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 [Link], an
English botanist, in 1935.
Read on to explore the structure, components, types and functions of the ecosystem in the notes
provided below.
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:
1.
1. It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and
renders stability.
2. It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic
components.
3. It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem.
4. It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
5. 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.