Ecosystem INTRODUCTION SS * Ecology (Gr. Oikos-house; Logos-study) _ Definition involves the study of inter-relationships of organisms with one another and with their orale 4 It at is 2 environment. elt -sustalne an unctiong unit of nature consisting of © In a given geographical area organisms demonstrate interspecific and intraspecific relationships for survival. Biotic community lives in an environment which fulfills its material and energy requirements too. Hence, living organisms and their biotic and abiotic factors, where the living organisms (biotic factors) interact among themselves and also with their physical environment (abiotic physical environment are in an inseparable factors): relationship. This relationship constitutes different ecosystems. * So ecosystem is the functional unit of z i @ iatiire Previous Year's Question ECOSYSTEM The maximum energy amongst * Sir Arthur Tansley coined the term ecosystems is contributed by ecosystem, () crops * Ecosystem is a self-sustained unit in which (2) forests living and non-living components interact (3) coal (4) fuel gas with each other, © Types of ecosystem Terrestrial Ecosystems! EOE Eee Get aes oom Note: Crop fields, orchards, gardens and Gray Matter Alertit! aquaria are some man-made ecosystems. Blogeacoanosls was the term used for ecosytem by Russian ecologist, Sukachev (1944). Ecosystems J Ecosystems* Components of an ecosystem [) Ecosystem Components @] ERIE [) Ablatic Components (| Een: ‘ a Gay ry (>) eae « > ee « Soars Mey penton Gants ECOSYSTEM: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION * The interaction of biotic and abiotic components results in a physical structure characteristic of each type of ecosystem, * The two important structural features of an ecosystem are: © Species composition © Stratification Sap * Species composition— All the plants, animals 4 Ca ceEED and microbial species present in the ecosystem. aN * Stratification— Itrefersto theverticaldistribution of different species occupying different levels in the ecosystem. * Stratification in a forest © Trees above 40 feet occupy the top vertical layer of a forest. © Trees of 20-40 feet an height constitute dense canopy layer and understorey layer. © Shrubs occupy the second layer. © Herbs and grasses occupy the bottom layer. * Stratification in a deep pond or a lake Derk :——) ‘© Littoral zone is represented by shallow water having rotten strata which help in thriving [) Decomposers (] cay fait co FIG. STRATIFICATION IN FOREST Stratification: It refers to the rooted plants. . vertical distribution of different © Limmetic zone occupies depth up to which species, occupying different light penetrates in water and has planktons, ietetetin an ecosyetern nektons and neustons.© Profundal zone is represented by the area where sunglight cannot penetrate. This zone lacks photosynthetic organisms. The mud contains only anaeboric bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms. Emergents Water surface Littoral’ zone Profundal zone (Anaerobic) FIG. STRATIFICATION IN A DEEP POND ORA LAKE. Note: In shallow ponds, vertical stratification is very little. Significance © Stratification increases the number of habitats which reduces interspecific competition. FUNCTIONS OF ECOSYSTEM Ecosystem performs four major functions like productivity, decomposition, energy flow and nutrient cycling. Productivity A constant input of solar energy is the basic requirement of any ecosystem to function and sustain. The biomass (organic matter) produced per unit area over a time period by plants Is expressed in terms of weight (¢2) or onergy (keal m”). Gray Matter Alertil! Ecosystems in the tropics, such as tropical rain forests, have most of the species of plants and animals. Previous Year’s Question @ Ecosystem consists of (1) decomposers (2) producers (3) consumers (4) all of these Definition eS Productivity: The rate of production of biomass, is called productivity,‘The rate of biomass production is called primary productivity and is expressed in terms of gyr"! or keal my". OF AN Primary productivity has two aspects Gross Primary Productivity (GPP or P,) is the rate of production of organic matter during photosynthesis. It is measured in terms of assimilation number Le. amount of CO, fixed by a gram of chlorophyll in an hour. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is the amount of energy available in the producers after utilisation of some energy for respiration, i.e., GPP-R = NPP (NPP is the amount of energy available in the producers for the consumption of herbivores). Factors affecting primary productivity © the plant species in a particular area © availability of nutrients © photosynthetic capacity of plants, and © environmental factors. The annual net primary productivity of the whole biosphere is approximately 170 billion tons (dry weight) of organic matter. Of this, the productivity of oceans is only 55 billion tons, while the rest is on land. MAJOR FUNCTIONS ECOSYSTEM Definition Primary Productivity: It is defined as the amount of biomass or organic matter produced per unit area over a time period by the plants during photosynthesis. Previous Year's Que: ion @ Decomposers are () Animalia and Monera (2) Protista and Monera (3) Fungi and Plantae (4) Bacteria and fungiSecondary productivity It is defined as the rate of assimilation and formation of new organic matter by consumers. It is of two types: © Gross secondary productivity is the amount of food consumed minus egested material. It varies for different consumers. © Net secondary productivity refers to rate of a resynthesized organic matter by the consumers. The average net productivity for all consumers is 10 per cent. So, it is low for herbivores and high for carnivores. Note: Community productivity It is the rate of net synthesis of organic matter (biomass) by a community per unit time and area, It is calculated as net primary production minus heterotrophic consumption during a specific period. Generally the entire growing season or year is considered. Decomposition Detritus is the raw material for decomposition. Following are the steps in the process of decomposition: Fragmentation It is the process of breaking of the detritus into smaller particles by detritivores. Leaching It is the process in which water-soluble inorganic substances run down into soil horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts. Catabolism The enzymatic conversion of the detritus into simple organic compounds and then into inorganic compounds, is called catabolism. The enzymes are secreted by the decomposers like bacteria and fungi. Definitions Definition Secondary Productivity: It is defined as the rate of assimilation and formation of new organic matter by consumers. Rack Your Brain @ Two types of food chains get connected when a woodpecker eats an earthworm. Justify. Decomposition: It is the process in which the complex organic matter is broken down into simpler organic substances and ultimately into inorganic compounds. Definition Detritus: The dead remains of the plants and animals and also the faecal matter, constitutes detritus. Detritivores: Detritivores are those organisms which feed on the detritus and break it down into smaller particles, eg., earthworm. 5.