Lecture 03 (Ecosystem)

Lecture: 03
Food Chain in Ecosystem

“A food chain is a series of steps by which energy is
obtained, used, and transformed by living things.”
For example; sunlight helps plants to grow, the plants are

eaten by cattle, and lions eat the cattle
▪ Food chain consists of the sequence of populations of an

ecosystem which allows the transfer of food and energy
through it.
▪ Each member becomes the food of later species of

member. The food chain is also known as a predator food
chain. It consists of producers, consumers and the
decomposers.
▪ As food is being transferred from one organism to another

a lot of energy from food is lost. Hence, the biggest food
chain has four or five steps.
Flow chart of Food Chain
Trophic levels in the Food Chains
The different steps or levels in a food chain form different
trophic levels.
Significance of Food Chains
▪ The study of food chains helps in understanding food
relationship and interdependence among various
organisms in an ecosystem.
▪ The mechanism of transfer of food, energy and nutrients

through various components of nature can also be
studied.
▪ The effect of the use of pesticides on the ecosystem can

be studied. As several of them are not bio-degradeable it
goes on accumulating at every trophic level. Hence
consumers at higher trophic levels will consume more
poison along with their food. This phenomena is known
as biological magnification.
▪ Indiscriminate use of DDT and other pesticides has an

adverse effect on the food chain and consequently
disturbs the ecosystem.
Food Web
“In a given ecosystem, there are a large
number of food chain are linked together and intersect each
other to form a complex network which is called food web.”
▪ Food chains are not isolated from each other.
▪ In nature single food chain occur rarely.
▪ If the links in the chains that make up the web of life are
disrupted due to human activities that lead to the loss of
extinction of species, the web breaks down.
Ecological Pyramid
▪ In any ecosystem, a definite relationship exists between
producers and various levels of consumers. This “eater and being
eaten” ecological relationship can be represented graphically by
means of ecological pyramids.
“The ecological pyramid is a diagrammatic

representation of the various trophic levels.”
▪ Green plants occupy the producer level and there are different
levels for consumers like primary (example: herbivores or plant
eaters), secondary (example: carnivores feeding on plant eaters),
tertiary (secondary carnivores).
▪ The amount of food flowing through the food chain usually drops
with each step up the chain thus giving the characteristic
‘pyramid’ shape in the ecological pyramid definition.
▪ Basically there are three types of ecological pyramids based on

the ecological pyramid definition– (1) pyramid of number (2)
pyramid of biomass and (3) pyramid of energy.
Ecological Pyramid
Aquatic Ecosystem
“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 organisms (also called biota) found in aquatic

ecosystems are either autotrophic or heterotrophic.
▪ The amount of dissolved oxygen in a water body is

frequently the key substance in determining the extent
and kinds of organic life in the water body. Fish need
dissolved oxygen to survive. Conversely, oxygen is fatal to
many kinds of anaerobic bacteria.
▪ The salinity of the water body is also a determining factor

in the kinds of species found in the water body.
Organisms in marine ecosystems tolerate salinity, while
many freshwater organisms are intolerant of salt.
Aquatic Ecosystem
An estuary
mouth and
coastal waters,
part of an
aquatic
ecosystem
Freshwater
ecosystem
Types of Aquatic Ecosystem
The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are:
1) Marine ecosystems and
2) Freshwater ecosystems
Marine Ecosystems
▪ 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.
▪ Classes of organisms found in marine ecosystems include brown

algae, dinoflagellates, corals, cephalopods, echinoderms, and
sharks.
▪ Environmental problems concerning marine ecosystems include

unsustainable exploitation of marine resources (for example
overfishing of certain species), marine pollution, climate change,
and building on coastal areas.
Freshwater ecosystems
▪ Freshwater ecosystems cover 0.80% of the Earth's
surface and inhabit 0.009% of its total water.
▪ They generate nearly 3% of its net primary production.

Freshwater ecosystems contain 41% of the world's known
fish species.
▪ There are three basic types of freshwater ecosystems:
1) Lentic: slow-moving water, including pools,

ponds, and lakes.
2) Lotic: rapidly-moving water, for example streams

and rivers.
3) Wetlands: areas where the soil is saturated or

inundated for at least part of the time.
Functions of Aquatic Ecosystem
▪ Aquatic ecosystems perform many important
environmental functions.
▪ They recycle nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods,

recharge ground water and provide habitats for wildlife.
▪ Aquatic ecosystems are also used for human recreation,

and are very important to the tourism industry,
especially in coastal regions.
▪ Aquatic ecosystems are the source of livelihood of
fisherman.
▪ Marshes and wetlands are of great economic

importance for people who live on their fish,
crustaceans, reeds, grasses, and other produce.
Threats to Aquatic Ecosystem
▪ The health of an aquatic ecosystem is degraded when the
ecosystem's ability to absorb a stress has been exceeded.
▪ A stress on an aquatic ecosystem can be a result of

physical, chemical or biological alterations of the
environment.
✓ Physical alterations include changes in water

temperature, water flow and light availability.
✓ Chemical alterations include changes in the
loading rates of biostimulatory nutrients, oxygen
consuming materials, and toxins.
✓ Biological alterations include the introduction of
exotic species.
▪ Human populations can impose excessive stresses on

aquatic ecosystems.

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Lecture: 03

Food Chain in Ecosystem

For example; sunlight helps plants to grow, the plants are

▪ Food chain consists of the sequence of populations of an

▪ Each member becomes the food of later species of

▪ As food is being transferred from one organism to another

▪ The mechanism of transfer of food, energy and nutrients

▪ The effect of the use of pesticides on the ecosystem can

▪ Indiscriminate use of DDT and other pesticides has an

▪ Food chains are not isolated from each other.

▪ In nature single food chain occur rarely.

“The ecological pyramid is a diagrammatic

▪ Basically there are three types of ecological pyramids based on

▪ The organisms (also called biota) found in aquatic

▪ The amount of dissolved oxygen in a water body is

▪ The salinity of the water body is also a determining factor

The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are:

1) Marine ecosystems and

▪ They generate 32% of the world's net primary production. They

▪ Approximately 85% of the dissolved materials in seawater are

▪ Classes of organisms found in marine ecosystems include brown

▪ Environmental problems concerning marine ecosystems include

▪ They generate nearly 3% of its net primary production.

▪ There are three basic types of freshwater ecosystems:

1) Lentic: slow-moving water, including pools,

2) Lotic: rapidly-moving water, for example streams

3) Wetlands: areas where the soil is saturated or

▪ They recycle nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods,

▪ Aquatic ecosystems are also used for human recreation,

▪ Marshes and wetlands are of great economic

▪ A stress on an aquatic ecosystem can be a result of

✓ Physical alterations include changes in water

▪ Human populations can impose excessive stresses on

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