An ecosystem

An ecosystem is defined as a community of lifeforms in concurrence with non-living components,

interacting with each other.

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:

Terrestrial Ecosystem
Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are different types of terrestrial
ecosystems distributed around various geological zones.

Aquatic Ecosystem
Aquatic system are ecosystems present in a body of water.

Freshwater Ecosystem
Marine Ecosystem
The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and
wetlands.The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans.

Ecosystem Definition
“An ecosystem is defined as a community of lifeforms in concurrence with non-living components,
interacting with each other.”

What is an Ecosystem?
The ecosystem is the 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.

Read on to explore the structure, components, types and functions of the ecosystem in the ecosystem
notes provided below.

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:

Terrestrial Ecosystem
Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are different types of terrestrial
ecosystems distributed around various geological zones. They are as follows:

Forest Ecosystems
Grassland Ecosystems
Tundra Ecosystems
Desert Ecosystem
Forest Ecosystem
A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, 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,
savanna grasslands are some of the 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. The ecosystem in the Arctic or mountain tops is
tundra type.

Desert Ecosystem
Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with very little rainfall. 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.

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 life 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 that they rely on producers for food.
Secondary consumers depend on primary consumers for energy. They can either be a carnivore or an
omnivore.
Tertiary consumers are organisms that depend on secondary consumers for food. Tertiary consumers
can also be an omnivore.
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 involves 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.
Important Ecological Concepts
1. Food Chain
The sun is the ultimate source of energy on earth. It provides the energy required for all plant life. The
plants utilise this energy for the process of photosynthesis, which is used to synthesise their food.

During this biological process, light energy is converted into chemical energy and is passed on through
successive levels. The flow of energy from a producer, to a consumer and eventually, to an apex
predator or a detritivore is called the food chain.

Dead and decaying matter, along with organic debris, is broken down into its constituents by
scavengers. The reducers then absorb these constituents. After gaining the energy, the reducers
liberate molecules to the environment, which can be utilised again by the producers.

2. Ecological Pyramids
An ecological pyramid is the graphical representation of the number, energy, and biomass of the
successive trophic levels of an ecosystem. Charles Elton was the first ecologist to describe the
ecological pyramid and its principals in 1927.

The biomass, number, and energy of organisms ranging from the producer level to the consumer level
are represented in the form of a pyramid; hence, it is known as the ecological pyramid.

The base of the ecological pyramid comprises the producers, followed by primary and secondary
consumers. The tertiary consumers hold the apex. In some food chains, the quaternary consumers are
at the very apex of the food chain.
The producers generally outnumber the primary consumers and similarly, the primary consumers
outnumber the secondary consumers. And lastly, apex predators also follow the same trend as the
other consumers; wherein, their numbers are considerably lower than the secondary consumers.

For example, Grasshoppers feed on crops such as cotton and wheat, which are plentiful. These
grasshoppers are then preyed upon by common mice, which are comparatively less in number. The
mice are preyed upon by snakes such as cobras. Snakes are ultimately preyed on by apex predators
such as the brown snake eagle.

In essence:

Grasshopper →Mice→ Cobra → Brown Snake Eagle

3. Food Web
Food web is a network of interconnected food chains. It comprises all the food chains within a single
ecosystem. It helps in understanding that plants lay the foundation of all the food chains. In a marine
environment, phytoplankton forms the primary producer.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the ecosystem?
The ecosystem is the community of living organisms in conjunction with non-living components of
their environment, interacting as a system.

2. What are the different types of ecosystems?

The different types of the ecosystem include:

Terrestrial ecosystem
Forest ecosystem
Grassland ecosystem
Desert ecosystem
Tundra ecosystem
Freshwater ecosystem
Marine ecosystem
3. What are the functional components of an ecosystem?

The four main components of an ecosystem are:

(i) Productivity
(ii) Decomposition
(iii) Energy flow
(iv) Nutrient cycling

4. Which ecosystem do we live in?

We live in a terrestrial ecosystem. This is the ecosystem where organisms interact on landforms.
Examples of terrestrial ecosystems include tundra, taigas, and tropical rainforests. deserts, grasslands
and temperate deciduous forests also constitute terrestrial ecosystems.

5. What is the structure of the ecosystem?

The structure of the ecosystem includes the organisms and physical features of the environment,
including the amount and distribution of nutrients in a particular habitat. It also provides information
regarding the climatic conditions of that area.

6. Which is the largest ecosystem in the world?

The largest ecosystem in the world is the aquatic ecosystem. It comprises freshwater and marine
ecosystems. It constitutes 70% of the surface of the earth.

7. What is the major function of an ecosystem?

The ecosystem is the functional unit of the environment system. The abiotic components provide the
matrix for the synthesis of organic components. This process involves the exchange of energy.
8. What makes a good ecosystem?
A good ecosystem consists of native plants and animal species interacting with each other and the
environment. A healthy ecosystem has an energy source and the decomposers that break down dead
plants and animal matter, returning essential nutrients to the soil.

9. What all include the non-living things in an ecosystem?

The non-living things in an ecosystem include air, wind, water, rocks, soil, temperature and sunlight.
These are known as the abiotic factors of an ecosystem.

