UNIT- III

ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystem Word is coined by A.G Tansley in the year 1835

“The structure and functional unit of biosphere comprising of biotic and abiotic
components where there is physiological inter relationship and interaction between
community themselves and between community and abiotic system”

I. IMPORTANT CHARACTORSTIC FEATURES OF ECOSYSTEM

1. Ecosystem consists of Living organisms and Non-components.

2. Ecosystems can be Natural and Artificial.
3. Ecosystems are interconnected – Ex : Pond ecosystem depends on terrestrial ecosystems.
4. An ‘Ecosystem’ is a region with a specific and recognizable landscape form such As
Forest, Grassland, Desert, Wetland or Coastal Area.
5. The nature of the ecosystem is based on its geographical features such As Hills,
Mountains, Plains, Rivers, Lakes, Coastal Areas Or Islands.
6. It is also controlled by climatic conditions such as the amount of sunlight, the
temperature and the rainfall in the region. The geographical, climatic and soil
characteristics form its non-living (abiotic) component.

II. TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM

1. Natural ecosystem – Ex: Grassland ecosystem, Forest ecosystem, Pond ecosystem etc…
2. Artificial ecosystem or manmade ecosystem – Ex: Gardens, Parks, Agricultural land and
aquarium etc…

III. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF ECOSYTEM

i. STRUCTURE OF ECOSYSTEM

Structural components of Ecosystem

A. BIOTIC COMPONENTS
B. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS

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A. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

Biotic components are all living organisms.

In an ecosystem living components can be usually classified into

a. Autotrophs : Are the organisms which can prepare their own food Ex : Green plants
and Algae
b. Heterotrophs: Are the organism which cannot prepare their food but depends on
Autotrophs. Ex : All animals

i. IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM

Important components are

a. Producers
b. Consumers
c. Decomposers

1. PRODUCERS

Producers are the autotrophs which are capable preparing food from using Sun light, CO 2 ,
water and Chlorophyll. Producers include. Plants, Algae and Aquatic plants. Producers are
the major component of an ecosystem where the other organism depends on producers.

2. CONSUMERS

Consumers are heterotrophic organism which depend on producers for their food there are
several forms of consumers

Ex : Some animals eat open green plants called as - Herbivores Ex: Rabbit, Deer and
Elephant Etc…

Animals which eat other animals are called – Cornivores Ex: Snake, Lion and Tiger etc…

Animals which eat both Animals and plant – Omnivores Ex: Humans, Dogs and Pigs etc…

Animals which eat detritus (dead body) – Detrivores Ex: Eagle and Jackal etc…

In an ecosystem Consumers are divided in to three types

a. Primary consumers – Primary consumers are organism which consumer or depend on

producers like Plant and Algae basically they are Herbivores.
Ex: Deer, Elephant, Grass hopper, Sheep etc…

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b. Secondary consumers – Secondary consumers are the animals which eat upon Primary
consumers or Herbivores.
Ex: Frog, Snake and Foxes etc…

c. Tertiary consumers – Tertiary consumers are the top carnivores which eat other carnivores
or Flesh eating animals.
Ex: Tiger,Lion etc

3. DECOMPOSERS
Decomposers are the microscopic organisms like Bacteria and fungi which eat upon dead
bodies of Producers and consumers convert it in to simpler compound and components and
release in organic nutrients.
Ex: Bacteria and Fungi.

IV. ENERGY FLOW IN THE ECOSYSTEM

Sun is the basic source of energy to the earth as we know is absorbed by plants to prepare
food using water,co2 and chlorophyll ,when this food os consumed by herbivores which are
primary consumers part of this energy is moved to primary consumers , and these primary
consumers are eaten up by secondary consumers i.e. carnivores energy is moved to
carnivores, when all these producers and consumers are dead they will be decomposed by
decomposers so energy is moved to decomposers and humus produced is used for plant
growth this is how energy is transferred from sun to different organism.
Energy is neither be created nor be destroyed can be transferred to one form to another –
NEWTONS FIRST LAW

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 Fig: 1 ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEM

V. BIGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

Cycling of chemical elements within an ecosystem is called Ecosystem mineral cycle. By

Biological , geological and chemical processes these naturally available minerals an like
CO2 ,H2O , nitrogen, Oxygen etc elements are converted in to useful forms such processes is
called BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE. Through this cycle Ecosystem works.

a) Hydrological cycle or Water cycle

b) Carbon cycle
c) Oxygen cycle
d) Nitrogen cycle

a) HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE OR WATER CYCLE

Hydrological cycle or Water cycle or water cycle is most important cycle in ecosystem
through which all forms of water cycled and recharged.
Interchange of Water between Earth surface and Atmosphere through Rain precipitation
or Evapotranspiration.
1. Sun energy absorbs water from ocean, river, plant etc…
2. Absorbed water vapors moves in to the atmosphere undergoes cooling and
condensation.
3. These cooled water becomes clouds comes to the earth surface as Rain and this rain
water enters Ocean, river and plant body and underground water.

