Ecology - Ecosystem

Ecosystem
Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of Ecology.

Definition
A group of organisms interacting among
themselves and with environment is known as
ecosystem. Thus an ecosystem is a community of
different species interacting with one another and
with their non living environment exchanging
energy and matter.
Ecology is the study of ecosystems.
Example
Animals cannot synthesis their food
directly but depend on the plants either directly
 STRUCTURE OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The term structure refers to the various components of an
ecosystem.
An ecosystem has two major components
• Biotic (living) components
• Abiotic (non living) componentsBiotic components

Theliving organisms (or) living members in

ecosystem collectively an biotic
called community. components (or) biotic
Ex: Plants, Animals, Microorganisms
 Classification biotic components
The members of biotic components of an
ecosystem are grouped in to three based on how
they get food.
• Producer (Plants)
• Consumer ( Animals)
• Decomposers (Micro-organisms)
[Link] ( Autotrophs)
Producers synthesise foo
their themselves through d
photosynthesis
Ex: All green plants, trees.
Photosynthesis
The green pigment called chlorophyll,
present in the leaves of plants,
converts CO2 and H2O in the
presence of sunlight into carbohydrates.
[Link] Mani, Head
& AP/ Chemistry,
2. Consumers also called as
Heterotrophs: Classification of
consumers
Consumers are further classified
as
(i) Primary consumers or
Herbivores or Plant eaters:
Primary consumers are also called herbivores,
they directly depend on the plants for their food.
So they are called plant eaters.
Examples : Insects, rat, goat, deer, cow etc.
(ii) Secondary consumers (primary carnivores) (Meat
eaters):
Secondary consumers are primary carnivores,
they
primaryfeedconsumers.
on They directly th
depend on herbivores for their food. e

Ex: Frog, cat, snakes, small birds, etc.,

(iii) Tertiary consumers (Secondary carnivores)

(Meat- eaters)
Tertiary consumers are secondary carnivores,
they feed on secondary consumers. They depend
on the primary carnivores for their food.
Omnivore: Organisms that feed both on plants and
animals. Ex: Human, rat, birds.

Detritivore: They feed on dead organisms, wastes of living

beings and partially decomposed matter. Ex: Termites,
earthworm, ants etc.
3. Decomposers

Decomposers attack the dead bodies of

producers and consumers, and decompose
them into simpler compounds. During the
decomposition inorganic nutrients are released.
The inorganic nutrients together with other
organic substances are then utilised by
the producers for the synthesis of
Abiotic (non-living) components
The non-living components (physical and
chemical) of ecosystem collectively form a
community called abiotic components (or)
abiotic community.
Ex: Climate, soil, water, air, energy etc.,
[Link] components: Include the energy, climate,
nutrients and living space that the biological
community needs. They are useful for the growth
and maintenance of its member.
Ex: Air, water, soil, sunlight, etc.,
[Link] Components: They are the sources of
essential nutrients.
 TYPES OF
Natural ecosystem: ECOSYSTEM
These operate themselves under
natural conditions. Based on habitat types, it can be
further classified into three types.
Terrestrial ecosystem: This ecosystem is related to land.
Ex: Grassland ecosystem, forest ecosystem, desert
ecosystem, etc.,
Aquatic ecosystem: This ecosystem is related to water. It
is further sub classified into two types based on
salt content.
• Fresh water ecosystem
(a) Running water ecosystems. Ex: Rivers,
Streams…
(b)Standing water ecosystems Ex: Pond, lake…
• Marine ecosystem Ex: Seas and sea shores…
3. Man – made (or) Artificial ecosystems: Artificial
 FUNCTION OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The function of an ecosystem is to allow flow of

energy and cycling of nutrients.

Functions of an ecosystem are of three types.
• Primary function: The primary function of all
ecosystem is manufacture of starch
(photosynthesis).
• Secondary function: The secondary function of all
ecosystem is distribution energy in the form of
food to all consumers.
• Tertiary Function: All living systems diet at a
particular stage. These dead systems are
decomposed to initiate third function of ecosystems
 The functioning of an ecosystems may be
understood by
studying the following terms.
• Food chains

• Food webs

• Food pyramids
Flow of energy and nutrient cycling from abiotic to biotic and vice
versa.
 FOOD CHAINS
Definition
“There sequence of eating and being eaten in an
ecosystem is known as food chain” (or) “Transfer
of food energy from the plants through a series of
organisms is known as food chain”

• A food chain always starts with plant life and ends

with animal. When the organisms die, they are all
decomposed by microorganism (bacteria and
fungi) into nutrients that can again be used by the
plants.
• At each and every level, nearly 80-90% of the
potential energy gets lost as heat.
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 Tropic Levels (T1,T2, T3, T4, T5) (or) Feeding levels The
various steps through which food energy
passes in an ecosystem is called as tropic levels. The
tropic levels are arranged in the following way,
• The green plants or producers represent first tropic
level T1,
• The herbivores or primary consumers
represent second tropic level T2.
• The carnivores or secondaryconsumers
represent third tropic level T3.
• The tertiary consumers are fourth tropic level T4.
• Finally decomposers represent last tropic level T5.
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 Food chains are classified into two main
types Grazing food chain
Detritus food chain

• Grazing food chain: Found in Grassland ecosystems

and pond ecosystems. Grazing food chain
starts with green plants (primary producers) and
goes to decomposer food chain
or detritus food chain through herbivores and
carnivores.