Types of Ecosystem: Grassland, Forest, Desert and Cropland Ecosystem

Types of Ecosystem: Grassland, Forest, Desert and Cropland Ecosystem!1. Grassland
Ecosystem:Grasslands occupy about 19% of the earth’s surface. The major grassland ecosystems of the
world are the great plains of Canada and United States, S. Argentina to Brazil and S. Asia to Central
Asia.
The various components of a grassland ecosystem are as follows—

1. Abiotic substances:

These include the nutrients present in the soil and the aerial environment. The elements required by
plants are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulphur. These are supplied by the soil and air
in the form of CO2, water, nitrates, phosphates and sulphates. In addition to these some trace elements
are also present in the soil.

2. Primary producers:

These are mainly grasses of the family, Graminae, a large variety of herbs, some shrubs and scattered
trees.

3. Consumers:

Herbivores such as grazing mammals (e.g., cows, sheep, deer, rabbit, buffaloes, etc), insects (e.g.,
Dysdercus, Coccinella, Leptocorisa, etc), some termites and millipedes are the primary consumers.

The animals like fox, jackals, snakes, frogs, lizard, birds etc., are the carnivores feeding on the
herbivores. These are the secondary consumers of the grassland ecosystem. Hawks occupy the tertiary
trophic level as these feed on the secondary consumers.

4. Decomposers:

These include bacteria of death and decay, moulds and fungi (e.g., Mitcor, Penicillium, Aspergillus,
Rhizopus, etc). These bring the minerals back to the soil to be available to the producers again.

2. The Forest Ecosystem:

Forests occupy roughly 40% of the total land. In India about l/10th of the total area is under forests.
Depending on climatic conditions the forests have been divided into four categories—

1. Tropical forests
2. Subtropical forests
3. Temperate forests
4. Alpine forests

All the above types of forests have their own typical fauna and flora. The chief components of a forest
ecosystem are as follows—

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1. Abiotic substances:

1. In addition to minerals present in the soil, the forest floor is rich in dead and decaying organic
matter.

2. Primary producers:

The dominant producers of the forest ecosystem are the higher forms of the plant kingdom, most
specifically seed bearing plants. In forest ecosystem, the producers form three major functions. First,
they provide the initial source of food. Second, large plant structures provide habitats for other
organisms. Third, they are prime agents in soil formation and in modifying the abiotic environment.

The forest ecosystem is directly dependent upon the kinds and number of plants present. The plants are
mainly trees, some shrubs and ground vegetation.

The evergreen tropical forests have broad leaved trees with irregular leaf fall. The temperate deciduous
forests are dominated by pines with needle-like leaves. At the lower level of such forests are found
only shade tolerant plants such as ferns and shrubs. The other forms of tropical evergreen forests are
the vines and the epiphytes.

3. Primary consumers:

These are the herbivores that include the foliage arthropods such as ants, flies, beetles, leaf-hoppers,
bugs and spiders, etc. and the larger animals grazing on shoots and fruits such as elephants, nilgai, deer,
moles, squirrels, shrews, flying foxes, fruit bats and mongooses, etc.

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4. Secondary consumers:

These are the carnivores like snakes, birds, lizards and foxes feeding on herbivores. The top carnivores
like lion, tiger, etc, prey upon both herbivores and carnivores of the secondary consumer level.

5. Decomposers:

The decomposers of the forest ecosystem, as in other ecosystem, are the bacteria and fungi. These
organisms obtain energy to carry on the life functions by breaking down the organic compounds of
dead organic matter and organic wastes. In doing so, they prevent the accumulation of organic matter
and also release the essential minerals for reuse. Decomposers are mostly found in soil and bacteria are
represented by the numerous heterotrophic.

3. The Desert Ecosystem:

The deserts occupy about 17% of the land and occur in the regions with an average rainfall of less than
23 cm. Due to extreme of temperature, the species composition of desert ecosystem is less varied and
typical. The various components of a desert ecosystem are—

1. Producers:

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The shrubs, bushes, grasses and some trees are the main producers in deserts. The shrubs have
extensive and much branched root system with the stems and leaves variously modified. Some
succulent cacti are also found in deserts. These store water in their stem to be used during the time of
water scarcity. Some lower plants such as lichens, xerophytic mosses and blue green algae are also
found there.
2. Consumers:

Only a few animals are found in deserts. The most common animals are those reptiles and insects
which are able to live under xeric conditions. Mammals are represented by a few species of nocturnal
rodents. Some birds are present. The camel, called the ship of desert, feeds on tender shoots of the
plants and conserves large quantities of water in its stomach. The larger animals including carnivores
are scarce. The desert animals have various morphological and physiological adaptations which enable
them to live in such extreme environment.

3. Decomposers:

Due to poor vegetation and less amount of dead organic matter decomposers are few. They are
thermophilic fungi and bacteria.

4. The Cropland Ecosystem:

This is manmade ecosystem. Man has been doing his best in modifying the croplands to get maximum
benefit out of them. A cropland ecosystem may be illustrated by crops like wheat, maize, rice,
sugarcane etc. It has following components.

