ECOSYSTE
M
Ecology
All living organism, whether plant or animal or
human being is surrounded by the environment on which
it derive its needs for survival. Each living component
interacts with non-living components for their basic
requirements from different ecosystem.
Definition
Ecology is the study of interactions among
organism or group of organisms with their environment.
The environment consists of both biotic components and
abiotic components. Ecology is the study of ecosystems.
Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of
ecology. The term ecosystem is coined from a
Greek word meaning the study of home.
Definition
A group of organisms interacting among
themselves and with environment is known
ecosystem. Thus an ecosystem is a community
of different species interacting with one another
and with their nonliving environment exchanging
energy and matter.
Structure (or) Components of an
Ecosystem
The term structure refers to the various
components. So the structure of an ecosystem explains
the relationship between the abiotic and the biotic
components.
An ecosystem has two major components
• Biotic (living) components
Example: plants
animals
microorganisms
• Abiotic (nonliving) components
Example: climate
soil
water
ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE
● Producers/Autotrophs- normally
plants that capture the sun’s
energy, powering all other life on
Earth.
● Consumers/Heterotrophs- must
eat to get food
● Decomposer- bacterium, fungus,
etc. feeds on dead organisms from
all trophic levels, returning nutrients
to the soil
Important Ecological
Concepts
FOOD CHAIN
• The sun is the ultimate source of energy on earth. It provides energy required for all plant
life.
• The plants utilize this energy for the process of photosynthesis, which is used to
synthesize their food.
• During this biological process, light energy is converted into chemical energy and is
passed on through successive trophic levels.
• The flow of energy from a producer, to a consumer and eventually, to an apex predator or
a detritivore is called the food chain.
• Dead and decaying matter, along with organic debris, is broken down into its constituents
by scavengers.
• The reducers then absorb these constituents. After gaining the energy, the reducers
liberate molecules to the environment, which can be utilized again by the producers.
• Food chain shows a single item that an organism eat.
FOOD WEB
• It consists of many food chains.
• Unlike food chain, food web shows different paths of energy flow and multiple
items organisms eat
TYPES OF
ECOSYSTEM:
Natural ecosystems operate themselves under natural conditions. Based
on habitat types, it can further classified into three types:
[Link] ecosystem
- This ecosystems is related to land.
Ex. Grassland ecosystem, forest ecosystem, dessert ecosystem and etc.
2. Aquatic system
- This ecosystem is related to water. It is further sub classified
into two types based on salt content.
Three types of Aquatic
ecosystem:
1. FRESH WATER ECOSYSTEM
a. Running water ecosystems.
Examples: River and Streams
b. Standing water ecosystem
Examples: Pond and Lake
2. MARINE ECOSYSTEM
Examples: Seas and Sea shores
3. MAN – MADE OR ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEMS
- Artificial ecosystem is operated or maintained by man himself
Example: Croplands and Gardens
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