NOVEMBER 2024
ECOSYSTEM
Biology investigatory project
by sukruti Agrawal
class xii
02
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction O3
Structure of Ecosystem 04
Biotic Factors 05
Abiotic Factors 06
Functional Components 06
Pond Ecosystem
STRATIFICATION 07
BIOTIC FACTORS 08
FOOD CHAIN 09
ABIOTIC FACTORS 10
FUNCTIONS OF ECOSYSTEM 11
03
INTRODUCTION
“An ecosystem is defined as a community of lifeforms
in concurrence with non-living components,
interacting with each other.”
An ecosystem contains all the living and non-living
organisms and the physical environment with which
they interact.
In other words, “An ecosystem is the basic functional
unit with which ecology deals since it includes both
organisms and a non-living environment, each
influencing the properties of the other and both
necessary for the maintenance of life on earth.”
04
STRUCTURE OF THE
ECOSYSTEM:
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.
The structure of an ecosystem can be split into
two main components, namely:
Biotic Components
Abiotic Components
05
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.
06
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS:
Abiotic components are the non-living components
of an ecosystem. It includes air, water, soil,
minerals, sunlight, temperature, nutrients, wind,
altitude, turbidity, etc.
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.
07
POND ECOSYSTEM
Pond ecosystems refers to a freshwater
ecosystem where there are communities of
organism dependent on each other with
prevailing water environment their nutrients
and survival.
There are three zones in a lake or pond:
Littoral
Limnetic
Profundal
The shallow water region is called the littoral zone.
The limnetic zone ranges from the shallow to the depth
of effective light penetration and associated organisms
are small crustaceans, rotifers, insects, and their larvae
and algae. The profundal/aprotic zone is the deep
water part where there is no effective light penetration
and is usually occupied by rooted plants.
08 IN POND ECOSYSTEM...
Producers:
The algae and other aquatic plants are the main producers in
pond ecosystems such as Azolla, Hydrilla, Potamogeton,
Pistia, Wolffia, Lemna, Eichhornia, Nymphaea, and fusiaca.
These are either floating suspended or rooted at the bottom.
The green plants convert the radiant energy into chemical
energy through photosynthesis. The chemical energy stored in
the form of food is utilized by all organisms. Oxygen evolved
by producers in photosynthesis is utilized by all living
organisms in respiration.
Consumers:
In a pond ecosystem, the primary consumers are tadpole,
larvae of frogs, fishes and other aquati animals which
consume green plants and algae as their food. These
herbivorous aquatic animals are the food of secondary
consumers. Frogs, big fishes, water snakes, crabs are
secondary consumers. In the pond, besides the secondary
consumers, there are consumers of highest order, such as
water-birds and turtles.
09
Decomposers:
When aquatic plants and animals die, a large number of
bacteria and fungi attack these dead bodies and convert the
complex organic substances into simpler inorganic compounds
and elements These microorganisms are called decomposers.
Green plants again utilize chemical elements liberated by
decomposers in their nutrition.
Food Chains and Energy Flow;
The sun is the ultimate source of energy for ponds. Aquatic
plants and algae harness sunlight through photosynthesis,
creating energy-rich compounds.
Zooplankton then graze on these producers, transferring energy
up the chain. Small pond species and invertebrates like snails
feed on zooplankton, and in turn, are preyed upon by larger
vertebrates such as frogs and bigger fish.
This sequence forms a pond ecosystem food chain, circulating
energy throughout the pond.
10
ABIOTIC ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
THE NON-LIVING, OR ABIOTIC FACTORS, SHAPE
THE ECOSYSTEM AND INCLUDE:
Water quality: A range of factors such as
temperature, oxygen levels, and the presence
of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphates.
It’s important to test pond water to monitor
these parameters regularly.
Light: Penetration affects photosynthesis
rates and influences the types of plants and
algae that can survive.
Temperature: Determines the metabolic rates
of organisms and the capacity of water to
hold oxygen.
Nutrients: Availability of nitrogen,
phosphorus, and other nutrients mediates the
growth of biotic components.
Carbon dioxide: Utilised by plants and algae
for photosynthesis, influencing the
ecosystem’s primary productivity.
11
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ECOSYSTEM ARE
AS FOLLOWS:
It regulates the essential ecological processes,
supports life systems and renders stability.
It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients
between biotic and abiotic components.
It maintains a balance among the various trophic
levels in the ecosystem.
It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
The abiotic components help in the synthesis of
organic components that involve the exchange of
energy.
DE TR ITU S
ZOOP
LANK
TON
PHYTO
PLANK
TON
BACTERIA PROTOZOA
DISSOLVED
ORGANIC VIRUS
MATERIALS
