The Ecosystem And Its Component
“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.”
~ Ernest Hemingway
DEFINITION OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The term “ecosystem” was first coined by Sir Arthur Gorge Tansley, an English
botanist, in 1935. An ecosystem consists of an assembly of mutually
interacting organisms and their environment in which materials are
interchanged in a largely cyclical manner. An ecosystem has physical,
chemical, and biological components and energy sources and pathways of
energy and materials interchange.
The study of ecosystems mainly consists of studying specific processes that
link the living or biotic components to the non-living or abiotic components.
The two main processes that ecosystem scientists study are Energy
transformations and biogeochemical cycling. We can study ecology at the
level of the individual, the population, the community, and the Ecosystem.
Studies of individuals are concerned mostly about physiology, reproduction, development, or
behavior. Studies of populations usually focus on the habitat and resource needs of particular
species, their group behaviors, population growth, and what limits their abundance or causes
extinction.
Studies of communities examine how many species interact with one another, such as predators
and
their prey or competitors that share everyday needs or resources.
In ecosystem ecology, we put all of this together to understand how the system operates as a
whole.
This means that, rather than worrying mainly about particular species, we try to focus on
significant
functional aspects of the system. These functional aspects include the amount of energy
produced
by photosynthesis, how energy or materials flow along with the many steps in a food chain, what
controls the rate of decomposition of materials, or the rate at which nutrients are
recycled in the system.
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 ecosystems. These are the Terrestrial Ecosystem and the Aquatic
Ecosystem.
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are different types of
terrestrial
ecosystems distributed around various geological zones. They are the Forest Ecosystems,
Grassland Ecosystems, Tundra Ecosystems, Desert Ecosystem.
a. Forest Ecosystem
A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, animals, and microorganisms that coordinate with
the environment's abiotic factors. Forests help in maintaining the temperature of the Earth and
are
the major carbon sink.
b. Grassland Ecosystem
In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and herb. Temperate grasslands,
savanna grasslands are some of the 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. The Ecosystem in the Arctic or
mountain tops is tundra type.
d. Desert Ecosystem
Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with very little rainfall. 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. These are the Freshwater Ecosystem and the Marine Ecosystem.
a. Freshwater Ecosystem
The freshwater Ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, stream
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.
Functions of Ecosystem
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.
The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components that involves the exchange of
energy.
COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
There are two primary components of an ecosystem in constant communication: the biotic
components
and the abiotic components.
Biotic Components of Ecosystem
Biotic components refer to all life in an ecosystem. Based on nutrition, biotic components can be
categorized into autotrophs, heterotrophs, and saprotrophs (or decomposers).
1. Producers are the plants in the Ecosystem, which can generate their energy requirement
through
photosynthesis in sunlight and chlorophyll. All other living beings are dependent on plants for
their energy requirement of food as well as oxygen.
2. Consumers include herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. The herbivores are living
organisms
that feed on plants. Carnivores eat other living organisms. Omnivores are animals that can eat
both
plant and animal tissue.
Decomposers are fungi and bacteria, which are the saprophytes. They feed on the decaying
organic matter and convert this matter into nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The saprophytes play a
vital role in recycling the nutrients so that the producers can use them once again.
Abiotic Components of Ecosystem
Abiotic components are the non-living, physical, and chemical factors that act on the living
organisms at any part of their life. These are also called ecological factors. The physical and
chemical factors are characteristic of the environment.
The abiotic factors vary from Ecosystem to Ecosystem. In an aquatic ecosystem, the abiotic
factors
may include water pH, sunlight, turbidity, water depth, salinity, available nutrients, and dissolved
oxygen. Similarly, abiotic factors in terrestrial ecosystems can consist of soil, soil types,
temperature,
rain, altitude, wind, nutrients, and sunlight.
Here, the sun is the energy source. Producers/plants use this energy to synthesize food in the
presence of carbon dioxide and chlorophyll. The energy from the sun, through several chemical
reactions, turns into chemical energy.
The abiotic factors determine the type of organisms that can successfully live in a particular area.
Some of the significant nonliving factors of an ecosystem include:
1. Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis.
2. Water. All living organisms require some water, but some can live with lesser amounts.
3. Temperature. All living organisms have a range of temperatures in which they survive, and
they will
have a difficult time beyond those limits.
4. Oxygen. Many living organisms require oxygen; it is necessary for cellular respiration, a
process
used to obtain energy from food. The presence of oxygen kills others like the Anaerobic bacteria
that die with very brief exposure to oxygen.
5. Soil. The type of soil, pH, and amount of water it holds, and available nutrients determine
what
type of organisms can successfully live in or on the soil. For example, cacti live in sand, cattails
in
soil saturated with water.
Together, biotic and abiotic factors determine the survival and growth of an organism and the
Ecosystem's productivity in which the organism lives.
