SCIENCE REVIEWER

What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology where the living
organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment. In other
words, an ecosystem is a chain of interactions between organisms and their
environment. The term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansley, an English
botanist, in 1935.
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
• Abiotic Components
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.

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.
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.
Functions of Ecosystem
The functions of the ecosystem are as follows:
1.
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.
So the functional units of an ecosystem or 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.

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.
Also check: Habitat Diversity
Important Ecological Concepts
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.

2. Ecological Pyramids
An ecological pyramid is the graphical representation of the number, energy, and
biomass of the successive trophic levels of an ecosystem. Charles Elton was the first
ecologist to describe the ecological pyramid and its principals in 1927.
The biomass, number, and energy of organisms ranging from the producer level to
the consumer level are represented in the form of a pyramid; hence, it is known as
the ecological pyramid.
The base of the ecological pyramid comprises the producers, followed by primary
and secondary consumers. The tertiary consumers hold the apex. In some food
chains, the quaternary consumers are at the very apex of the food chain.
The producers generally outnumber the primary consumers and similarly, the
primary consumers outnumber the secondary consumers. And lastly, apex
predators also follow the same trend as the other consumers; wherein, their
numbers are considerably lower than the secondary consumers.
For example, Grasshoppers feed on crops such as cotton and wheat, which are
plentiful. These grasshoppers are then preyed upon by common mouse, which are
comparatively less in number. The mice are preyed upon by snakes such as cobras.
Snakes are ultimately preyed on by apex predators such as the brown snake eagle.
In essence:
Grasshopper →Mouse→ Cobra → Brown Snake Eagle

3. 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.
SYBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP ( INTERACTIONS IN THE FOOD WEB )

A symbiotic relationship is a long-term biological interaction between two or more

different species, called symbionts. The word symbiosis comes from the ancient
Greek word for "living together".

- Competition - when organisms fight for limited resources, such as food, water,
space, or shelter.
- Predation - where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, the
prey.
- Commensalism - a type of relationship between two living organisms in which one
organism benefits from the other without harming it.
- Parasitism - relationship between two species of plants or animals in which one
benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes without killing the host organism.
- Mutualism - association between organisms of two different species in which each
benefits.

NUTRIENTS CYCLE
- the natural process by which nutrients are recycled between living and non-living
parts of an ecosystem.

ORGANISMS ROLE IN THE FOOD CHAIN

Producers ( autotrophs )

Also known as autotrophs, these organisms make their own food. Examples include
plants, algae, and bacteria.
Consumers ( heterotrophs )
These organisms are unable to make their own food and rely on consuming
producers or other consumers. Consumers are in the second, third, and fourth
trophic levels.
Decomposers ( heterotrophs )
These organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organisms and
release nutrients back into the food web.

ACTIVITIES THAT DISTURB THE INTERRELATIONSHIP IN AN ECOSYSTEM

- overpopulation, destructive, practices & natural calamitites