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 4. Again absorption of water by sun energy and condensation cooling takes place this
process forms a cycle and it is continues.

Fig: 2 WATER CYCLE OR HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

b) CARBON CYCLE

1. Carbon exist in atmosphere in the form of CO 2 and it is also released by industries and
vehicles.
2. CO2 is taken up by plants to complete photosynthesis
3. During photosynthesis Carbon is converted as Carbohydrate that is food.
4. Carbon in the form of food enters food chain producers to consumers and finally
decomposers
5. Decomposers will release carbon int o soil and carbon dioxide in to atmosphere by
decamping dead organisms

Like this Carbon is cycled in atmosphere.

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 Fig: 3 CARBON CYCLE

c) OXYGEN CYCLE
1. Oxygen is present naturally in atmosphere 20 % and also released by Plants during
photosynthesis.
2. Oxygen present in atmosphere is taken up by animals and human beings for respiration.
3. Animals convert absorbed oxygen is into CO2 during respiration and released to
atmosphere.
4. This CO2 again took by plants during photosynthesis and they again release oxygen.

This is how oxygen is cycled in atmosphere.

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 Fig: 3 OXYGEN CYCLE

d) NITROGEN CYCLE
1. Nitrogen is present atmosphere as nitrogen gas up to 79%. This nitrogen is essential nutrient for
plant.
2. plants could not directly use nitrogen in atmosphere hence Nitrogen fixing bacteria help plants to
get atmospheric nitrogen.
3. When nitrogen gets entry in to plant they will grow and prepare food which has nitrogen.
4. Animals also need nitrogen this nitrogen is moved to consumers.
5. When producers and consumers die , decomposers will release nitrogen into soil and atmosphere
so cycle is finished.

Fig: 4 NITROGEN CYCLE

VI. FOOD CHAIN

“Food chain refers to flow of energy (food energy ) from one category of organisms to another
category of organisms from different levels through a repeated process of eating and being
eaten”.

The most obvious aspect of nature is that energy must pass from one living organism to
another. When herbivorous animals feed on plants, energy is transferred from plants to animals.
In an ecosystem, some of the animals feed on other living organisms, while some feed on dead
organic matter. The latter form the ‘detritus’ food chain.

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 Fig: 5 FOOD CHAIN (GRASS LAND)

VII. FOOD WEB

Food chain in an ecosystem are not isolated from one another but interconnected with one
another. “The interlink between food chain which forms web like structure is known as
food web”.

Fig: 6 FOOD WEB

a. IMPORTANCE OF FOOD WEB

1. Food web and food chain play an important role in ecosystem more the food web more
will be the stability of ecosystem.
2. Food web indicates more food option for organisms.
3. More the food option more will be the stability of organisms.

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VIII. ECOLOGICAL PYARAMIDS

The concept of ecological pyramids was introduced by Charles Elton , a British ecologist In
1927.According to him, there is some sort of relationship between the number of biomass and
energy content of producers, first, second and top carnivores in the ecosystem and it is represent
graphically by means as pyramid.

Types of Ecological; pyramids:

1. Pyramid of Number
2. Pyramid of Biomass
3. Pyramid of Energy

Pyramid of Number and Biomass may upright or inverted depending upon Ecosystem but
Pyramid of Energy is always Upright.

1. PYRAMID OF NUMBER

As name itself indicate pyramid of number depends on the Number of Producers and
consumers coexist in an ecosystem can be graphically represented by constructing Pyramid
called Pyramid of Number.

ff

FIG: 6 PYRAMID OF ENERGY

Pyramid of number may Upright like Grass land ecosystem and Inverted like Parasitic
ecosystem.

Note –

a. Pyramid of number does not give true picture of food chain

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 b. Pyramid of number varies with different community and with the different types of
food chain in some ecosystem.

2. PYRAMID OF BIOMASS

Biomass is the dry weight of the dry matter of the organism at particular time per
unit area or in simple words it is the weight of an organism when it is dried in sunlight.

The total Biomass of successive trophic levels are arranged to form pyramid is called Pyramid of
Biomass.

Note -

a. Gradual decrease in the biomass from producers to higher trophic levels – Grassland
ecosystem
b. Gradual increase in biomass from producers to top carnivore – Pond ecosystem
c. Pyramid of biomass may be Upright or inverted

Fig: 8 PYRAMID OF BIOMASS

3. PYRAMID OF ENERGY

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Pyramid of energy deals with relationship of energy accumulation pattern at different trophic
levels of food chain. In pyramid of energy , Energy from sun to producers and consumers energy
decreases.

Note –

1. Pyramid of energy gives complete picture of nature of Ecosystem.

2. Pyramid of energy is always Upright.

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 MOJOR ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystems may be natural or artificial natural ecosystem is found in natural condition

Types of Ecosystem

1. ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEM – Ex : Garden, Parks, aquarium, and Cropland ecosystem.

2. NATURAL ECOSYSTEM – it is further divided in to
A. Terrestrial or Land based ecosystem Ex: Forest Ecosystem
Grassland Ecosystem
Desert Ecosystem
Mountain Ecosystem
Island ecosystem
B. Aquatic Ecosystem : it is further divided in to
a. Fresh water Ecosystem –
i. Lentic or Standing water Ecosystem
Ex: Pond water Ecosystem, Lake
Ecosystem , Swamp ecosystem
ii. Lotic or Running water Ecosystem
Ex: River, Stream.
b. Marine water Ecosystem –

Let us discuss few important Ecosystems….

I. TERESTRIAL OR LAND ECOSYSTEM

1. FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

- Forest ecosystem is terrestrial ecosystem, forest is a most essential and complex

ecosystem consisting of different organisms. India has 19.2% of forest area.
- India has forest areas like westernghats, Himalaya and Vindya regions. Etc…

Forest types in India

There are variety of forest exist in India depending upon temperature, rainfall,
forest types are differentiated.

1. Coniferous forest
2. Broad leaf forest – Evergreen forest
Deciduous forest
Thorny forest
Mangrove forest

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Components of forest ecosystem

A. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
B. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

A. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS – Abiotic components are Sunlight, water, soil nutrients, soil and
temperature etc…

B. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

a. Producers
b. Consumers
c. Decomposers

1. PRODUCERS – Plants are producers in forest ecosystem variety of trees, medicinal

plants and other herbivores plants are present in forest.

2. CONSUMERS – Consumers in forest ecosystem differentiated in to

a. Primary consumers – Primary consumers are smaller herbivores or animals feeding

on tree leaves such as Ex: Deer, Rabbit, Moles etc
b. Secondary consumers – Secondary consumers are Carnivores like Ex: Snake, birds,
Fox etc… feeding on herbivores
c. Tertiary consumers – Tertiary consumers are top carnivores which feed upon
secondary consumers Ex: Tiger, Lion etc…

3. DECOMPOSERS – Decomposers are many variety of organisms like Bacteria and Fungi
which convert dead parts of plant and animals into organic materials and finally in to
small elements.

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2. GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM

Grassland usually consists of grass covered area with some thorny trees and bushes with less
rainfall.

Types of grass lands found in India are Himalayan pasture belt, Terai grassland, Shola
grassland etc…

- Grassland ecosystem comprises of different types of grasses with a little amount of

shrubs and few trees.
- There are very few trees found in grassland.

Components of forest ecosystem

A. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
B. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

1. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS - Abiotic components are the inorganic and organic substances present
in the soil and sand..

A. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

a. Producers
b. Consumers
c. Decomposers

a. PRODUCERS – Producers include grasses and a few herbs and shrubs.

b. CONSUMERS – Consumers in forest ecosystem differentiated in to

1. Primary consumers – Primary consumers are herbivores like Cow, Grasshopper,

buffalo, sheep and deer etc…
2. Secondary consumers – Secondary consumers are Carnivores like Ex: Snake,
Frog, Lizards, Fox etc… feeding on herbivores.
3. Tertiary consumers – Tertiary consumers are top carnivores which feed upon
secondary consumers Ex: Tiger, Lion, eagle etc…

c. DECOMPOSERS- Decomposers are many variety of organisms like Bacteria and Fungi
which convert dead parts of plant and animals into organic materials and finally in to small
elements.

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C. DESERT ECOSYSTEM

Desert ecosystem is present in regions where annual rainfall is less than 25cm and the
temperature is very high Ex: Sahara desert in Africa and Thar desert in India etc…About 17% of
land area of the world is desert ecosystem.

NOTE

- Desert ecosystem occurs in regions of very high temperature and very low rainfall.
- Due to high temperature and low water desert ecosystem is poorly represented by
flora and fauna.
- In desert ecosystem soil contains little organic matter.
-

Components of forest ecosystem

A. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
B. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

A. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS – Abiotic components are Sunlight, water, soil nutrients,

Rainfall sand and temperature etc…

B. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

a. Producers
b. Consumers
c. Decomposers

a. PRODUCERS – The producers in desert shrubs, some grasses and very few trees are
producers.

b. CONSUMERS – Consumers in desert ecosystem Camel, insects, Reptiles etc are also
found.

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 c. DECOMPOSERS – Decomposers are many variety of organisms like Bacteria and
Fungi which convert dead parts of plant and animals into organic materials and finally
in to small elements.

II. AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

1. POND ECOSYSTEM

- Pond is a fresh water ecosystem it is best example for simple, self sufficient self
regulating ecosystem, pond is very small when compare to Lake.
- Pond ecosystem has two Phases Dormant phase and active phase. Pond will have
water only during rainy season and winter season, in summer season there will be no
water.
- Dormant phase nothing but all the organisms in pond like fishes, algae and frog will
be in dormant phase there will be no activity in their body but they are alive during
summer.
- In monsoon season there will be water and organism will be active and this process
will continue.

Components of forest ecosystem

A. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
B. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

A. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS – Abiotic components are Sunlight, water, water nutrients,

depth of the pond , Oxygen content in water (Dissolved oxygen), BOD and COD.

B. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

d. Producers
e. Consumers
f. Decomposers

4. PRODUCERS – Algae and few Aquatic plants – Floating plants, Submerged plants and
rooted are producers in pond ecosystem variety of algae like blue green algae, aquatic
plants can be seen.

5. CONSUMERS – Consumers in Pond ecosystem differentiated in to

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 d. Primary consumers – Primary consumers are Zoopalntons will feed on algae.
Secondary consumers – Secondary consumers are small fishes which will feed on
both Algae and Zoplanktons.
e. Tertiary consumers – Tertiary consumers Large fishes which will feed on small
fishes.

6. DECOMPOSERS – Decomposers are many variety of detrivores organisms like Bacteria

and Fungi which convert dead parts of plant and algae into organic materials and detritus
(Humus).

2. LAKE ECOSYSTEM

- Lakes are usually large in area compared to Ponds, Biotic and Abiotic components
are same but diversity of organism is more in lakes.
- Water in lake can be seen whole year.
- There is no dormant phase of Organisms.
- Lakes are differentiated in to many forms depending upon its formation.
- In lake Algae, Zooplankton and fishes are more in number and variety species are
also found
- Major characteristic of Lakes are Its Zonation i.e depending upon Sunlight
penetration in to Lake as shown below.

Components of forest ecosystem

C. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
D. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

C. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS – Abiotic components are Sunlight, water, water nutrients,

Dissolved organic substances, depth of the pond , Oxygen content in water (Dissolved
oxygen), BOD and COD.

D. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

g. Producers

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 h. Consumers
i. Decomposers

7. PRODUCERS – Algae and Aquatic plants – Floating plants, Submerged plants and rooted
are producers in pond ecosystem variety of algae like blue green algae, aquatic plants can
be seen.

8. CONSUMERS – Consumers in lake ecosystem differentiated in to

f. Primary consumers – Primary consumers are Zoopalntons will feed on algae.

Secondary consumers – Secondary consumers are different species of small fishes
which will feed on both Algae and Zoplanktons.
g. Tertiary consumers – Tertiary consumers large fishes which will feed on small
fishes.
9. DECOMPOSERS – Decomposers are many variety of detrivores organisms like Bacteria
and Fungi which convert dead parts of plant and algae into organic materials and detritus
(Humus).

3. RIVER OR STREAM WATER ECOSYSTEM

- River or Stream water ecosystem is best example for Lotic or Running water
ecosystem.
- Running water ecosystem differs from Standing water ecosystem, Movement of water
monitors biotic and abiotic components.
- We can see different species of Algae, zooplanktons and Fish species and also aquatic
plants.
- Depending upon speed of water organisms can be seen, because of its movement for
hundreds of kilometer different organic and inorganic substance will enter water.

Components of forest ecosystem

E. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
F. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

E. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS – Abiotic components are Sunlight, water, water nutrients,

Dissolved organic substances, NPK – Nitrogen, Potassium and phosphorus , Calcium,
Oxygen content in water (Dissolved oxygen), BOD and COD, Speed of water, depth of
water , bottom soil etc…

F. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

j. Producers

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 k. Consumers
l. Decomposers

10. PRODUCERS – Algae and Aquatic plants – Floating plants, Submerged plants and rooted
are producers in pond ecosystem variety of algae like blue green algae, aquatic plants can
be seen.

11. CONSUMERS – Consumers in River or Stream water ecosystem differentiated in to

h. Primary consumers – Primary consumers are Zoopalntons will feed on algae.

Secondary consumers – Secondary consumers are different species of small fishes
which will feed on both Algae and Zoplanktons.
i. Tertiary consumers – Tertiary consumers large fishes which will feed on small
fishes.
12. DECOMPOSERS – Decomposers are many variety of detrivores organisms like Bacteria
and Fungi which convert dead parts of plant and algae into organic materials and detritus
(Humus).

4. MARINE OR OCEANECOSYSTEM

- Oceans are gigantic reservoirs of salt water, covering nearly 70% of earth.
- Major oceans of the world are Indian ocean, Pacific ocean, Atlantic ocean,
Mediterranean and Arctic ocean.
- Most of the marine water is at 23 oC, devoid of light and high pressure of
atmosphere(100 atm).
- Ocean consists of Smallest Phytoplankton’s and end with larger animals like giant
fish and whales.
- In marine ecosystem, the ecology of Shallow, Deep and Estuarine part is different
from each other.

Components of forest ecosystem

G. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
H. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

G. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS – Abiotic components are High Na, Ca, Mg, Iodine
concentration Sunlight, water, water nutrients, Dissolved organic substances, depth of the
pond , Variable Oxygen content in water (Dissolved oxygen), Unique Physio-chemical
condition in marine water.

H. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

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 m. Producers
n. Consumers
o. Decomposers

m. PRODUCERS – Producers include Phytoplankton (Diatoms), Large sea weeds (Algae

like chlorophycea and Rhodophyceal ) and Mangrove vegetations (Avicinia, Carapa
etc…)

n. CONSUMERS – Consumers in Marine ecosystem differentiated in to

a. Primary consumers – Primary consumers are Herbivores, and they directly feed on
producers, such as crustaceous and Mollusks fish.
b. Secondary consumers – Secondary consumers are comprise fishes , such as herring,
Sahd, mackerel, etc…
c. Tertiary consumers – Tertiary consumers large fishes which will feed on small
fishes like Whales, Cod, and haddock etc…

o. DECOMPOSERS – Decomposers are many variety of detrivores organisms like Bacteria

and Fungi which convert dead parts of plant and algae into organic materials and detritus
(Humus).

5. ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEMS

- Estuary is a Meeting of Rivers with oceans, It contains both Fresh water and Salt
water.
- Mangrove forest is only seen in these places, this characteristic makes Estuary
different from ocean in all forms like Ecology and Biotic factors.
- Estuary has variety of organism and more biodiversity than any aquatic ecosystem It
provides breeding points for variety of marine organisms - Coral reef, Crustaceans
etc…

Components of forest ecosystem

I. ABIOTIC COMPOMENTS
J. BIOTIC COMPONENTS

I. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS – Abiotic components are High Na, Ca, Mg, Iodine
concentration Sunlight, water, water nutrients, Dissolved organic substances, depth of the
pond , Variable Oxygen content in water (Dissolved oxygen), Unique Physio-chemical
condition in marine water.

J. BIOTIC COMPONENTS – Biotic components are

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 p. Producers
q. Consumers
r. Decomposers

m. PRODUCERS – Producers include macrophytes (Maish, Grasses, Sea weeds, Benthic

algae and Phytoplankton).

n. CONSUMERS – Consumers in Estuarine ecosystem are crabs several kind of Shrimps

and many commercial sport fish.

o. DECOMPOSERS – Decomposers are many varieties of detrivores organisms like

Bacteria and Fungi.

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