Comparison between Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors
Are they living organisms? Yes No
Examples Animals, Plants, fungi,
bacteria, and all living things
Forest fires, water, climate,
habitat, soil, minerals, and
human activity
Main Categories Producers, Consumers, and
Decomposers
Atmosphere, chemical
elements,
sunlight/temperature,
wind, and water
Main Types Living Organisms Chemical and Physical
Can they Affect
Ecosystems?
Yes Yes
Table 1. Shows a Comparison between Biotic and Abiotic Factors.
Important Processes in Ecosystem
1. Photosynthesis
t is the process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light energy into
chemical energy. During photosynthesis in green plants, light energy is captured and used to
convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic
compounds.
Decomposition
It is the reverse process of photosynthesis. The organic matter is converted into inorganic
compounds (like carbon dioxide), accomplished by decomposers such as microorganisms like
bacteria and fungi and larger organisms like earthworms.
FEEDING RELATIONSHIPS AND TROPHIC LEVELS
Food Chain
The sun is the ultimate source of energy on Earth. It provides the energy required for all plant
life.
The plants utilize this energy for the process of photosynthesis, which is used to synthesize their
food.
During this biological process, light energy is converted into chemical energy and is passed on
through successive 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 utilized again by the producers
The 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.
omponents of the Trophic Level
The trophic level of an organism is the position the organism is in a food chain. These are based
on
the ways an organism gets food.
Producers
These are plants or algae that use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make their food using
photosynthesis. The autotrophic photosynthetic plants occupy the first tropic level of a food
chain.
Primary Consumers
These are plant eaters (herbivores) that occupy the second trophic level of a food chain. Typical
herbivores in the terrestrial Ecosystem include insects as well as reptiles, birds, and mammals. In
the aquatic Ecosystem (fresh water and marine), the herbivores are typically small crustaceans
and
mollusks.
Herbivores are animals that eat primary producers (like plants). Granivores are herbivores (such
as a
rodent) with a diet primarily of grains and seeds. Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and
animals. Insectivores are predatory animals (such as a shrew or bat) with a diet consisting chiefly
of
insects.
Secondary Consumers
These are carnivorous animals that occupy the
third trophic level and feed on the herbivores of
the second tropic level.
Predators are animals that kill and feed upon
another animal while a Prey is an animal hunted
and killed for food by another animal.
ertiary Consumers
These are larger carnivores of the fourth tropic level that kill and eat the smaller carnivores (and
herbivores) of the third and second tropic levels.
Decomposers
These are organisms of the fifth (or higher) trophic level (including fungi and bacteria) that get
energy by breaking down dead plants, animal materials, and wastes. The decayed matter is then
released as energy and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous into the Ecosystem. These
are the primary recyclers of the Ecosystem. In some food chains, the decomposers occupy the
sixth
tropic level and are preceded by a fifth level occupied by scavengers (like insect larvae).
ENERGY FLOW AND PYRAMIDS OF ENERGY AND BIOMASS Energy Flow Through the
Ecosystem
An ecosystem must have a continuous input of energy to maintain its stability. The only source
of
energy for most Ecosystems is sunlight. Producers are the only organisms capable of trapping
solar
energy through photosynthesis and making it available to the Ecosystem.
The energy is stored in chemical bonds in large organic molecules such as carbohydrates, fats,
and
proteins. The energy stored in the molecules of producers is transferred to other organisms when
the producers are eaten. The energy contained within producers and consumers is ultimately
passed to the decomposers responsible for the constant recycling of nutrients.
So in any ecosystem, the amount
of energy contained in the
herbivore trophic level is only
about 10% of the energy
contained in the producer trophic
level. The amount of energy at
the third trophic level is approximately 1% found in the
first trophic level.
Ecological Pyramids
It is a graphic representation of the relationship between organisms at various trophic levels in a
food chain . The basis of an ecological pyramid is biomass, energy , and number.
Types of Ecological Pyramids
Depending on the factors that we use to represent an ecological pyramid, there are three types.
They
are:
Pyramid of Number
It is the graphic representation of the number of
organisms present in the unit area of various
trophic levels of a food chain with producers at
the base and top consumers at the apex. The
bottom of the pyramid of numbers is broad,
whereas its peak is tapering. It is because of the
progressive decrease in the number of
organisms from the second trophic level to the
final trophic level. This type of pyramid is always
upright or erect in shape.
A pyramid of energy is defined as the graphic representation of total energy available in each
trophic level of a food chain. There is a loss of power at each trophic level of a food chain, and
only
10% of the total energy entering a particular trophic level is available for transfer to the next
trophic
level. Therefore, the pyramid of energy is always upright with a broad base and a tapering apex.
Pyramid of Mass and Numbers
It is the graphical representation of the numbers of individuals in various trophic levels of the
food
chain or unit area at any given time. The mass and numbers of organisms decrease along a food
chain. Example: Grass – Rabbit/Mice - Snakes/Lizards – Hawk. It takes many pounds of grass
(or
numerous grass plants) to support one hawk at the top of a food chain.
Grade 7 week 7
