Ecosystem
SHORT NOTES
INTRODUCTION Accumulation of dark, amorphous humus
Ecosystem is a functional unit of nature. which is highly resistant to microbial action.
Humification
Forest, grassland and desert are terrestrial ecosystems. Humus undergoes decomposition at an
Pond, lake, wetland, river and estuary are aquatic. extremely slow rate in soil.
Crop fields and an aquarium are man-made ecosystems. Humus is further degraded by microbes to
Mineralisation
release inorganic nutrients.
ECOSYSTEM-STRUCTURE
Stratification: Vertical distribution of different species occupying ENERGY FLOW
different levels, like trees at top vertical strata, shrubs second and Unidirectional from sun to producers and then to consumers.
herbs and grasses occupy bottom layers.
TROPHIC LEVELS IN AN ECOSYSTEM
ECOSYSTEM-FUNCTIONS Amount of energy decreases at successive trophic levels.
Only 10% of the energy is transferred to each trophic level
Productivity
from the lower trophic level (10% Law).
Primary production: Amount of biomass or organic matter
Tertiary Fourth trophic level (T4) Man, lion Large fishes
produced per unit area over a time period by plants during consumer (secondary carnivores)
HETEROTROPH
photosynthesis.
Expressed in terms of weight (gm–2) or energy (K cal m–2).
Secondary Third trophic level (T3) Birds, wolf Fishes
Rate of biomass production is productivity, expressed as gm–2 consumer (primary carnivores)
yr–1 or (K cal m–2) yr–1. It can be divided into:
(i) Gross primary productivity (GPP): Rate of production Primary Second trophic level (T2) Insects, birds, Zooplanktons,
consumer (herbivores) mammals molluscs
of organic matter during photosynthesis.
(ii) Net primary productivity (NPP): Available biomass Primary First trophic level (T1) Herbaceous, Algae,
for the consumption to heterotrophs (herbivores and producer
(green plants) woody plants phytoplanktons
Autotrophs
decomposers). and higher plants
NPP = GPP - R (respirator loss)
DETRITUS FOOD CHAIN GRAZING FOOD CHAIN
Varies in different ecosystems: P Begins with dead organic P Sun is the source of energy.
Annual net primary productivity of whole biosphere is matter. P Autotrophs assimilate food
approximately = 170 billion tons (dry wt.) of organic P Made up of decomposers using simple inorganic
matter. which are heterotrophic materials and radiant solar
Productivity of oceans (70% of surface) = 55 billion tons, organisms, mainly fungi energy.
rest is on land. and bacteria. P The energy flows from
Secondary productivity: Rate of formation of new organic P Present in a terrestrial autotrophs to heterotrophs
matter by consumers. ecosystem. as per the law of
thermodynamics.
DECOMPOSITION P Present in an aquatic
Breakdown of complex organic matter into inorganic ecosystem.
substances like CO2, water and nutrients.
ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
Raw material: Detritus, i.e., dead plant remains like leaves, bark,
Food or energy relationship between organisms at different trophic
flowers and dead remains of animals, including fecal matter.
levels is expressed in terms of number, biomass or energy.
DECOMPOSITION Three types of ecological pyramids are usually studied:
(a) pyramid of number (b) pyramid of biomass (c) pyramid
Break down of detritus into smaller particles of energy.
Fragmentation
by detritivores (e.g., earthworm). Pyramid of energy is always upright.
Water soluble inorganic nutrients go down It assumes a simple food chain that never exists in nature. It
Leaching into the soil horizon and get precipitated as does not accommodate a food web.
unavailable salts. Saprophytes are not given any place in ecological pyramids
even though they play a vital role in the ecosystem.
Bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade Pyramid of Number
Catabolism
detritus into simpler inorganic substances.
Upright in most ecosystems.