• Detritus food chain: Found in Grassland ecosystems

and forest ecosystems. Detritus food chainstarts
with dead organic matter (plants and animals) and
The following diagram shows that grazing food chain
and detritus food chain are interconnected to each
other but are not isolated.
 FOOD WEB
• The interlocking pattern of various food
chains in an ecosystem is known as food web.
• In a food web many food chains are
interconnected, where different types of organisms
are connected at different tropic
levels, so that there are a number of opportunities
of eating and being eaten at each tropic level.
• Grass may be eaten by insects, rats, deer's, etc.,
these may be eaten by carnivores (snake, fox, tiger).
Thus there is a interlocking of various food chains
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Difference between food chains and food web:
In a linear food chain if one species gets affected
(or) becomes extinct, then the species in the
subsequent tropic levels are also affected. But, in
a food web, if one species gets affected, it doest
not affect other tropic levels so
seriously. There are number of options available at
each tropic level.
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 Significance of food chains and food webs
• Food chains and food webs play a very important
role in the ecosystem. Energy flow and nutrient
cycling takes place through them.
• They maintain and regulate the population
size of different tropic levels, and thus help
in maintaining ecological balance.
• They have the property of bio-magnification. The
non – biodegradable materials keep on passing
from one tropic level to another. At each
successive tropic level, the concentration
keep on increasing. This process is known as bio-
magnification.
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FOREST ECOSYSTEM

A forest is an area with a high density of trees. A

forest ecosystem is one in which tall trees grow that
support many animals and birds. The forests are found
in undisturbed areas receiving moderate to high
rainfall. The forest occupies nearly 31% of the world’s
land in India it is only 19% of total land area.
Types of forest ecosystem
Based upon the climate conditions, forests are
classified into
• Tropical Rain forests.
• Tropical deciduous forests.
• Tropical scrub forests.
• Temperate rain forests.
• Temperate deciduous forests.
 Characteristics of forest ecosystems
• Forests are characterised by warm temperature
and adequate rainfall, which make the
generation of number of ponds, lakes etc.,
• The forest maintains climate and rainfall.
• The forest support many wild animals and
protect biodiversity.
• The soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients
which support the growth of trees.
• Since penetration of light is so poor, the
conversion of organic matter into nutrients is
very fast.
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Producer

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Decomposes
Structure and Function of forest ecosystem

I. Abiotic components
The abiotic components include basic inorganic &
organic compounds present in the soil & atmosphere.
In addition minerals, the occurrence of litter is
characteristic
features of majority of forests.

II. Biotic components

1. Producers: In a forest, the producers are mainly
trees produce food by photosynthesis. Apart from
trees, climbers, epiphytes, shrubs and ground
vegetation. Dominant species of trees in forest are
Dalbergia, Tectona grandis, Lichens, Fern, Pine, Cedar.
2. Consumers
Primary consumers (herbivores): They directly
depend on the plants for their food.
Ex: Ants, flies, insects, mice, deer, squirrels.
Larger animals such as Elephants, Deer, Giraffe etc.
Secondary consumers (primary carnivores):They
directly depend on the herbivores for their food.
Ex: Lizards, snakes, birds, fox.
Tertiary consumers :They depend on the primary
carnivores for their food.
Ex: Animals like tiger, lion, etc.,
3. Decomposers
They decompose the dead plant and animal
matter. Ex: Bacteria and fungi.
Producers.- OíPerent tree s ecies

Consumer in a Ëoresf Ecosystem

Aecomposers in a Forest ecosysfem

Structure and function of the grassland Ecosystems
Abiotic components: Nutrients, H, 0, N, P, S, etc.,
These abiotic components are supplied by C02,
H2O, C, Nitrate,
phosphates and sulphates.
Biotic Components
Producers: They produce
food. Ex: Grasses, Herbs
and shrubs. Consumers:.
Primary consumers (herbivores) :They depend on grasses
for their food Ex: Insects, cows, buffaloes, deer,
sheep, etc.,
Secondary consumers (carnivores) :They feed on
herbivores. Examples: Lizards, birds, Snakes, jackals,
fox, etc.,
Tertiary consumers: They feed on secondary
II. Biotic Components
Producers: In deserts mostly Succulent (e.g.,
cacti) plants are found available. They have water
inside them to stay alive, waxy coating to prevent
intense heat, thorn on the outside to protect them
from being eaten.
Ex: Succulents, Shrubs, bushes, some grasses and few
trees.

Consumers: These animals dig holes in the ground to

live in. They come out at night to find food. Most of
the animals can extract water from the seeds they
eat.
Ex: Locust, scorpions, snakes, camel, elk etc.

Decomposers: Desert has poor vegetation with a

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You