ECOSYSTEM

Contents
• Ecosystem
• Components of ecosystem - Abiotic and Biotic components
• Structure and Function of an ecosystem
• Energy and nutrient flow in the ecosystem
• Ecological succession
• Food chains, Food webs, Ecological Pyramids
• Types of the ecosystem - Terrestrial ecosystem and Aquatic
ecosystem
 Ecosystem
• Term Ecosystem was first proposed by ecologist A. G. Tansely.
• Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of ecology. The word
ecosystem comes from a Greek word meaning study of home.
• 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 and one
another and with their non- living environment exchanging
energy and matter.
• Example; Animals cannot synthesis their food directly but
depend on the plants either directly or indirectly
Classification of Ecosystem
 Structure of an Ecosystem
• The term structure refers to the various components.
• So the structure of an ecosystem explains the relationship
between the abiotic (non –living) and the biotic (living)
components.
 Abiotic Components
• They form the environment and determine the type of
ecosystem.
• Physical factors: Sunlight, shade, length of day , temperature,
annual rainfall (precipitation), latitude, altitude, soil type, water
availability etc.
• Chemical factors: Availability of essential nutrients such as
carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, oxygen, sulfur,
percentage of water and air in soil, salinity of water, oxygen
dissolved in water etc.
 Biotic components
1. Autotrophs or Producers:
All green plants. They use solar energy, chlorophyll, inorganic
nutrients and water to produce their own food. (Photosynthesis)
2. Heterotrophs or Consumers:
They consume the organic compounds in plant and animal tissues
by eating.
• Herbivores (plant feeders) Primary consumers
• Carnivores (meat eaters) Secondary consumers
• Omnivores (general feeders)
3. Decomposers:
They are tiny organisms includes bacteria and fungi, which turn
organic compounds in dead plants and animals into inorganic
materials. They cause the continual recirculation of chemicals
within ecosystem (nutrient cycle)
 Functioning of Ecosystem
• To understand clearly the nature of ecosystem its functioning
should be thoroughly understood.
• The function of an ecosystem is to allow flow of energy and
cycling of nutrients.
• The functioning of an ecosystems may be understood
studying the following terms

1. Energy flow
2. Nutrient cycling
 Ten Percent Law
• The transfer of energy and nutrients takes place in the
ecosystem by food chains and webs from lower trophic level
to the higher trophic level.
• Only a very small fraction, about one per cent, of the solar
energy received by the plant is used through the process of
photosynthesis. However, only 5% to 20% energy and
nutrients are transferred into higher trophic level successfully.
• For this reason, first trophic level has the largest number of
organisms, and second trophic level is less than first one; the
third level is less than second level, and so on.
• Explains why a food chain rarely has five links.
 Ecological Succession
• Ecological succession is the observed
process of change in the species
structure of an ecological community
over time.
• Ecological succession occurs when
the conditions of an environment
suddenly and drastically change.
• Thus the progressive replacement of
one community by another till the
development of stable community in
a particular area is called ecological
succession.
Ecological Succession
 Food chain
• A food chain shows the feeding relationship between different
living things in a particular habitat.
• The transfer of food energy from the source through a series
of organism by regular eating and eaten up, constitute the
food chain.
• At transfer a large portion of energy is lost in form of heat.
• In food chain each stage of transfer of food energy is known
as trophic level.
 Food web
• In any ecosystem, many food chains overlap. When this
happens, the food chain forms a food web.
• Various food chain are interlinked with each other and these
interlocking pattern formed by several food chain linked
together are called food web.
• Complex and realistic way.
 Ecological Pyramids
• Graphical representation of structure and function of tropic levels
of an ecosystem, starting with producers at the bottom and each
successive tropic levels forming the apex is known as an ecological
pyramids.
• In food chain starting from the producers to the consumers, there
is a regular decrease in the properties (ie.,, biomass and number
of the organisms). Since some energy is lost as heat in each tropic
levels, it becomes progressively smaller near the top.
1. Pyramid of energy
2. Pyramid of numbers
3. Pyramid of biomass
 1.Pyramid of energy
• Shows the amount of energy input to each trophic level in a
given area of an ecosystem over an extended period.
• Large base and gets significantly smaller at each level.
• Less energy is available to each successive trophic level.

• Why will this type of pyramid never be inverted?

In nature, ecological
efficiency varies from
5% to 20% energy
available between
successive trophic
levels (95% to 80%
loss). About 10%
efficiency is a general
rule.
 Pyramid 0f Number
• Shows the number of organisms at each trophic level per unit
area of an ecosystem.
• Large number of producers tend to form the base.
• Lower numbers of top carnivores occupy the tip
 Pyramid of Number
x
• The length of each bar gives a
o
f
measure of the relative
rabbits numbers. Pyramids have
grass
producers at the bottom,
usually in the greatest number.
Most are broad at the base, but
some may have a large single
Blue plant as the producer, like a
tits
tree, so the base is one
caterpillars
individual which supports many
tre consumers.
ee
 Pyramid of Biomass
• An ecological pyramid of biomass shows the relationship
between biomass and trophic level by quantifying the amount of
biomass present at each trophic level.
• Biomass = mass of each individual x number of individuals at
each trophic level.
• Biomass is the quantity of (dry) organic material in an organisms,
a population, a particular trophic level or an ecosystem.
• Biomass represents chemical energy stored in the organic matter
of a trophic level.
• The units of a pyramid of biomass are units of mass per unit
area, often grams per square meter (g m - ²) or volume of water
(g m -3) or as energy content (joules , J)
 • Exception, Oceanic ecosystems where
the producers are phytoplankton
(unicellular green algae).
zooplankton
• Phytoplankton reproduce fast but are
phytopla
nkton present in small amounts at any one
time.
• As a pyramid represents biomass at one
time only, e.g., in winter, the
phytoplankton bar may be far shorter
than that of the zooplankton which are
the primary consumers.
 Types of Ecosystems

1. Natural
a) Terrestrial ecosystems (grasslands, forests, desert
ecosystems)
b) Aquatic ecosystem
• Lentic (Stagnant water) like lake, ponds etc.
• Lotic (Flowing water) like river, ocean, sea, etc.
2. Artificial
• A crop land, garden, aquarium, park, kitchen garden.
 Forest Ecosystem
• Forest ecosystem is a terrestrial unit of living organisms.
• A forest ecosystem is the one in which a tall and trees grow
that support many animals and birds. All interacting among
themselves and with the environment (soil, climate, water
and light) in which they live.
• The forest are found in undisturbed areas receiving moderate
to high rainfall. The forest occupies nearly 40% of the world’s
land area.
• In India it occupies only 19% of its total land
area and contain about 70% of carbon
 Characteristics of forest ecosystems
1. Forests are characterized by warm temperature and
adequate rainfall, which make the generation of number of
ponds, lakes etc.
2. The forest maintains climate and rainfall.
3. The forest support many wild animals and protect
biodiversity.
4. The soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients which support
the growth of trees.
5. Since penetration of light is so poor, the conversion of
organic matter into nutrients is very fast.
Types Of Forest Ecosystems
 Components
1. Abiotic – Climatic factors (temperature, light, rainfall) and
minerals. inorganic and inorganic and organic substances found
in the soil and atmosphere. In addition minerals, the
occurrence of litter is characteristic features, majority of
forests.
2. Biotic
 Producers – Vegetation of the forest is the producer. All contains
chlorophyll pigment and perform the process of photosynthesis.
• Primary Consumers – directly depend on the plants for their
food eg, insects, pests, birds, flies, spiders etc.
 Components
 Secondary Consumers (primary carnivores) –directly depend on
the herbivores for their food like snakes, birds, fox, jackal etc.
 Tertiary Consumers – depend on the primary carnivores for their
food like lions, tigers, hawks etc.
• Decomposers – they decompose the dead plant and animal
matter and recycles the nutrients like Bacteria and fungi.
FUNCTIONS :
• Watershed Protection
• Atmospheric regulation
• Soil Erosion Control
• Wind Erosion Control
 Grassland Ecosystem
• Grassland occupies about 20% of earth’s surface addition to
grass species, some trees and shrubs are/also pre in
grasslands.
• Limited grazing helps to improve the net primary production
of the grasslands.
• But, overgrazing leads degradation of these grasslands
resulting in desertificationIt occupies about 19% of earth’s
surface.
• Known as prairies and savannas.
• Situated between a forest and a desert. In fact, grasslands
surround every desert in Asia.
A grassland west of Coalinga, California

Savanna in the Samburu Game

Preserve, Kenya
 Characteristics of Grassland Ecosystems
• Grassland ecosystem is a plain land occupied by grasses.
• Soil is very rich in nutrients and organic matter.
• Since it has tall grass, it is ideal place for grazing animals.
• It is characterized by low or uneven rainfall
 Grassland Ecosystem
1. Abiotic Components – Nutrients such as C, N, H, O, P, S, etc.
supplied by air and soil.
2. Biotic Components –
• Producers- Herbs and shrubs.
• Primary Consumer – Cattle, Rodents, Insects all animals
feeding on grass.
• Secondary Consumers – feed on herbivores like Foxes, jackals,
snakes, frogs, lizards, wild dogs etc.
• Tertiary Consumers – feed on secondary consumers like Birds
such as Hawks, eagle etc.
• Decomposers – recharges the mineral contents of the soil and
make it useful for farming.
 Functions

• Grassland provide food

• Grasslands are Breeding Areas
• Habitat
 Desert Ecosystem
• A desert ecosystem exists where there is little rainfall <250 mm
per annum and the climate is extreme in harshness.
• It occupies about 17% of the earth’s surface
• Sahara Desert is the largest desert, covers over 300 million
square miles.
• Found on every continent except Europe.
• Main features are;
 Characteristics Of Desert Ecosystem
• The desert air is dry and the climate is hot.
• Annual rainfall is less than 25 cm.
• The soil is very poor in nutrients and organic matter,
Vegetation is poorly developed and scarce
 Dust storms
 Species composition is quite specific due to extreme climatic
conditions.
 Components
1. Abiotic Components - Temperature, rainfall, sunlight, water,
etc. The temperature is very high and the rainfall is very low.
The nutrient cycling is also very low.
2. Biotic Components :
• Producers : Shrubs, bushes, some grasses. .In deserts mostly
Succulent (e.g., cacti) plants are found available. They have
water inside them to stay alive.
• Consumers : Squirrels, nice foxes, rabbits, deer and reptiles.
Some nocturnal rodents and birds. Camels “The ship of the
desert “ feed on tender shoots of these plants. 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.
 Components
• Decomposers :Due to poor vegetation, the amount of organic
matter available is less. Very few Thermophillic bacteria and
fungi survive in such conditions.

• Functions
• Solar energy
• Mineral energy
 Aquatic Ecosystems
• An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem located in a body of
water.
• Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other
and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems.
• The major types of organism found in aquatic environments are
determined by the water’s salinity.

• Types of aquatic ecosystems;

1. freshwater ecosystem
2. Marine ecosystem
 Freshwater ecosystem
• Covers 0.8% of the earths surface and inhabit 0.009% of its
total water.
• It contains 41% of the worlds known fish species and can be
subdivided into;
 Lentic: slow moving water; pools, ponds, lakes
 Lotic: faster moving water; streams, rivers
 Wetlands: areas where the soil is saturated for at least part of
the time
 Pond Ecosystem
• A pond is a fresh water aquatic ecosystems, where water is
stagnant. It receives enough water during rainy season. It
contains several types of algae, aquatic plants, insects, fishes and
birds.
• These are largely based on the autotroph algae which provide the
base trophic level for all life in the area.
• The largest predator in a pond ecosystem will normally be a fish
and in-between range smaller insects and microorganisms.
• It may have a scale of organisms from small bacteria to big
creatures like water snakes, beetles, water bugs, frogs, tadpoles,
and turtles.
• This is important for the environment.
 Characteristics of pond
• Pond is temporary, only seasonal.
• It is a stagnant fresh water body.
• Ponds get polluted easily due to limited amount of water.
 Components
1. Abiotic components - Temperature, light, water and organic
and inorganic compounds.
2. Biotic Components
• Producers-These include green photosynthetic organism.
They are of two types
• Phytoplankton-These are microscopic aquatic plants, which
freely float on the surface of water. Example :Algae, small
floating plants like volvox, pandorina anabaena, consmarium.
• Microphytes, Examples: Large floating plants and submerged
plants like hydrilla, Jussiaea, wolfia, demna.
 Components
• Consumers
• Primary consumers (Zooplanktons): These are microscopic
animals which freely float on the surface of water.
Zooplanktons are found along with phytoplankton. They feed
on plants (phytoplankton). Examples :Protozoa, very small
fish, ciliates, flagelaltes and protozoans.
• Secondary consumers (Carnivores):They feed on zooplankton
Examples :Insects like water beetles and small fish.
• Tertiary consumers :They feed on smaller fish.
Examples :Large fish like game fish.
 Components
• Decomposers: They decompose the dead plant and animal
matter and their nutrients are released and reused by the
green plants.
• Examples :Fungi, bacteria and flagellates
 Lake Ecosystem

• Lakes are large natural shallow water bodies. Lakes are used
for various purposes.
• Lakes are supplied with water from rainfall, melting snow and
streams
 Characteristics of lake ecosystem
1. Lake is a shallow fresh water body;
2. It is a permanent water body with large Water resources.
3. It helps in irrigation and drinking.
 Components
1. Abiotic components - Temperature, light, proteins and lipids,
O2 CO2
2. Biotic Consumers
• Producers: They are green plants, may be submerged, free
floating and amphibious plants. Examples: Phytoplankton's,
algae etc Consumers
• Primary Consumers (Zooplanktons): They feed on
phytoplankton. Examples: Cilictes, protozoans, etc.,
• Secondary consumers (carnivores) : They feed on zooplankton.
Examples: Insects and small fishes.
• Tertiary consumers: They feed on smaller fish Examples: Large
fishes like game fish.
 Components
• Decomposers
• They decompose the dead plants ad animals Examples:
Bacteria, fungi and aclinonrcetes.
 River (Or) Stream Ecosystem
• The running water of a stream or a river is usually well
oxygenated, because it absorb’s oxygen from the air.
• The number of animals are low in river or stream.
 Characteristics of River or Stream
• It is a fresh water, and free flowing water systems.
• Due to mixing of water, dissolved oxygen content is. more.
• River deposits large amount of nutrients.
 Components
1. Abiotic components Examples : River, Light, Temperature, Chemistry,
Substrate
2. Biotic Components
• Producers: Phytoplankton, algae, water grasses, aquatic masses other
amphibious plants.
• Consumers
• Primary consumers: They feed on phytoplankton. Examples : Water insects,
snails, fishes:
• Secondary consumers: They feed on primary consumers Examples : Birds
• Decomposers: They decomposes the dead animals and plants. Examples :
Bacteria and fungi.
 Marine Ecosystem
• Marine ecosystems cover approximately 71% of the Earth's
surface and contain approximately 97% of the planet's water.
• They generate 32% of the world's net primary production.
• They are distinguished from freshwater ecosystems by the
presence of dissolved compounds, especially salts, in the water.
• Approximately 85% of the dissolved materials in seawater are
sodium and chlorine.
• Seawater has an average salinity of 35 parts per thousand (ppt)
of water. Actual salinity varies among different marine
ecosystems.
• Types of marine ecosystems: ocean and coral reef.
 Characteristics of Ocean Ecosystem
• It occupies a large surface area with saline water.
• Since ship, submarines can sail in ocean, commercial activities
may be earned out.
• It is rich in biodiversity.
• It moderates the- temperature
 Components
1. Abiotic components - Temperature, light, NaCl, K, Ca, and Mg Salts alkalinity
2. Biotic components
• Producers : Phytoplanktons (diatoms, unicellular algae, etc., ) and marine
plants (sea weeds, chlorophycela, phaeophyceae).
• Consumers - These are heterotrophic macro consumers. They depend on
producers for their nutrition.
• Primary consumers (herbivores) :They feed on producers
Examples :Crustaceans, moiluscs, fish
• Secondary consumers (carnivores) : They feed on herbivores.
Examples :Herring sahd, mackerel, etc.,
• Tertiary Consumers: They are the top consumers. They feed on small.
Examples :Cod, Haddock, -etc.,
 Components
Decomposers: They decompose the dead organic matter.
• Example s:Bacteria and some fungi.

• Functions
• Recycles nutrients
• Purify water
• Responsible for proper rainfall
• Attenuate floods
• Recharge ground water 
 Estuarine Ecosystem
• An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal area at the’ mouth of
a river, where sea water mixes with freshwater. It is strongly
affected by tidal action.
• The inflow of both seawater and freshwater provide high
levels of nutrients and sediment, making estuaries among the
most productive natural habitats in the world.
• Act as breeding areas for deep water fishes.
• Estuaries are useful to human beings due to their high food
potential. It is essential to protect the estuaries from
pollution.
 Characteristics of Estuarine ecosystem
• Estuaries are transition zones, which are strongly affected by
tides of the sea.
• Water characteristics are periodically changed.
• The living organism in estuarine ecosystems have wide
tolerance.
• Salinity remains highest during the summer and lowest during
the winter.
 Components
• Abiotic Components - Temperature, pH, sodium and potassium
salts and various nutrients.
• Biotic Components
• Producers
• Examples :Marsh grasses, seaweeds , sea-grasses and
phytoplankton.
• Consumers Examples :Oysters, crabs, seabirds, small fishes
• Decomposers Examples :Bacterias, fungi and actenomycetous