Unit 2 Ecosystems

Definition, concept, Structure and function of ecosystem;

Energy flow in an ecosystem: food chains, food webs and ecological
succession.
Case studies of the following ecosystems: Forest ecosystem, Grassland
ecosystem, Desert ecosystem, Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes,
rivers, oceans, estuaries).
Ecosystems:
Meaning: a biological community of interacting
organisms and their physical environment.
What is ecosystem with example?
Ecosystems are the foundation of 'Biosphere'
and maintain the natural balance of the earth.
For example, let's take the relationship between
sheep and lion in the ecosystem; for its survival,
the lion eats the sheep. And each relationship like
this has an effect on other creatures and plants
living in the same area.
Definition: An ecosystem is a geographic area
where plants, animals, and other organisms,
as well as weather and landscape, work
together to form a bubble of life.
Ecosystems contain biotic or living, parts, as well
as abiotic factors, or nonliving parts. Biotic factors
include plants, animals, and other organisms.
Concept of an Ecosystem:
The term ecosystem was coined in 1935 by the Oxford ecologist Arthur Tansley to encompass the
interactions among biotic and abiotic components of the environment at a given site. The living and
non-living components of an ecosystem are known as biotic and abiotic components, respectively.
What are the basic concepts of ecosystem?
Ecosystem was defined in its presently accepted form by Eugene Odum as, “an unit that includes all
the organisms, i.e., the community in a given area interacting with the physical environment so that
a flow of energy leads to clearly defined trophic structure, biotic diversity and material cycles,
i.e., exchange of materials between living and non-living, within the system”.
(a) Natural Ecosystems:
These ecosystems are capable of operating and maintaining themselves without any major
interference by man.
A classification based on their habitat can further be made:
1. Terrestrial ecosystems: forest, grassland and desert.
2. Aquatic ecosystems: fresh water ecosystem, viz. pond, lake, river and marine ecosystems, viz.
ocean, sea or estuary.
(b) Artificial Ecosystem:
These are maintained by man. These are manipulated by man for different purposes, e.g., croplands,
artificial lakes and reservoirs, townships and cities.
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
Biotic components refer to all living components
in an ecosystem. Based on nutrition
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.
(a) Autotrophic component (Producers):
This component is mainly constituted by the green plants, algae and all
photosynthetic organisms. Chemosynthetic bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, algae,
grasses, mosses, shrubs, herbs and trees manufacture food from simple inorganic
substances by fixing energy and are therefore called as producers.
(b) Heterotrophic component (Consumers):
The members of this component cannot make their own food. They consume the
matter built by the producers and are therefore called as consumers. They may be
herbivores, carnivores or omnivores. Herbivores are called as primary consumers
whereas carnivores and omnivores are called as secondary consumers. Collectively
we can call them as macro-consumers.
(c) Decomposers:
Heterotrophic organisms chiefly bacteria and fungi that breakdown the complex
compounds of dead protoplasm, absorb some of the products and release simple
substances usable by the producers are called as decomposers or reducers.
Collectively we call them as micro consumers.
•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.
Functions of Ecosystem
The functions of the ecosystem are as follows:
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.
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.
Energy flow in an ecosystem: food chains:
1. Food Chain
The sun is the ultimate source of energy on earth. It
provides the energy required for all plant life. The
plants utilise this energy for the process of
photosynthesis, which is used to synthesise 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
utilised again by the producers
Food Web
Food web is a network of interconnected
food chains. It comprises all the food chains
within a single ecosystem. It helps in
understanding that plants lay the
foundation of all the food chains. In a
marine environment, phytoplankton forms
the primary producer.
•Food chain assumes the isolated linear line.
But in real life, frog could be eating other insects
apart from grasshopper.
•Fish could be eating smaller fishes apart from
frog. So there exists an interconnected Network
of (Food Chain + Food Chain + Food chain…).
This interconnected network of food chains is
known as food web.
Food webs and ecological succession:
This interlinking relationship of organisms consuming other organisms is called a
food web. Each ecosystem has a slightly different food web. As succession takes
place in a body of water, an increasingly complex food web develops. There
are many levels to a food web, including decomposers, producers, and consumers.
What is ecological succession and food chain?
Ecological succession is the process by which the mix of species and habitat
in an area changes over time. Gradually, these communities replace one another
until a “climax community”—like a mature forest—is reached or until a disturbance,
like a fire, occurs. Ecological succession is a fundamental concept in ecology.
