ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals, and micro-
organisms in an area functioning together with all the non-living physical
factors of the environment.

According to British ecologist Arthur Tansley (1935), an ecosystem is a

system that arises from the integration of all living and non-living factors of
the environment.

Ecology

Ecology is the study of how living and non-living factors affect each
other in an environment. An ecosystem is the basic and functional unit of
ecology.
 Classification of Ecosystems

Natural Ecosystems Man-made Ecosystems (aquaria,

garden, dams & cropland of maize,
wheat, rice).

Terrestrial Aquatic Ecosystems

Ecosystems

Grass land Fresh water Marine

Forest Desert
Ecosystems Ecosystems Ecosystems
Ecosystems Ecosystems

Running water Standing water

Ecosystems (lotic) Ecosystems (lentic)
Natural Ecosystems Man-made Ecosystems

What is the different

between natural and man
Made ecosystem?
Structure of an Ecosystem

Living (Biotic) Components

• Producers
• Consumers ( primary, secondary and tertiary)
• Decomposers
(Maintains biological cycle)

Non-living (Abiotic) Components

• Organic
• Inorganic
• Physical
Basic structure of an ecosystem
 Biotic Components of Ecosystems
• Producers (or autotrophs)

Green plants and some bacteria which manufacture their own food.

• Consumers (or heterotrophs)

Animals which obtain their food from producers

• Primary consumers
• Secondary consumers
• Tertiary consumers

• Decomposers

Bacteria and fungi that decompose dead

organic matter and convert it into
simpler parts
 Abiotic Components of an Ecosystem

Organic Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins

Inorganic Water
Ammonia
Gases

Climatic Rainfall
Humidity
Temperature
 Limiting factor
Factors which restrict the further growth of
population
 Availability of food
 Water
 Shelter
 Space
Related links

• What is an ecosystem?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPHqUxxyLsY

• structure and function of ecosystem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAuf-oBNvOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znUD6HlGZwY
 Q s
MC Important abiotic factors in ecosystems include which of the following?
– temperature
– water
– Wind
(A) I only B) II only C) III only D) I, II, and III

Example of Anthropogenic Ecosystem

(a) Forest (b) Marine water (c) Grass land (d) Agricultural crops

Limiting factors are:

a. Availability of food
b. Water
c. Shelter
d. All of the above

Non-living Component is
a. Organic
b. Inorganic
c. Physical
d. All of the above
All of the following statements about ecology are correct except:
A) Ecology is the study of the interactions between biotic and abiotic aspects of
the environment.
B) Ecology is a discipline that is independent from natural selection and
evolutionary history.
C) Ecologists may study populations and communities of organisms.
D) Ecology spans increasingly comprehensive levels of organization, from

individuals to ecosystems.
E) Ecological studies may involve the use of models and computers.
Functions of an Ecosystem

• Food chain and food web

• Energy flow

• Cycling of matter (chemicals)

 Food Chain Food Web

The transfer of food energy from the The interlocking pattern formed by
source (plants) through a series of several food chains that are linked
organisms by repeated eating and being together is called a food web.
eaten up is referred as food chain.
 Food Chain
The transfer of food energy from the source (plants) through a series of
organisms by repeated eating and being eaten up is referred as food chain.

The process of eating and being eaten

 Types of Food Chain
Grazing and Detritus Food Chain

Grazing Food Chain: Depend directly on solar radiation, most common.

Producers first, Primary consumers (Herbivores) form the second link and
then secondary consumers.

Detritus Food Chain: Organic waste and dead matter derived from
grazing food chain is known as detritus. Detrivores (Saprophages) form
this food chain. Ex: Earthworms, millipedes.
 Significance of food chain
 Food chains are important for
maintaining and regulating
the population size
 Ecological balance
 Biomagnification
 Food web
Intermixing of food chains
 Flow of Energy in an Ecosystem

First Law of Energy

Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed

Second Law of Energy

No energy transformations are 100% efficient

• Flow of Energy is unidirectional

Ten-percent Rule of Energy

Only 10% of food energy is transferred from one trophic level to another

Producer → primary consumer → secondary consumer → tertiary consumer

(1000 Kcal) (100 Kcal) (10 Kcal) (1 Kcal)
 Ecological Pyramid

The graphical representations of different trophic levels in an ecosystem is

known as ecological pyramid .

