Chapter 3

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Things to be learned
Concept and Classification of Ecosystem Structure and functions of Ecosystem
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Producers, Consumers, Decomposers

Food chains, Food webs, Ecological pyramids Various ecosystems

Energy Flow & Energy Cycles

What is an Ecosystem?
Term proposed by British ecologist A. G. Tansley in 1935.
Consisting of all Plants, Animals and Micro- organisms

Specific and Recognizable landscape form. An ecosystem is formed by the interactions between all living and
non-living things.

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Eco = The Environment

System=Regularly interacting and interdependent components

forming a unified whole.

What is an Ecology?
EVS Videos\Ecology Introduction.mp4

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Ecosystem = An Ecological system

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

An Ecosystem

Fundamental Characteristics of Ecosystem

Structural
Living /Biotic Non-living /Abiotic Inorganic components Organic components

Functional
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Energy cycles

Food chains

Diversity

Nutrient cycles

Climatic Regimes

Evolution

 Structure:

Living/Biotic ( Plants, Animals and Microorganisms )

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Non-living/ Abiotic (soil, climate, water and light ) Inorganic components - C,N,CO2 Organic components - Proteins, Fats

Climatic Regimes - Temp, Moisture Macro and Micro consumers

Various Types of Ecosystems:

On the basis of particular type of habitat, they are further sub divided as:
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Desert

Forest

Terrestrial Ecosystem

Grassland

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Fresh Water

Running water Streams, Rivers Standing water Lakes, ponds

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Aquatic Ecosystem

Marine Water

Deep sea Oceans

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Components of Ecosystem

Abiotic components: Abiotic components are non - living chemical & physical factors in the environment. They practically provides all the energy for ecosystems.

1. 2.

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Biotic components:
Producers Consumers Decomposers

1. 2. 3.

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Shrubs

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Examples of Producers

Grasses

Trees

Examples of Consumers

1) Herbivores

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

2) Carnivores:

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

3) Omnivores:

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Decomposers

Feed on organic compounds of dead or living plants and

animals for food and energy

Breakdown products & release inorganic compounds

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

(nutrients) in the ecosystem, making them available

again to producers.

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Food Chain

The transfer of energy and nutrients through a series of organisms with repeated process of eating and being eaten.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

All the organisms are linked together with one another by food relationship.

Each organism living or dead is potential food for some other organism.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Food web

Interlocking pattern of several interlinked food chains is termed as FOOD WEB.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Ecological Pyramids

The relationship between consumers and producers at different tropic levels in an ecosystem

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Carnivores Herbivores
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Producers

Grassland Ecosystem

Forest Ecosystem

Carnivores Herbivores Producers

Pond Ecosystem

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Ecological Succession

The

occurrence

of

definite

sequence

of
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

communities over a period of time in same area.

A process through which ecosystems tends to change, over a period of time

A change in the community in which new populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones.

Can be related to environmental changes.

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Ecological Succession

Three stagesPioneer stage

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Serial stage

Climax stage

E.g. Pond Ecosystem

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Examples of Primary Succession

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Example of Secondary Succession:

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Various Ecosystems

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Basic Issues To Remember about Ecosystems

What is the nature / type of an ecosystem?

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

What are its structure and functions?

Who uses the ecosystems and for what purpose? How is ecosystem degraded?

What can be done to protect it from deteriorating in

the long time? How can the ecosystem be conserved?

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Forest Ecosystem (Terrestrial Ecosystem)

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Forest Ecosystem

In India, the forest cover is roughly 19% of the total land area. It provides numerous environmental services.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Forest Ecosystem

Apart from environmental values, forest ecosystems have some traditional values as well. Products:By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Fire Wood & Timber.

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Fruits.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Gums and resins.

