Unit 2 ECOSYSTEM
INTRODUCTION
• The term “eco system “ is
made up of two Greek words.
“ECO” means ecological
sphere(or) house (Or) place of
living (Or)surroundings (Or)
Environment where living
organism does exist .
• “SYSYEM “ means group of
organisms joined in regular
and interdependent manner.
CLASSIFICATION OF ECOSYSTEM
The ecosystem
can be
generally
classifies into
two types :
a)Natural
Ecosystem
b) Artificial
Ecosystem
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 habitat .
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Aquatic Ecosystem
NATURAL ECOSYSTEM -Terrestrial Ecosystem
This ecosystem is related to
land.
Example : Grassland
Ecosystem , Forest Ecosystem
and Desert Ecosystem
Grass Land Ecosystem
Desert Ecosystem Forest Ecosystem
NATURAL ECOSYSTEM –Aquatic Ecosystem
This ecosystem is related to
water . It is future
subdivided into two types
based on salt content .
Fresh Water Ecosystem
Fresh Water Ecosystem
a)Running water Ecosyste
Example : River,
Streams(small narrow rivers)
b)Standing water system
Example: Pond, lake &Well
etc
Marine Ecosystem
Example : Seas and sea shores
Marine Ecosystem
MAN MADE OR ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEM
An Artificial Ecosystem is
created and maintained
by man for his different
needs.
Example: Reservoirs, GARDEN
Artificial lakes and
[Link]
LAKES
STRUCTURE OR COMPONENTS OF AN
ECOSYSTEM
BIOTIC COMPONENTS
The living component of an ecosystem is called
“Biotic Component “
Classification of Biotic Component
They are of three types based on how they get
their food .
Producers(Autotrophs): Plant
Consumers (Heterotrophs ): Animal
Decomposers (Saprotrophs ): Micro organisms
PRODUCERS (OR) AUTOTROPHS
(AUTO=Self ,TROPH=Feeder )
Self food producing organisms
are known as autotrophs.
Eg :All green plants and tress.
Producers synthesize their
food themselves through
photosynthesis .Hence are
called “ Photo autotrophs”
(Photo-Light )
CONSUMERS (OR) HETEROTROPHS
(HETERO=OTHER,TROPH=FEEDER)
Consumers are organisms which cannot prepare their own
food and depend directly (or ) Indirectly on the producers.
E.g. Insects, rabbit , goat ,deer, cow ,fish, lions, tigers, etc .
Classification of consumers: Depending upon the food habits
the consumers are divided into four types :
• Herbivorous(or)Primary Consumers (Plant Eaters)
• Carnivorous(or)Secondary Consumers (Meat Eaters)
• Omnivorous(or) Tertiary Consumers (With Plant and Meat
Eaters)
• Detritivorous (Dead Organism eaters )
HERBIVORES (Herbi=the green plant &
Vorare=to devour)
Animals that eat only
plants are called
Herbivores. They
directly depend on
the plants for their
food. So they are
called plant
eaters .E.g. :
Insects ,goat, deer,
cow, horse etc.
CARNIVORES (Carne=flesh meat &
Vorare=to devour)
Animals that eat
other animals are
called carnivores.
They directly
depend on the
herbivores for
their food.E.g.
Frog, cat, snake &
foxes etc.
OMNIVORES (Omni =Whole comes from
“ohm” & Vorare=to devour)
Animals that eat both
plant and animals are
called omnivores. They
directly depend on both
herbivores and
carnivores for their
food. E.g.
Humans ,tigers, lions,
rats and fox etc.
DETRITIVORES (Detritifeeder)
Animals that eat dead
organisms and waste
of living are called
detritivores. Eg:
beetles, termites,
ants,
crabs ,earthworms
etc.
DECOMPOSERES (OR)SAPTROTROPHS :
(SAPROS =ROTTEN&TROPH=FEEDER)
Decomposers attack the dead
bodies of producers and
consumers and decompose
them into simple
compound
During the decomposition
inorganic nutrients are
released
The organisms which
breakdown the complex
compounds into simple
compounds are called
decomposers (or) reducers.
Eg: Micro Organisms such as
bacteria ,fungi .etc
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
The non living component of an ecosystem
is called “abiotic component “.These non
–living component enter the body of
living organism. takes parts in metabolic
activities and them return to the
environment .The abiotic component of
the ecosystem divided into three
portions:
Climate Factors: Solar Radiation ,
temperature, wind, water
current ,rainfall etc .
Physical factors : light ,fire ,soil ,air etc
Chemical factors: Organic and Inorganic
Substances .
FUNCTIONS OF ECOSYSTEM
The function of an
ecosystem is
Cycling of Material
(Matters)
Flow of energy
TYPES OF FUNCTIONS
Functions of an ecosystem are of three types :
Primary Functions: The producers(Plants) can make their food
themselves through photosynthesis .This process is called primary
function of ecosystem .Example : All Green plants and tress.
Secondary Functions: The consumers (animals and humans ) cannot
make their own food ,They are always depending upon the
producers for their energy . This process is called secondary
function of ecosystem .
Tertiary Functions : Decomposers attack the dead bodies of
consumers and producers and decompose them into simple
compounds .During the decomposition inorganic nutrients are
released .Example4:Micro Organisms , Bacteria and Fungi etc
FOOD CHAIN
FOOD CHAIN
The process of transfer of food (energy )from
one organism to a series of organism is called
as “Food chain”
Producers Herbivorous Carnivorous Omnivores Decomposers
TYPES OF FOOD CHAIN
Three basic types of
food chains are
found in typical
eco system . They
are
Grazing Food Chain
Detritus Food
Chain
Parasitic Food
Chain
Grazing Food Chain
Grazing food chain starts with green plants and
goes to decomposer food chain (or)detritus
food chain through herbivores and carnivores.
It has two types:
Terrestrial Food chain and Aquatic food chain
Grazing Food Chain: Terrestrial Food Chain
Food chain on land is called terrestrial food
chain .Example : Grassland Food chain ,Forest
land food chain ,Desert land food chain.
Grassland Food chain
Grasses Grasshoppers Frog Snake Eagles
Forest Food Chain
Green
Deer Tiger
Plants
Grazing Food Chain: 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 Example :
Marine Food chain example : Ocean
Sharks and
Sea Weed Small Fish Large Fish
other animals
Fresh Water Food Chain example :Pond,Lake,stream
etc
Phytoplankton Zoo Plankton Small Fish Large Fish Man
Aquatic Food Chain
Marine Food Chain Fresh Water Food Chain
