Skip to main content

Ecosystem and it's Structure

 An ecosystem is the basic functional unit of ecology in which the living organisms interact with each other and also with their surrounding environment. 


The term “Ecosystem” was first introduced in 1935 by A.G.Tansley.


Structure of the Ecosystem

Ecosystem is an open system allowing the flow of energy and components  throughout its boundaries. 

The structure of an ecosystem contains:

 1. Biotic components. 

 2. Abiotic components


1. Biotic Components

Biotic components include all the living components in an ecosystem. 

The biotic components are further into following categories on the basis of their nutrition 

A. Autotrophs (Producers), 

B. Heterotrophs (Consumers)

C  Saprotrophs (decomposers)


A.Producers/autotrophs/Converters/Transducers:


Which can produce food through the process of photosynthesis using sunlight.

Include: plants and phytoplanktons.


B.Consumers/ heterotrophs

Organisms that depend on other organisms for food. 

These are further classified into following categories:

i. Primary consumers or Herbivores

ii. Secondary consumers

iii. Tertiary consumers.

iv. Quaternary Consumers 


i. Herbivores

Also known as primary consumers 

Organisms that depend on producers for food. eg. Goat, cow etc. 


ii. Secondary Consumers

Secondary consumers depend on primary consumers for food. 

They can be carnivores or omnivores.


iii. Tertiary consumers 

Organisms that depend on secondary consumers for food and can be carnivores or omnivores.


iv. Quaternary consumers

Organisms that depend on Tertiary consumers for food. 

These can also be carnivores or omnivores.

These are usually  present on the top of some food chains. 


C. Decomposers/ saprotrophs

 Organisms that directly thrive on the dead and decaying organic matter such as fungi and bacteria. 

 These help in recycling nutrients are this an  essential component of the ecosystem.


Carnivores: Organisms that eat flesh of other animals


Omnivores: Animals that eat both plant food and animal food.


2. Abiotic Components

These are the non-living component of an ecosystem.  

Mainly include air, water, soil, minerals, sunlight, temperature, nutrients, wind, altitude, turbidity, etc. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Flame Emission Spectrometry

In flame Emission Spectrometry, the combustion flame not only frees the atoms but it also supplies the energy necessary to move the electrons of the free atoms from ground state to excited state.  The energy which is emitted by the excited atoms when returning to the ground state provides the basis for analytical determination in Flame Emission Spectrometry. Applications of Atomic Emission Spectrometry: 1. Food Industry: for detection of calcium and iron in beer . 2. Biological/Medical Applications: For determination of Na, K, Ca and Mg in body fluids and other biological samples. 3. For determination of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals in plant Materials, Chemicals, Cements, Oceanography and Ceramic Materials. Get best price at India Mart for spiral diaries: Spiral Diaries - https://m.indiamart.com/impcat/spiral-diaries.html?utm_source=GrowYourkids-il5kh&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=0624&utm_content=4
Post a Comment
Read more

Renewable sources of energy

  Renewable sources of energy   are the sustainable energy sources because the se   are not depleted with usage as they can be replenished either naturally or manually within the short time scale and hence can be used again and again. Advantages/Benefits of Renewable sources of energy ü  Ensure energy Security ü  R educ tion in   greenhouse gas emissions, ü  Help to combat   the change s in   climat ic conditions   T ypes of   Renewable sources of energy 1. Solar Energy Solar energy   is one of the most abundant and widely used renewable source s of energy which can be used as follows: i.  Either directly as heat for solar heater for boiling water/preparing food etc. ii.  Or converted   to electricity using Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Panels   which is then used as energy source for diverse purposes. Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Panels : These are the panels prepared using semiconductor materials (e.g., silicon) ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

  Atomic Absorption Spectrometry is an absorption spectroscopic technique in which radiation of a particular frequency from a source is absorbed by non-excited neutral gaseous atoms  generated in an atomizer in their ground state. The light is absorbed in the UV-visible region and makes transitions to higher electronic energy levels. The amount  of light absorbed is quantified and this amount of absorption helps in determining the analyte concentration. (It follows Beer's Law) The concentration is measured by drawing a calibration curve  after calibrating instrument with a  standard of known concentration. Factors affecting  the amount of light absorbed Length of path transversed Concentration of absorbing atoms in the vapour state. The diagrammatic representation of Atomic Absorption Spectrometer are shown in the below diagram:  Components Used in Atomic Absorbance Spectrometer: 1. Hollow Cathode Lamp: Acts as source of radiation  It is a sha...
Post a Comment
Read more