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Understanding Ecosystems and Succession

The document defines ecosystems as functional units of nature where living organisms interact with their environment, highlighting the types of ecosystems and the concept of climax communities. It discusses ecological succession, including primary and secondary succession, and outlines the nutrient cycle and ecosystem services that benefit humanity. Additionally, it mentions newly discovered species in various ecosystems and emphasizes the importance of ecosystem services, valued at approximately $33 trillion annually.

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5 views4 pages

Understanding Ecosystems and Succession

The document defines ecosystems as functional units of nature where living organisms interact with their environment, highlighting the types of ecosystems and the concept of climax communities. It discusses ecological succession, including primary and secondary succession, and outlines the nutrient cycle and ecosystem services that benefit humanity. Additionally, it mentions newly discovered species in various ecosystems and emphasizes the importance of ecosystem services, valued at approximately $33 trillion annually.

Uploaded by

cargha440
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

British ecologist Arthur Tansley first defined the term Ecosystem.

ECOSYSTEM :- the functional unit of nature, where living organisms interact


among themselves and with the surrounding physical environment.

Types of Ecosystems

New Species Discovered in Different Ecosystems:

· Pinocchio: long nosed frog found in Indonesia

· Bald headed parrot in Amazon

· Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta) near Easter islands.

Structure of Ecosystems

An Ecosystem has two components:

· Biotic components and

· Abiotic components

It does NOT accommodate food webs.

Saprophytes (decomposers) are NOT given any place in the ecosystem.

Climax Community:

Changes that lead finally to a community that is in near equilibrium with the
environment.

It remains stable as long as the environment remains unchanged.

The Rainforest is an example of climax community ecosystem.

Ecological Succession:

Refers to predictable and orderly change in the composition or structure of a


community.
May be initiated either by formation of new, unoccupied habitat or by some
form of disturbance of an existing community.

Sere – entire sequence of community that successively change in a given


area.

Seral stages – individual transitional communities.

Seral Communities:

Hydrosere – Community in freshwater

Lithosere – Community on rock

Pssamosere – Community on sand

Halosere – Community in saline body

Xerosere – Community in dry area

Primary Succession

If the development begins on an area that has not been previously occupied
by a community.

Pioneer species – lichens, phytoplankton, etc.

Examples:

- newly exposed rock or sand surface

- a lava flow

- glacial tills

- newly formed lake,

Secondary Succession

If the community development is proceeding in an area from which a


community was removed.

Pioneer species – grasses, wildflowers, algae.

Examples:
- an abandoned crop field

- cut-over forest

- natural forces such as wind storms and floods

Succession in Plants:

Hydrarch succession

It takes place in wetter areas and the successional series progress from
hydric to the mesic conditions.

Phytoplankton in pond -> Submerged plant stage-> Submerged free floating


plant stage -> Reed – swamp stage -> Marsh – meadow stage – scrub stage -
> Forest

Xerarch succession

It takes place in dry areas and the series progress from xeric to mesic
condition.

Bare rock -> Lichens and mosses -> Annual grasses -> Perennial grasses ->
Shrubs -> Tall Trees

The Nutrient Cycle

Also known as biogeochemical cycle.

Environmental factors like soil, moisture, temperature, etc. regulate the rate
of release of nutrients into the atmosphere.

Standing state – amount of nutrients, such as C, N, P, Ca, etc. present in the


soil at any given time.

Nutrients are never lost from the ecosystem; they are recycled time an again
indefinitely.

There are two types:

- Gaseous cycle
- Sedimentary cycle

Ecosystem Services

Humankind benefits from a multitude of resources and processes that are


supplied by natural ecosystems. Collectively, these benefits are known as
ecosystem services.

Purify air and water

Decomposition of waste materials

Cycle nutrients

Pollinate crops

Maintain biodiversity

Researchers have put an average price tag of US $33 trillion a year on these
fundamental ecosystems services, which is largely taken for granted because
they are free.

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