Ecosystem

Sir Arthur G Tansley coined the term Ecosystem and defined it as ‘the system resulting
from the integration of all living and non living factors of the environment’
Ecology refers to a system of living and non-living components interacting as a whole.
Ecosystem is a dynamic system which includes both organisms and abiotic environment
influencing the properties of each other and both are necessary for the maintenance of life.
Types of Ecosystem
Based on the habitat, Ecosystem is divided into two
a) Terrestrial Ecosystem
b) Aquatic Ecosystem
Ecosystem

Terrestrial Ecosystem Aquatic Ecosystem

Natural Man-made Natural Man-made

(eg: Forest (Road, Crop Field, Garden) (Ponds, Ocean (Aquarium
Mountain Lake) Dam)
Desert)

Components of Ecosystem (Structure of Ecosystem)

An ecosystem comprises two very closely interconnected parts, called components. These
are the living parts called biotic components and non-living parts called abiotic
components. Biotic component is an important part of ecosystem in which energy flows in
the form of food from one organism to another organism within a community. Abiotic
components are another part of ecosystem comprising inorganic, organic an physical or
climatic components.
(1) Biotic components
a. Producers are green plants or autptrophs which synthesis their own food by
the process called photosynthesis
b. Consumers are heterotrophic organisms which directly or indirectly depend
on producers for energy. Consumers have be divided into three categoroes
i. Primary Consumers- These organisms are herbivores which depend
on green plants for their food. Eg: Cow, Goat, Rabbit
ii. Secondary Consumers- These are those carnivores that use herbivores
as their source of food. Eg: Frog, Snake
iii. Tertiary Consumers- These are also called top consumers and these
kill and eat secondary and primary consumers. Example of top
carnivores are lion, tiger, human
 c. Parasites are those organisms, which obtain their food directly from living
organisms (hosts). Detrivore or scavengers are small animals which feed on
dead bodies of other organisms
d. Decomposers are generally sapriophytic microbes which decomposes the
dead organisms, such as bacteria or fungi. These decomposes organic
complexes into simple substnces, which are either mixed within the soil or
evaporated to the atmosphere.
(2) Abiotic Components
These are non-living components of an eco-system and include:
a) Inorganic substances- these include elements, water, gases etc. which are
required for the synthesis of organic substances by the producers. These keep on
circulating in the ecosystem.
b) Organic substances- these substances are derived from dead plants and animals
as well as from their excreta. Such substances are decomposed to release the
minerals.
c) Climate- It includes factor like rain, heat, light, temperature, humidity, wind etc.
The interaction of various climatic factors determines the nature of ecosystem.