They are used to illustrate the feeding relationships between organisms.

Types of Ecological Pyramids

• Pyramid of number

• Pyramid of biomass

• Pyramid of energy
 Pyramid of Number
Pyramid of number is used to show the number of individuals in each
trophic level.

It is upright in case of grassland and pond ecosystems.

In some cases, the pyramid of number is inverted.

For example, in case of forest ecosystem.

Pyramid of numbers (a) grassland (b) forest (c) Parasitic food chain
 Pyramid of Biomass
The pyramid of biomass is used to show the total biomass of individuals
at each trophic level.
It is better than the pyramid of number for showing the relationships
between organisms.
Pyramid of biomass is upright in case of grassland and forest ecosystems
and inverted in case of pond ecosystems.

Pyramid of biomass (a) Grassland (b) Pond

 Pyramid of energy
Pyramid of energy is used to show the amount of energy transferred between
trophic levels. It provides the best representation of the overall nature of an
ecosystem.
The pyramid of energy flow is always upright because there is always loss of
energy while moving from lower trophic level to higher trophic level.
Therefore, the energy reaching the next trophic level is always less compared to
that in the previous trophic level.
NUTRIENT CYCLING
Nutrients move in a cyclic manner through biotic and abiotic components within an
ecosystem
i) Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen cycle—a gaseous cycle with major reserve in atmosphere (N 2 : 78%)

 Ecological Succession
Ecological succession is defined as an orderly process of changes in the community
structure and function with time mediated through modifications in the physical
environment and ultimately culminating in a stabilized ecosystem known as climax.

Types of Succession

Primary succession

Primary succession refers to a series of community changes which occur on an entirely new
habitat which has never been colonized before. For example, a newly quarried rock face or
sand dunes. (pioneer and climax community)

Secondary succession

Secondary succession refers to a series of community changes which take place on a

previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat. For example, land obtained after
felling trees in a woodland, land clearance, or fire.
 
 Two primary cause that initiate the ecological
succession

 An established species and impact of external natural

forces, which try to alter the environmental condition
of that area

 Ex. Hardwood tree replacing red pine

 Ecosystem is continuously changing and reorganizing,

 ecological succession refers to orderly changes in

composition or structure of ecosystem
 Process of ecological succession
 Nudation
 Invasion
Migration (dispersal)
Ecesis (establishment)
Aggregation
 Competition
 Stabilization
 Terrestrial ecosystem

• Located on land mass

• Availability of light, abundance of gases
• Fluctuation of temperature and seasons
• Less availability of water

• Three types- Forest; Grassland; Desert

 Forest ecosystem

Natural plant communities dominated by trees and other

woody plants

Annual Average rainfall at least 50 cm

The environmental factors- rainfall, temperature determine

the forest ecosystem
 Forest Ecosystem
Abiotic Components
Inorganic and organic substances found in the
soil, climatic factors, e.g., temperature,
humidity, rainfall, and light.

Biotic Components
Producers
Different kinds of trees depending upon the climate

Consumers
Different kinds of primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers, e.g., deer,
elephant, moles, snakes, lizards, lion, and tiger

Decomposers
These are various kinds of bacteria and fungi
 Forest ecosystem
• Tropical rain forests –hot throughout the year (small
mammals, reptiles birds, monkeys, predators like tigers,
jaguars etc. plant biodiversity Tall tree, dense canopy.)

• Temperate forests –hot summer and harsh

winter(deciduous plants like oaks, maples, coniferous
plants like pines, ferns, lichens and mosses are also found.)

