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Ecosystem

An ecosystem is formed by the interactions between organisms and their environment, exemplified by marine ecosystems like oceans. The structure of an ecosystem includes its organisms, physical features, and climatic conditions, while ecological pyramids illustrate the energy flow and relationships between different trophic levels. Biomass decreases as one moves up the trophic levels, with only 10% to 20% of biomass transferred from one level to the next.

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4 views48 pages

Ecosystem

An ecosystem is formed by the interactions between organisms and their environment, exemplified by marine ecosystems like oceans. The structure of an ecosystem includes its organisms, physical features, and climatic conditions, while ecological pyramids illustrate the energy flow and relationships between different trophic levels. Biomass decreases as one moves up the trophic levels, with only 10% to 20% of biomass transferred from one level to the next.

Uploaded by

aghlk12
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ecosystem

It is the result of interactions


between organisms and the
environment.

For example: an ocean classified


as a marine ecosystem which
consists of algae, consumer and
decomposers.

 A cycle occurs in this


ecosystem that begins with
algae converting energy via
photosynthesis.
Structure of Ecosystem:

 The structure of an ecosystem is basically a description of the organisms and physical


features of environment including the amount and distribution of nutrients in a particular
habitat.

 It also provides information regarding the range of climatic conditions prevailing in the area.

It includes:
 Inorganic aspects- C, N, CO2, H2O
 Organic compound- protein, carbohydrate, lipids
 Climatic regime- temperature, light, moisture, etc.
 Producers- plants
 Consumers- animals
 Decomposer- microorganism, fungi
• Ecological pyramid is a graphical representation showing the relationship between
different organisms in the ecosystem.
• It shows the flow of energy at different trophic level in the ecosystem.

• Pyramid of energy is a type of ecological pyramid that is always upright.


• This is due to the fact that during the flow of energy from one trophic level to the other, some
energy is always lost as heat in each step.
Importance of ecological pyramid

• They show the feeding of different organisms in different ecosystem


• It shows the efficiency of energy transfer.
• The conditions of ecosystem can be monitored and any further damage can be
prevented
It is the relationship between different trophic levels of a food chain
with respect to the number of individuals

Fig: Aquatic ecosystem


 The total energy at successive trophic levels of
a food chain is represented by the pyramid
energy.
 It starts with producers at the base and
successive trophic levels are arranged one
above the other.
 As we know, the transfer of energy from one
trophic level to the next higher trophic level of
a food chain, follows 2nd law of energy
transfer.
 Thus, the energy content keeps reducing at
successive trophic levels as we go from the
base of the pyramid to its apex.
Pyramid of biomass
Biomass represents the total mass of living organisms of a
population present at a given time at a given area.
Or
Biomass is the amount per unit area product of the living material
existing in an individual or a number of individuals at in particular
trophic level

The pyramid of biomass represents the biomass of successive trophic


levels of an ecosystem, arranged in the form of a pyramid with the
lowest trophic level at the base and going higher up.

There is always a reduction of biomass with an increase in trophic level.

Approximately 10% to 20% of the biomass is passed from one trophic


level to the other.

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