Ecosystems
An ecosystem can be simply defined as a community of living beings in
concurrence with non-living components in which they will interact. It is a
chain of interaction between organisms and their environment. An ecosystem
can vary in size; it can either be small as an oasis or as vast as an ocean
encompassing precisely limited spaces. They are usually controlled or
influenced by external and internal factors as well. External factors such as
climate can be considered as prime material that forms soil and topography
that controls the entire configuration of the ecosystem. There are mainly two
components in an ecosystem, namely biotic and abiotic components.
Biotic Components
They are living components of an ecosystem. It includes biotic factors such
as producers, consumers and decomposers.
• Producers include all autotrophs (plants). They produce their own food
by making use of energy that is obtained from the sunlight. All living
beings are dependent on plants for oxygen and food.
• Consumers include herbivores (known as primary consumers),
carnivores (known as secondary consumers) and then it continues with
tertiary.
• Decomposers include saprophytes (fungi and bacteria) that convert the
dead matter into nitrogen and carbon dioxide. They are essential for the
recycling of nutrients to be used again by the producers.
Abiotic Components
They are the non-living components of an ecosystem, such as light, air, soil
and nutrients. The below figure demonstrates a simple food chain.
As mentioned earlier, sun is the source of energy. This energy is absorbed by
the plants and photosynthesis takes place. Therefore, the light energy
obtained is converted into chemical energy. This constitutes a trophic level
throughout the food chain. These trophic levels consist of living things that
make their living in the same manner and they are called as primary
producers. Those that feed on plants are primary consumers (herbivores),
and those that feed on primary consumers are secondary consumers
(carnivores). At all levels of the food chain, waste products are produced. The
decomposition process is collectively done by decomposers and scavengers
but ultimately, it is done by microbes. The amount of energy generated by the
food chain is insufficient.
Enzymes digest dead organisms and debris into smaller bits and these
molecules are then absorbed by the decomposers. After gaining the energy,
the decomposers liberate molecules to the environment in the form of
chemicals that are utilised again by the producers.
Ecological Pyramid
The biomass, number, and energy of organisms generally decreases from the
producer level to the consumer level, which can be described in the form of a
pyramid known as the ecological pyramid.
An ecological pyramid is the graphical representation of the number, energy
and biomass of the successive trophic levels of an ecosystem. Charles Elton
described the use ecological pyramid in the year 1972.
The producer forms the base and consumers hold the apex in an ecological
pyramid. The number of individuals decreases from producer level to
consumer level. The number of producers is normally way high compared to
the number of herbivores. Similarly, the number of carnivores is less than the
number of herbivores. For example, the crops are high in number in a
cropland. The grasshoppers are in less number on crop plants. The frogs that
feed on the grasshopper are still few in number and the snakes that feed on
frogs are again few in number.
Crops ▻Grasshopper ▻ Frogs ▻ Snakes ▻ Hawks
Nutrient Cycling
Carbon Cycle
The cyclic flow of carbon between abiotic and biotic systems is known as the
carbon cycle, which is a gaseous cycle. Carbon dioxide is found in both air
and water and is the main source of carbon. The content of carbon dioxide in
the air is 0.03% and remains constant. The carbon flows in the biotic systems
in 3 forms:
• Photosynthesis - The green plants utilise carbon dioxide in
photosynthesis and utilise carbon in glucose. Glucose is used in the
synthesis of different lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. These
compounds are stored in plant tissues. The carbon is delivered to the
herbivorous animals when plants are eaten throughout the food chain.
The carbon goes into the body of carnivores when herbivores are eaten
by them
6CO + 6H O → C H O + 6O
2 2 6 12 6 2
• Formation of shell - Carbon dioxide is dissolved in the sea and
consumed by marine animals such as corals, protozoans, molluscs etc.,
for the formation of the shell. Carbon dioxide is converted into calcium
carbonate in these animals, which are utilised in making shells.
CO + H O →H CO (Carbonic acid)
2 2 2 3
H CO → H +HCO (Bicarbonate)
2 3 + 3
HCO + Ca → H +CaCO (Calcium carbonate)
3 + + 3
• Coral - A particular portion of the carbon is deposited in the form of coal
from plants. The carbon returns to air from coal in the form of CO 2
through weathering and combustion.
