Ecosystem

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.

Read on to explore the structure, components, types and functions of the ecosystem
in the notes provided below.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1

1. What is the ecosystem?

The ecosystem is the community of living organisms in conjunction with non-living
components of their environment, interacting as a system.
Q2

2. What are the different types of ecosystems?

The different types of the ecosystem include:

 Terrestrial ecosystem

 Forest ecosystem
 Grassland ecosystem
 Desert ecosystem
 Tundra ecosystem
 Aquatic ecosystem
 Freshwater ecosystem
 Marine ecosystem
Q3
3. What are the functional components of an ecosystem?
The four main components of an ecosystem are:
(i) Productivity
(ii) Decomposition
(iii) Energy flow
(iv) Nutrient cycling
Q4

4. Which ecosystem do we live in?

We live in a terrestrial ecosystem. This is the ecosystem where organisms interact
on landforms. Examples of terrestrial ecosystems include tundra, taigas, and tropical
rainforests. Deserts, grasslands and temperate deciduous forests also constitute
terrestrial ecosystems.
Q5

5. What is the structure of the ecosystem?

The structure of the ecosystem includes the organisms and physical features of the
environment, including the amount and distribution of nutrients in a particular habitat.
It also provides information regarding the climatic conditions of that area.
Q6

6. Which is the largest ecosystem in the world?

The largest ecosystem in the world is the aquatic ecosystem. It comprises freshwater
and marine ecosystems. It constitutes 70% of the surface of the earth.
Q7

7. What is the major function of an ecosystem?

The ecosystem is the functional unit of the environment system. The abiotic
components provide the matrix for the synthesis of organic components. This
process involves the exchange of energy.
Q8

8. What makes a good ecosystem?

A good ecosystem consists of native plants and animal species interacting with each
other and the environment. A healthy ecosystem has an energy source and the
decomposers that break down dead plants and animal matter, returning essential
nutrients to the soil.
Q9
9. What all include the non-living things in an ecosystem?
The non-living things in an ecosystem include air, wind, water, rocks, soil,
temperature and sunlight. These are known as the abiotic factors of an ecosystem.