1. Producers:

A crop along with the weeds growing in the field are the producers of a cropland ecosystem. In the
cropland ecosystem of maize, weeds like Cynodon dactylon, Euphorbia hirta, Alysicarpus, Launea
nudicairlis are very common.

2. Consumers:

Herbivores are the primary consumers of the cropland ecosystem. These include rats, rabbits, birds,
man and insects. The second order and the third order consumers are represented by frogs, snakes,
birds such as hawk etc.

3. Decomposers and transformers:

Bacteria and fungi like Bacillus, Aspergillus, Clostridium, Agaricus, Mucor., Aspergillus and Fusarium
are common decomposers and transformers of cropland ecosystem of maize.

Habitat is a part of an ecosystem. The climate, plants, and animals are the identities of a habitat.
Ecosystems primarily have two domains:

Terrestrial or Land ecosystem

Aquatic or Water ecosystem.
Water supports many lives. Organisms which survive in water are called aquatic organisms. They
depend on water for their food, shelter, reproduction and all other life activities.

An aquatic ecosystem includes a group of interacting organisms which are dependent on one another
and their water environment for nutrients and shelter. Examples of aquatic ecosystem include oceans,
lakes and rivers.

An aquatic ecosystem includes freshwater habitats like lakes, ponds, rivers, oceans and streams,
wetlands, swamp, etc. and marine habitats include oceans, intertidal zone, reefs, seabed and so on. The
aquatic ecosystem is the habitat for water-dependent living species including animals, plants, and
microbes.

Types of Aquatic Ecosystem

Freshwater Aquatic Ecosystem
They cover only a small portion of earth nearly 0.8 per cent. Freshwater involves lakes, ponds, rivers
and streams, wetlands, swamp, bog and temporary pools. Freshwater habitats are classified into lotic
and lentic habitats. Water bodies such as lakes, ponds, pools, bogs, and other reservoirs are standing
water and known as lentic habitats. Whereas lotic habitats represent flowing water bodies such as
rivers, streams.

Lotic Ecosystems
They mainly refer to the rapidly flowing waters that move in a unidirectional way including the rivers
and streams. These environments harbor numerous species of insects such as beetles, mayflies,
stoneflies and several species of fishes including trout, eel, minnow, etc. Apart from these aquatic
species, these ecosystems also include various mammals such as beavers, river dolphins and otters.

Lentic Ecosystems
They include all standing water habitats. Lakes and ponds are the main examples of Lentic Ecosystem.
The word lentic mainly refers to stationary or relatively still water. These ecosystems are home to
algae, crabs, shrimps, amphibians such as frogs and salamanders, for both rooted and floating-leaved
plants and reptiles including alligators and other water snakes are also found here.

Wetlands
Wetlands are marshy areas and are sometimes covered in water which has a wide diversity of plants
and animals. Swamps, marshes, bogs, black spruce and water lilies are some examples in the plant
species found in the wetlands. The animal life of this ecosystem consists of dragonflies and
damselflies, birds such as Green Heron and fishes such as Northern Pike.

Marine Aquatic Ecosystem

Marine ecosystem covers the largest surface area of the earth. Two third of earth is covered by water
and they constitute of oceans, seas, intertidal zone, reefs, seabed, estuaries, hydrothermal vents and
rock pools. Each life form is unique and native to its habitat. This is because they have adaptations
according to their habitat. In the case of aquatic animals, they can’t survive outside of water.
Exceptional cases are still there which shows another example of adaptations (e.g. mudskippers). The
marine ecosystem is more concentrated with salts which make it difficult for freshwater organisms to
live in. Also, marine animals cannot survive in freshwater. Their body is adapted to live in saltwater; if
they are placed in less salty water, their body will swell (osmosis).

Ocean Ecosystems
Our planet earth is gifted with the five major oceans, namely Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and the Atlantic
Ocean. Among all these five oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic are the largest and deepest ocean.
These oceans serve as a home to more than five lakh aquatic species. Few creatures of these
ecosystems include shellfish, shark, tube worms, crab small and large ocean fishes, turtles, crustaceans,
blue whale, reptiles, marine mammals, seabirds, plankton, corals and other ocean plants.

Coastal Systems
They are the open systems of land and water which are joined together to form the coastal ecosystems.
The coastal ecosystems have a different structure, and diversity. A wide variety of species of aquatic
plants and algae are found at the bottom of the coastal ecosystem. The fauna is diverse and it mainly
consists of crabs, fish, insects, lobsters snails, shrimp, etc.

Plants and animals in an aquatic ecosystem show a wide variety of adaptations which may involve life
cycle, physiological, structural and behavioural adaptations. Majority of aquatic animals are
streamlined which helps them to reduce friction and thus save energy. Fins and gills are the locomotors
and respiratory organs respectively. Special features in freshwater organisms help them to drain excess
water from the body. Aquatic plants have different types of roots which help them to survive in water.
Some may have submerged roots; some have emergent roots or maybe floating plants like water
hyacinths.