Herbs & drugs.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Components of a Forest Ecosystem-

Biotic components: 1) Producers 2) Consumers 3) Decomposers

Abiotic components: Basic inorganic & organic compounds present in the soil & atmosphere.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Components of Forest Ecosystem:

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Producers: Different tree species

Consumers in a Forest Ecosystem

Decomposers in a Forest ecosystem

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Types of Forests in India:Coniferous Forests Himalayan mountain region

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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Evergreen Forests Western Ghats, north-eastern India

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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Deciduous Forests Moderate seasonal rainfall

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Thorn Forests Semi-arid regions

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Mangrove Forests Along the costal regions

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Forest utilization

Nutrient cycling Maintaining biodiversity

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Providing wildlife habitat Affecting rainfall patterns Regulating stream flow

Storing water Reducing flooding Preventing soil erosion

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Threats

Over-utilization Population Growth

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Urbanization

Industrialization Mining Dams

Poaching

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Grassland Ecosystem (Terrestrial Ecosystem)

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Grassland Ecosystem
EVS Videos\Tropical Grassland Ecosystems.mp4
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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Occupy about 24% of the earths surface.

Occur in regions too dry for forests and too moist for deserts
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

The principal grasslands include:

Prairies (Canada, USA) Pampas (South America)

Steppes (Europe & Asia) Veldts (Africa)

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Grassland ecosystem.

Components

Biotic components: Three functional groups which are:

1) Producers: Mainly grasses; though, a few herbs & shrubs also contribute to
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

primary production of biomass. 2) Consumers: a) Primary Consumers:

Herbivores feeding directly on grasses.

Grazing animals such as

Cows, Buffaloes, Sheep, Goats, Deer, Rabbits etc.

Besides them, numerous species of insects, termites, etc45 are also present.

b) Secondary Consumers:

Carnivores that feed on primary consumers (Herbivores)

These includeBy Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Frogs, Snakes, Lizards, Birds, Foxes, Jackals etc.

c) Tertiary Consumers:

These include hawks etc. which feed on secondary

consumers.

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3) Decomposers:

These include Bacteria; Fungi. Attack the dead or decayed bodies of organisms & thus decomposition takes place.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Nutrients are released for reuse.

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Abiotic components:

Include basic inorganic & organic compounds present in the soil & aerial environment.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Essential elements like C, H, N, O, P, S etc. supplied by water, nitrogen, nitrates, sulphates,

phosphates present in soil & atmosphere.

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Components of Grassland Ecosystem:

Producers

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Consumers of Grassland ecosystem

Decomposers in a Grassland ecosystem

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Types Of Grasslands In India

1. 2.

Himalayan Pasture belt Terai Grassland

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Himalayan foothills

3.

Semi-arid grassland

Western India, Central India and the Deccan

4.

Shola grasslands

Western Ghats Patches of hill slopes

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Grassland utilization

Grazing
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Thatching of houses and farm sheds

Fuel wood Carnivorous animals control insect pests in

agricultural lands

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Threats to Grassland Ecosystem

Lightening

/ Fire
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Over

grazing to irrigated farmlands by Human activities

Conversion

Modification

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Desert ecosystem

(Terrestrial Ecosystem)

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Desert Ecosystem

Region that receives almost no precipitation.

Areas with an average annual precipitation of less than 250 millimeters per year. Occupy about 17% of the earths surface.
The deserts of the world are mainly located in South- western United States, Mexico, North America, Asia (Thar, Tibet ) West Asia
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

The various components of a Desert Ecosystem are:

Biotic components:
1)

Producer Organisms: Mainly shrubs ,bushes, some grasses & a few trees. Dominant plant species include: Succulents (water - retaining plants adapted to arid climate or soil conditions ) & hardy grasses.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Besides some lower plants such as lichens & xerophytes mosses are also present.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

2) Consumer Organisms:

Includes animals such as insects, reptiles which are capable of living in extreme conditions

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Besides some nocturnal rodents, birds & some

mammalians like camel etc are also found.

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3) Decomposers:

Due to poor vegetation with very low amount of dead organic matter, decomposers are poor in desert ecosystem.

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Common decomposers are some bacteria & fungi, most of which are thermophillic.

Abiotic components: Due to high temperature & very low rainfall, the organic substances are poorly present in the soil.

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Components of Desert Ecosystem:

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Producers of Desert Ecosystem

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Consumers of Desert Ecosystem

Desert utilization

Grazing for camel, cattle, goat etc

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Growing crops like Jowar

Genetic Engineering

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Threats to Desert Ecosystem

Extensive irrigation systems Saline region due to water evaporation Lowering in water tables

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Conservation of Desert Ecosystem

Traditional protection

E.g. Bishnoi Tribes for Khejdi Trees

National parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Aquatic Ecosystems

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Aquatic Ecosystem
EVS Videos\3.2 Aquatic Ecosystems.mp4
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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Aquatic Ecosystems
Deals with biotic community present in water bodies. Carbon dioxide & oxygen are available in dissolved state.

