
It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem.
It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components that involve
the exchange of energy.
So the functional units of an ecosystem or functional components that work
together in an ecosystem are:
Productivity – It refers to the rate of biomass production.
Energy flow – It is the sequential process through which energy flows from one
trophic level to another. The energy captured from the sun flows from producers to
consumers and then to decomposers and finally back to the environment.
Decomposition – It is the process of breakdown of dead organic material. The top-
soil is the major site for decomposition.
Nutrient cycling – In an ecosystem nutrients are consumed and recycled back in
various forms for the utilisation by various organisms.

Types of Ecosystem:
An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean,
spanning thousands of miles. There are two types of ecosystem:
a) Terrestrial Ecosystem b) Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem:
Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are different
types of terrestrial ecosystems distributed around various geological zones. They
are as follows:
Forest Ecosystem, Grassland Ecosystem, Tundra Ecosystem, Desert Ecosystem
Forest Ecosystem:
A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, particularly trees, animals and
microorganisms that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the
environment. Forests help in maintaining the temperature of the earth and are the
major carbon sink.
Grassland Ecosystem:
In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and herbs.
Temperate grasslands and tropical or savanna grasslands are examples of grassland
ecosystems.
Tundra Ecosystem:
Tundra ecosystems are devoid of trees and are found in cold climates or where
rainfall is scarce. These are covered with snow for most of the year. Tundra type of
ecosystem is found in the Arctic or mountain tops.
Desert Ecosystem:
Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with little rainfall and
scarce vegetation. The days are hot, and the nights are cold.
Aquatic Ecosystem:
Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water. These can be
further divided into two types, namely: Freshwater Ecosystem, Marine Ecosystem

Freshwater Ecosystem:
The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds,
rivers, streams and wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with the marine
ecosystem.
Marine Ecosystem:
The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans. These have a more substantial salt
content and greater biodiversity in comparison to the freshwater ecosystem.

Difference between:

.No
Aquatic Ecosystem Terrestrial Ecosystem
.

Aquatic ecosystem exists on Terrestrial ecosystem exists on


(i) water covering 71 % of the land covering 29% of the earth
earth surface. surface.

Aquatic animals use 20% of Terrestrial animals use only 1-2% of


(ii)
energy to obtain oxygen. energy to obtain oxygen.

In this ecosystem there is less


In this ecosystem there is
availability of water, greater
(iii) abundant of Water with limited
availability of gases and
oxygen supply
temperature fluctuation.

The primary producer is the plant


The small drifting
(iv) that produce food through
photosynthetic
photosynthetic process.
Aquatic environment is more Terrestrial environment is quite
stable with smaller fluctuation unstable as the land surface is
(v)
in temperature and other affected by great risks from external
variable. impacts.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy