UNIT 1-PART II

Outline of EcoSystem

 Concept
 Classification or Types
 Structure or Components
 Functions
 Food chains, Food Webs and Ecological Pyramids
 Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
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By:
Dr. Shradha Gandhi
 Concept of Ecosystem
In 1935, the British ecologist [Link] coined the term “eco system”.
The term “eco system” is made up of two Greek words.
“Eco” means ecological sphere(or) place of living
“system” means “group of organisms joined in regular and interdependent manner”.

Definition: A group of organisms interacting among themselves and with environment is

known as ecosystem.
Examples: Pond, lake, ocean, forest and desert etc are some of the examples of the
ecosystems.

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 Classification of Ecosystem

Ecosystem

Natural Man-made

Terrestrial Aquatic

Freshwater Marine
Ecosystem Ecosystem

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The ecosystem can be generally classified into two types:
(I) Natural Ecosystem (II) Artificial Ecosystem

(I) NATURAL ECOSYSTEM: A natural ecosystem is developed and governed by nature. These are capable of
operating and maintaining themselves without any major interference by man.
The following are the two types of natural ecosystem based on their habitat.
1. Terrestrial Ecosystem. 2. Aquatic Ecosystem.

1) Terrestrial Ecosystem: This ecosystem is related to land.

Examples: Grassland ecosystem, Forest ecosystem, and Desert ecosystem etc.
2) Aquatic Ecosystem: This ecosystem is related to water, it is further sub divided into two types based on
salt content.
i. Marine Ecosystem: Examples: seas and sea shores (land along the edges of sea)
ii. Fresh Water Ecosystem:
a. Running Water Ecosystems Examples: Rivers, streams (small narrow rivers)
b. Standing Water Ecosystems Examples: Pond, lake & well, etc

(II) MAN MADE (OR) ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEM:

An artificial ecosystem is created and maintained by man for his different needs. 4

Examples: Reservoirs, Artificial lakes and gardens, etc

 Structure or Components of an EcoSystem

Components

Abiotic Biotic

Climate Physical Chemical Producers Consumers Decomposers

Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Detritivores

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The term structure refers to various components. So, the structure of an ecosystem explains the
relationship between the abiotic (non-living) and the biotic (living) components.
Each and every ecosystem has two major components are:
(I) Abiotic (Non-living) components.
(II) Biotic (living) components.
(I) Abiotic Components:
The non-living component of an ecosystem is called “abiotic component” .
These non-living components enter the body of living organism, take part in metabolic activities
and then return to the environment. The abiotic component of the ecosystems divided into three
portions.
1. Climate factors : Solar radiation, temperature, wind etc.
2. Physical factors : light, fire, soil, air, water etc.
3. Chemical factors : Organic and Inorganic substances.
(II) Biotic Components: The living component of an ecosystem is called “Biotic component”. Eg:
Plants (Producers) ,Animals (Consumers) and Micro Organisms (Decomposers)
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The biotic components of an ecosystem are classified into three types based on how they get
their food.
A. Producers (Autotrophs) : Plants
B. Consumers (Heterotrophs) : Animals
C. Decomposers (Saprotrophs) : Micro organisms
A. Producers/Autotrophs (Auto=self, troph=feeder)
The sun which is the primary source of energy, gives energy to the plants to produce food
through photosynthesis. Plants use the light, carbon dioxide, water and the green pigment
chlorophyll in their leaves to produce sugars and oxygen. These plants that produce food
through photosynthesis are called producers. They are autotrophic organisms because they
manufacture their own food. Producers are called energy transducers.
B. Consumers /Heterotrophs (Hetero = other, troph = feeder):
Consumers are organisms, which cannot prepare their own food and depend directly/indirectly
on the producers. Eg: Plant Eating Species: rabbit, goat, deer, cow, etc. Animals Eating Species:
lions, tigers, etc. Depending upon the food habits the consumers are divided into four types.
i. Herbivores/Primary Consumers (Plant Eaters), ii. Carnivores/Secondary Consumers (Meat
Eaters), iii. Omnivores/Tertiary Consumers (With plant & meat eaters), iv. Detritivores (dead
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organism eaters)
Herbivores: Animals that eat only plants are called Herbivores. They directly depend on the
plants for their food. So they are called Plant eaters. Eg. Insects, goat, deer, cow, horse, etc.
Carnivores: Animals that eat other animals are called carnivores. They directly depend on the
herbivores for their food. Eg. Frog, cat, snake & foxes, etc.
Omnivores: Animals that eat both plants and animals are called omnivores. They depend on
both herbivores and carnivores for their food. Eg. humans, tigers, lions, rats and fox etc.
Detritivores: Animals that eat dead organisms and waste of living are called detritivores. Eg:
beetles, termites, ants, crabs, earthworms, etc.
C. Decomposers/Saptrotrophs: (Sapros = Rotten, trophos = feeder)
Decomposers attack the dead bodies of producers and consumers and decompose them into
simple compounds. During the decomposition inorganic nutrients are released. The organisms
which break down the complex compounds into simple products are called decomposers (or)
reducers. Eg: micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi, etc.

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 Function of an EcoSystem
The function of an ecosystem is related to the cycling of materials (matter) and flow of energy.
Functions of an ecosystem are of three types:
1. Primary Function: The producers (plants) can make their food themselves through
photosynthesis. This process is called primary function of ecosystem. Eg: All green plants and
trees.
2. Secondary Function: The consumers (animals and humans) cannot make their own food. They
are always depending upon the producers for their energy. This is called secondary function of
ecosystem.
3. Tertiary Function: Decomposers attack the dead bodies of consumers and producers and
decompose them into simpler compounds. During the decomposition inorganic nutrients are
released. Eg: Micro-organisms like bacteria and fungi, etc
The functioning of an ecosystem may be understood by studying the following terms:
(A) Food chains, (B) Food webs, (C) Food pyramids/Energy pyramids, (D) Energy and material flow.

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 Food Chain
Food contains energy. It can be transferred from one organism to the other. The process of transfer
of energy from one organism to a series of organisms is called as “food chain”.

A food chain is a picture (or) model that shows the flow of energy from autotrophs (producers) to
series of organisms in an environment. All the food chains starts with the sun. The sun provides
energy for plants. The producers (plants) can make their food themselves with the help of the
sunlight, chlorophyll, water and air. The consumers, including animals and humans, cannot make
their own food. They are always depending upon the producers for their energy. Decomposers are
the micro-organisms that break down the dead animals and plants and release nutrients 10 that
become part of the soil, which are re-used by new plants, back to the starting point of the food
chain.
Three basic types of food chains are found in a typical eco system. They are: 1. Grazing food
chains,
2. Detritus food chains, 3. Parasitic food chains.
[Link] food chains:
Grazing food chain starts with green plants (producers) and goes to decomposer food chain (or)
detritus food chain through herbivores and carnivores.
It has two types : (a) Terrestrial food chain and (b) Aquatic food chain
(a) Terrestrial food chain: Food chain on land is called terrestrial food chain. Eg: Grassland food
chain, Forest food chain , Desert food chain
• Grass land food chain: Grasses Grasshoppers: Frog , Snake, Eagles
• Forest food chain : Green, plants, Deer , Tiger /lion
(b) Aquatic food chain: This food chain is slightly different from terrestrial food chain. It is seen
in aquatic (water) eco system. Food chain in water is called “Aquatic food chain”. Eg: Fresh water
food chain in a pond, Marine Food chain in Sea
• Fresh water food chain in a pond: Phytoplankton, ZooPlankton, Small fish, Large fish, Man
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• Marine Food chain in Sea: Sea Weeds, Small fish, Large fish, Sharks and other animals
2. Detritus’ food chain:
Detritus food chain starts with dead organic matter (plants and animals) and goes to decomposer
through consumers. Detritus food chains, independent of solar energy, but they depend on influx
of dead organic matter. Eg: Dead Plants, Soil mitts, Algae, Crabs, Small fish, Large fish.

Dead Soil Small Large

Algae Crabs
Plants mitts Fish Fish

3. Parasitic food chain:

Parasitic food chain operates in many ecosystems. In this food chain either consumer or producer
is parasitized and the food passes to smaller organisms. A parasitic food chain involves host
parasite hyper parasites’ links. Eg:

Fruit
Lice &
Trees Eating Bacteria Fungi
Bugs
Birds
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 Food Web
• Web means “network” . Thus, food web is a network of food chains.
• In a food web many food chains are inter connected, where different types of organisms are
connected at different tropic levels. It is the natural interconnection of food chains and a graphical
representation of what-eats-what in an ecological community. Another name for food web is
consumer-resource system.

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 Significance of food chains and food webs
1. Food chains and food webs play a very significant role in the ecosystem because the two
most important functions of energy flow and nutrient cycling take place through them.

2. The food chains also help in maintaining and regulating the population size of different
animals and thus, help maintain the ecological balance.

3. Food chains show a unique property of biological magnification of some chemicals. There
are several pesticides, heavy metals and other chemicals which are non-biodegradable in
nature. Such chemicals are not decomposed by microorganisms and they keep on passing
from one trophic level to another. And, at each successive trophic level, they keep on
increasing in concentration. This phenomenon is known as biomagnification or biological
magnification.

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 Ecological Pyramids
The concept of ecological pyramids was first developed by British ecologist Charles Elton in 1927.
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the relationship between the different living
organisms at different trophic levels OR 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 (i.e. biomass and
number of the organisms). Since some energy is lost as heat in each tropic levels, it becomes
progressively smaller near the top. An ecological pyramid is shown in the following figure.

On the basis of the number of organisms, the

biomass of organisms and energy flow in organism
population. Three types of ecological pyramids are:
I. Pyramid of numbers.
II. Pyramid of biomass
III. Pyramid of energy.

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[Link] of numbers
• It shows the number of individual organisms present in each tropic level which is expressed in
numbers per unit area. Depending upon the type of ecosystem, we have three types of pyramid of
numbers.

i. Upright pyramid of numbers.

ii. Inverted pyramid of numbers.

i. Upright pyramid of numbers.

The number of individual organisms gradually decreases from lower tropic level to higher tropic
level is called “upright pyramid of numbers”. Eg: A grassland ecosystem and a pond ecosystem
show an upright pyramid of numbers.

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b. Inverted pyramid of numbers
The number of individual organisms gradually increases from lower tropic level to higher tropic
level, is known as “inverted pyramid of numbers”.

2. Pyramid of Biomass:
It represents the total amount of biomass (mass (or) weight of biological material (or) organism)
present in each tropic level. · It is expressed in gram per unit area. Depending upon the type of
ecosystem, we have two types of pyramid of biomass.
i. Upright pyramid of biomass.
ii. Inverted pyramid of biomass 17
i. Upright Pyramid Of Biomass
A forest ecosystem showed an upright pyramid of biomass. In this ecosystem, the biomass
decreases from the producer level to consumer levels

ii. Inverted pyramid of biomass

The pyramid of biomass gradually increases from producer level to consumer level are called as
Inverted pyramid of biomass. Eg: The pond ecosystem shows an inverted pyramid of biomass.

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3. Pyramid of Energy:
It represents the amount of flow of energy in each tropic level. It is expressed in calories per unit
area per year. In an eco system, the energy flows from producer level to the consumer level. At
each successive tropic level, there is a huge loss of energy (about 90%) in the form of heat,
respiration, etc. Thus, at each next higher level only 10% of the energy passes on. Hence, there is
a sharp decrease in energy at each and every producer to omnivores (or) top carnivores.
Therefore, the pyramid of energy is always upright as shown in figure.

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 ENERGY FLOW IN THE ECOSYSTEMS
Energy is the most essential requirement for all living organism. Solar energy is the only source
to our planet earth. Solar energy is transformed to chemical energy in photosynthesis by the
plants (called as primary producers). Though a lot of sunlight falls on the green plants, only 1%
of it is utilized for photosynthesis. This is the most essential step to provide energy for all other
living organisms in the ecosystem. Some amount of chemical energy is used by the plants for
their growth and the remaining is transferred to consumers by the process of eating. Thus, the
energy enters the ecosystems through photosynthesis and passes through the different tropic
levels feeding levels.

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Energy flow and Thermodynamics
The flow of energy through an ecosystem follows the two laws of thermodynamics.
Ist law of thermodynamics: It is also called law of conservation of energy. It states that “energy can neither be created nor
be destroyed, but it can be transformed from one from to another”. The total energy of an isolated system is constant.
Illustration: Energy for an ecosystems comes from the sun. It is absorbed by plants, herein it is converted into stored
chemical energy i.e., solar energy is converted into chemical energy.

IInd law of thermodynamics: It states that, “Whenever energy is transformed, there is a loss of energy through the release
of heat”.
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Illustration: This occurs when energy is transferred between tropic levels. There will be a loss of energy (about 90%) in
the form of heat as it moves from one tropic level to another tropic level. The loss of energy takes place through
respiration, running, hunting, etc.,
 Questions
1. What is an ecosystem?
2. Explain the structure of an ecosystem.
3. What are the functions of an ecosystem?
4. Which are the functional components of an ecosystem?
5. Write briefly on the biotic components of an ecosystem.
6. Which are the abiotic components in an ecosystem?
7. Explain with examples producers, consumers and decomposers.
8. Explain the energy cycle in an ecosystem.
9. Which are the different types of food chain ?
10. Which are the different types of forest ecosystems. Give examples for each.
11. List the characteristic features of forest ecosystems.
12. Why is a forest ecosystem important to the world?
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13. What is a desert ecosystem ?
14. Write a short note on freshwater ecosystem.
15. Write a note on the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem explaining the functions of
each with examples.
16. Explain the energy flow in an ecosystem. What is an energy cycle?
17. Explain the terms food chain and food web.
18. Describe ecological pyramid.
19. Explain a forest ecosystem focusing on the different types, its importance and characteristics.
20. Which are the different types of ecosystems? Explain the features of each.
21. Describe aquatic ecosystems. Which are the different types ? Explain each.

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