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Types of Aquatic ecosystem are: 1. Freshwater ecosystem includes Running water Example: Streams, Rivers, Springs Standing water Examples: Lakes, ponds, swamps 2. Marine ecosystems includes Deep sea and Oceans.

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Biotic components:

1) Producer Organisms: Includes submerged, free floating and amphibious macrophytes (Hydrilla) and minute floating and suspended lower phytoplankton's (Spirogyra)

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

2) Consumer Organisms: a) Primary consumers: These are planktons and benthos.

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

b) Secondary consumers: These are carnivores like insects and fishes feeding on herbivores c) Tertiary consumers: These are the large fishes feeding on small fishes.

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3) Decomposers: Micro organisms like bacteria, fungi.

Abiotic

component:

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Inorganic

as well as organic substances present in the bottom soil or dissolved in water.

minerals, some dead organic matter is also present.

The

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Inside Ocean Ecosystem

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Aquatic utilization

Clean fresh water

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Used as food

Storage of water for industries and agriculture Electricity generation

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Threats to Aquatic Ecosystem

Poorly managed solid waste Eutrophication Chemical pollution from industry

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystem

Stop water pollution Protection by including them in wetland sanctuaries or national parks

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Energy flow in ecosystem

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Energy flow in ecosystem

Supply of energy and nutrients from environment in order to survive. The transformations of energy in an ecosystem begin first with the input of energy from the sun.

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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Photosynthesis -Chemical reaction where green plants use water & carbon dioxide to store the suns energy in glucose.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Energy contained within producers and consumers is passed to the decomposers that are responsible for the constant recycling of nutrients.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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Energy Cycles
Water

cycle

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Carbon
Oxygen

cycle
cycle

Nitrogen

cycle
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The Water Cycle

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Water never leaves the Earth. It is constantly being cycled through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. This process, known as the water cycle, is driven by energy from the sun.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

The sun heats up liquid water and changes it to a gas by the process of evaporation. Water that evaporates from Earths oceans, lakes, rivers, and moist soil rises up into the atmosphere.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

The process of evaporation from plants is called transpiration. (In other words, its like plants sweating.)
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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As water (in the form of gas) rises higher in the atmosphere, it starts to cool and become a liquid again. This process is called condensation When a large amount of water vapor condenses, it results in the formation of clouds.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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When rain falls on the land, some of the water is absorbed into the ground forming pockets of water called groundwater. Most groundwater eventually returns to the ocean. Other precipitation runs directly into streams or rivers. Water that collects in rivers, streams, and oceans is called runoff.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

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The Nitrogen Cycle

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Nitrogen cycle completes in 5 steps:-

1) Nitrogen Fixation: Conversion of N2 NH3 2) Nitrification: NH3 NO3 Soil bacteria convert in a two step process.
3) Assimilation: Roots absorb NH3, NH4, or NO3 and incorporate them into nucleic acids and protein.

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

4) Ammonification: Amino acids and nucleotides are broken down into waste products NH3 or NH4
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

5) Denitrification: The reduction of NO3 to N2 Denitrifying bacteria return some of the nitrogen to the atmosphere

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

The Carbon Cycle

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

 Carbon

enters plants as CO2

Bacteria

process carbon in a fashion that allows it to be recycled.

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Obtain

energy from the molecules, and convert carbohydrates to carbon dioxide as a result of respiration.

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 Photosynthesis

removes carbon from the abiotic environment moves through food chain through consumption of one organisms by another respiration, combustion, and erosion of limestone return carbon to the atmosphere, water and abiotic environment.
By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Carbon

Cellular

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RESPIRATION
AIR CO2 DEATH PLANTS FOOD WOOD FOSSIL FUEL

By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

RESPIRATION

ANIMAL

BURNING

COMBUSTION

Carbon Cycle

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Fig: Carbon Cycle

Any Questions???

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli

Thank You

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By Mr. Samadhan P. Deshmukh, Watumull Institute, Worli