•Primary succession–Primary succession is one of two types of biological and ecological succession
of plant life, occurring in an environment in which new substrate devoid of vegetation and other
organisms usually lacking soil, such as a lava flow or area left from retreated glacier, is deposited.
•From a pioneer community (initiation) to a climax community (Final)
•Rare & takes a long time to generate
Secondary succession(Cyclic succession)
• Development of a community which forms after the existing natural vegetation that constitutes a community is
removed, disturbed or destroyed by a natural event like hurricane or forest fire or by human related events like
tilling or harvesting land.
• A secondary succession is relatively fast as, the soil has the necessary nutrients as well as a large pool of
seeds and other dormant stages of organisms.
Types of Ecosystem
An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean, spanning thousands of
miles. There are two types of ecosystem:
•Terrestrial Ecosystem
•Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are different types of
terrestrial ecosystems distributed around various geological zones. They are as follows:
1.Forest Ecosystem
2.Grassland Ecosystem
3.Tundra Ecosystem
4.Desert Ecosystem
Forest Ecosystem
A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, particularly trees, animals and microorganisms that
live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the environment. Forests help in maintaining the
temperature of the earth and are the major carbon sink.
Grassland Ecosystem
In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and herbs. Temperate grasslands
and tropical or savanna grasslands are examples of grassland ecosystems.
Tundra Ecosystem
Tundra ecosystems are devoid of trees and are found in cold climates or where rainfall is scarce.
These are covered with snow for most of the year. Tundra type of ecosystem is found in the Arctic or
mountain tops.
Desert Ecosystem
Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with little rainfall and scarce vegetation.
The days are hot, and the nights are cold.
Aquatic Ecosystem
Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water. These can be further divided into two
types, namely: 1.Freshwater Ecosystem 2.Marine Ecosystem
Freshwater Ecosystem
The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and
wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with the marine ecosystem.
Marine Ecosystem
The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans. These have a more substantial salt content and
greater biodiversity in comparison to the freshwater ecosystem.
1. What is the ecosystem?
The ecosystem is the community of living organisms in conjunction with non-living components of
their environment, interacting as a system.
2. What are the different types of ecosystems?
The different types of the ecosystem include:
•Terrestrial ecosystem
• Forest ecosystem
• Grassland ecosystem
• Desert ecosystem
• Tundra ecosystem
•Aquatic ecosystem
• Freshwater ecosystem
• Marine ecosystem
3. What are the functional components of an ecosystem?
The four main components of an ecosystem are:
(i) Productivity
(ii) Decomposition
(iii) Energy flow
(iv) Nutrient cycling
4. Which ecosystem do we live in?
We live in a terrestrial ecosystem. This is the ecosystem where organisms interact on landforms. Examples of
terrestrial ecosystems include tundra, taigas, and tropical rainforests. Deserts, grasslands and temperate
deciduous forests also constitute terrestrial ecosystems.
5. What is the structure of the ecosystem?
The structure of the ecosystem includes the organisms and physical features of the environment, including
the amount and distribution of nutrients in a particular habitat. It also provides information regarding the
climatic conditions of that area.
6. Which is the largest ecosystem in the world?
The largest ecosystem in the world is the aquatic ecosystem. It comprises freshwater and marine
ecosystems. It constitutes 70% of the surface of the earth.
7. What is the major function of an ecosystem?
The ecosystem is the functional unit of the environment system. The abiotic components provide the matrix
for the synthesis of organic components. This process involves the exchange of energy.
8. What makes a good ecosystem?
A good ecosystem consists of native plants and animal species interacting with each other and the
environment. A healthy ecosystem has an energy source and the decomposers that break down dead plants
and animal matter, returning essential nutrients to the soil.
9. What all include the non-living things in an ecosystem?
The non-living things in an ecosystem include air, wind, water, rocks, soil, temperature and sunlight. These
are known as the abiotic factors of an ecosystem.
Assignment: 4 Students of each group has to present the case studies as mentioned
ecosystem type in PPT format. Case studies of Topic details and names as follows:
1.Forest ecosystem: Abhinand, Abhinav, Abhinav Krishna,
2.Grassland ecosystem: Swathi, Sriram, Tarun, Prashanth
3.Desert ecosystem: Amal Surendran, Achyuth,
4.Terrestrial ecosystem
5.Tundra ecosystem
6.Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, estuaries).
7.Coastal ecosystem(Ocean)
8.Mountain Ranges
9.Steppers ecosystem
10.Arctic ecosystem,
11.wasteland ecosystem,
12.Marine ecosystem
Thank You