Ecosystem

The word ecosystem means ecological systems. Ecology is the study of

ecosystems

An ecosystem includes all the living things (plants, animals and organisms) in a
given area, interacting with each other, and with their non-living environments
(weather, earth, sun, soil, climate, atmosphere).
In an ecosystem, each organism has its own niche or role to play.
Ecosystems are the foundations of the Biosphere and they determine the health of
the entire Earth system.

The organisms in an ecosystem are usually well balanced with each other and
with their environment. An ecosystem may be natural or artificial, land-based or
water-based. 
 Types of Ecosystem

There are different types of ecosystems based on different climates, habitats, and life
forms. This means that ecosystems can typically be divided into hundreds and thousands of
smaller systems. However, all such types generally fall into one of the following two
categories:
•Aquatic Ecosystem
•Terrestrial Ecosystem
 Aquatic Ecosystem

Aquatic ecosystems refer to all such ecosystems that are primarily located on or inside
water bodies. The nature and characteristics of all living and non-living organisms in the
aquatic system are determined based on the environment surrounding their ecosystem.
Organisms in these ecosystems interact with other organisms in aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems.

Terrestrial Ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystem refers to all such ecosystems which are mainly located on land.
Although the presence of water in these ecosystems is measured, they are entirely land-
based and exist on land. More specifically, a low and sufficiently needed amount of water
is located in terrestrial ecosystems. 
 Components:

An ecosystem is the basic unit of the field of the scientific study of nature. According to
this discipline, an ecosystem is a physically defined environment, made up of two
inseparable components:
•The biotope (abiotic): a particular physical environment with specific physical
characteristics such as the climate, temperature, humidity, concentration of nutrients
•The biocenosis (biotic): a set of living organisms such as animals, plants or micro-
organisms, that are in constant interaction and are, therefore, in a situation of
interdependence.
 The structure and function of ecosystem

 The composition of biological community including species, population, and biomass,

life history, distribution in space etc

• The quantity and distribution of abiotic material such as water soil nutrients etc

• The range of condition of existence such as temperature light humidity wind waves
etc he structure and function of ecosystem

function of ecosystem -

• The rate of biological flow , i e the rates of production and respiration of community
• The rate of nutrient cycle
• The biological regulation including the regulation of environment by the organism and
vice versa
 Producer ,Consumer and Decomposer

In ecology, the terms "producer," "consumer," and "decomposer" are used to describe the
different roles organisms play in an ecosystem based on their feeding relationships. All
organism in the ecosystem require energy for their life process and material for the formation
and maintenance of body structure, food supplies both energy and materials for nourishment
of life .

A.Producers: Producers, also known as autotrophs, are organisms capable of producing their
own food using energy from the environment, usually through photosynthesis or
chemosynthesis. They convert inorganic substances (such as sunlight, water, and carbon
dioxide) into organic matter, primarily in the form of carbohydrates. Plants, algae, and some
bacteria are examples of producers. They form the foundation of the food chain, as all other
organisms directly or indirectly depend on them for energy.
 Consumers: Consumers, also known as heterotrophs, are organisms that obtain energy by
consuming other organisms or organic matter. They cannot produce their own food and rely
on consuming other organisms for nutrition. Consumers can be further classified into
different categories based on their feeding habits:

1.Primary Consumers: Primary consumers, also called herbivores, are organisms that feed
directly on producers (plants or algae). They obtain their energy by consuming plant
material and extracting nutrients from it. Primary consumers form the second trophic level
in a food chain or food web. Examples of primary consumers include rabbits, deer,
grasshoppers, and cows.

2.Secondary Consumers: Secondary consumers are organisms that feed on primary

consumers. They are typically carnivores, meaning they primarily consume other animals.
Secondary consumers occupy the third trophic level in a food chain. They obtain energy by
consuming the flesh or body parts of primary consumers. Examples of secondary
consumers include snakes, wolves, and hawks.
3.Tertiary Consumers: Tertiary consumers are organisms that feed on secondary consumers.
They occupy the fourth trophic level in a food chain. Tertiary consumers are often large
predators that consume other carnivores. Examples include lions, eagles, and killer whales.

4.Quaternary Consumers: Quaternary consumers, also known as top predators, are organisms
that occupy the highest trophic level in a food chain or web. They feed on other carnivores,
including tertiary consumers. Quaternary consumers have no natural predators within their
ecosystem. Examples of quaternary consumers include sharks, apex predators like lions in
certain ecosystems, and humans.
1.Decomposers: Decomposers are organisms that break down dead organisms or organic
waste material into simpler inorganic substances. They play a vital role in the recycling of
nutrients within an ecosystem. Decomposers include bacteria, fungi, and certain types of
insects. They break down complex organic compounds into simpler forms, which can be
absorbed by plants and reused by producers to produce new organic matter.
Together, producers, consumers, and decomposers form an interconnected web of energy
flow and nutrient cycling in ecosystems, maintaining the balance and functioning of the
natural world.