• Coniferous forests –adequate conditions (spruce, pine

fir)
• Tundra— ice covered (mosses, lichens, grasses and some
dwarf trees; animals like arctic foxes, hares, snowy owls; it is
fragile ecosystem)
Tropical Rain Forests: South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Vertical stratification with trees in canopy blocking light to bottom strata.
Many trees covered by epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants).
Temperate Deciduous Forest: dominated by trees that lose their leaves each year.
Loss of leaves in cold, North America, East Asia,[2] and Europe
Coniferous forest: Largest terrestrial biome on earth, old growth forests
rapidly disappearing, usually receives lots of moisture as rain or snow.
Tundra: Permafrost (Permanent frozen ground), bitter cold, high winds and
thus no trees. Has 20% of land surface on earth. In Northern Hemisphere,
Permafrost tundra includes vast areas of northern Russia and Canada
 Grassland Ecosystem

Big open spaces with grasses forming dominant vegetation

Annual rainfall between 500mm to 900mm

Rainfall more than this amount will convert grassland into forest

Fertile land rich in humus

 Grassland ecosystem
• Grasslands (grazing animals like wild horses,
kangaroos, zebra as well as predators like wolves,
cheetas etc. )

• Tropical grassland (hot through out the year)

(savannas) ,Terai-Duar savannas

• Temperate grassland (hot during summer and

very cold during winter)
 Grassland Ecosystem
Abiotic Components

Inorganic elements (C, H, O, N, P, S), climatic components,

temperature, rainfall, light, etc.

Biotic Components
Producers
Mainly grasses with a few scattered trees

Consumers
Deer, rabbit, giraffe, etc., are herbivores,
while wolf, leopard, etc., are carnivores

Decomposers
Mainly bacteria and fungi
Temperate Grassland: Marked by seasonal drought and fires, and grazing by
large animals. Rich habitat for agriculture, very little prairie exists in US today.
 Desert Ecosystem

Abiotic Components
Low rainfall, high temperature, and
sandy soil

Biotic Components

Producers
Predominantly thorny shrubs, cactus, opuntia, etc.

Consumers
Different insects, lizards, reptiles, nocturnal rodents, birds, etc.

Decomposers
Various bacteria and fungi
Desert: Sparse rainfall (< 30 cm per year), plants and animals adapted for water
storage and conservation. Can be either very, very hot, or very cold (e.g.
Sahara, Thar, Antarctica)
 Pond Ecosystem
Abiotic Components
It includes organic and inorganic substances,
atmospheric gases dissolved in water, minerals
found in dissolved state, etc.
Biotic Components
Producers
Submerged floating and emergent aquatic plants
For example, nelumbo, hydrilla, chara, etc.

Consumers
May be primary, secondary, or tertiary, e.g., small fishes, beetles,
mollusca, crustaceans, etc.

Decomposers
Chiefly bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, etc.
 Related links

 
Food chains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZOvqYypOuo

Habitats, food chains and food webs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERZ1iwzYvlk

ecological succession
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V49IovRSJDs

Desert Ecosystem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbi4wW7ojXs

Forest Ecosystem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8eCbwg-lik

Grassland Ecosystem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB4UDHCvXMU

Aquatic Ecosystems
http://study.com/academy/lesson/aquatic-ecosystems-abiotic-factors.html
 C Qs
M
1. The nature’s cleaners are
a) producers b) consumers c) decomposers d) producers & decomposers both

2. The development of a bare area is called:

a. Invasion b. nudation c. ecesis d. none

3. Which of the following is a difference between a food chain and a food web?
a. Food chains involve only plants, while food webs involve animals.
b. Food chains involve only plants, while food webs involve both plants and animals.
c. Food chains are linear and food webs are complex.
d. Food chains include decomposers, but food webs do not.

4. A series of interrelated food chains in a given ecosystem is called a __________

a)trophic level b) food pyramid c) food web d) none

5. Pyramid of energy in any ecosystem is

a) Always upright
b) May be upright and inverted
c) Always inverted
d) None of the above
1. Which is NOT a function of ecosystem-
a) food chain b) soil erosion c) food web d) energy flow

2. Which is NOT a stage of Ecological Succession ?

a) Nudation b)Invasion c) Competition d) Desertification

3. Stream is a example of ------

a) marine ecosystem b) fresh water ecosystem c) terrestrial
ecosystem d) none.

4. Producers in desert ecosystem is

a) thorny shrubs b) water c) sand d) sun light