ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEM (Definition, Type, Components and Function)

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ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEM
(Definition, Type, Components and Function)

ECOLOGY

  1. The term ecology was coined by Earnst Haeckel (1869).
  2. The study of ecosystem is defined as Ecology. Therefore ecology deals with the study of organisms in their natural home interacting with their surrounding.

ECOSYSTEM

  1. The term ecosystem was coined by a British ecologist A. G. Tansley (1935).
  2. Ecosystems is a self regulating, self sustaining and functional unit of nature where living organisms (biotic component) interacting with each other and with their non living environment (abiotic factor) exchanging energy and matter.

Types of Ecosystem-

According to environment-

1. Terrestrial Ecosystem-  

A terrestrial ecosystem is an ecosystem found only on landforms. Six primary terrestrial ecosystems are tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rain forest, grassland and desert.

2. Aquatic Ecosystem- 

An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem in a body of water. Two main type of aquatic ecosystem are- 
    

                Marine ecosystem (oceans, coral reefs, estuaries).

                                       i.            Cover ~71% of earth surface.
                                     ii.            Generate 32% of the world’s net primary production.
                                    iii.            Marine ecosystem is divided into 4 zone-
§  The Oceanic Zone (Part of ocean where animal live).
§  The Benthic Zone ( zone where many invertebrates live).
§  Neritic Zone (include estuaries, salt marshes, coral reefs, lagoons and mangrove swamps).
§  Abyssal Zone. 

 Freshwater ecosystem (ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands etc.)

                                                               i.      Covers ~0.78% of earth’s surface.
                                                             ii.      Generate nearly 3% of its net primary productivity.
                                                            iii.      Contain ~41% of world’s known fish species.
                                                           iv.      Freshwater ecosystem (ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands etc.)
                                                             v.      Two basic types of fresh water ecosystem-
§  Lentic- Slow moving water, including pools, ponds and lake.
§  Lotic- faster moving water, for example stream and rivers.
   

             According to the degree of human intervention –

1. Natural Ecosystems : 

These ecosystems are capable of operating and maintaining themselves without any major interference by man. Man has not intervened in their formation, such as forests, lakes, deserts etc.

2. Artificial Ecosystems : 

These are maintained and manipulated by man for different purposes. such as dams, parks, gardens etc.

Component of ecosystem

Ecosystem is composed of both abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living organism) components.


 Abiotic Component

Physical or chemical components

  - Like temperature, Water, Soil, Light, Humidity, Pressure etc.

Inorganic Compounds

  - Like minerals, Atmospheric gases etc.

Organic Compounds

  - Includes organic substances present in dead bodies of plants and animals.


  Biotic Components (on the basis of mode of nutrition)

Producers / Autotrophs

  - Organism which carry out Photosynthesis. E.g.- plants, algae etc. 

Consumers / Heterotrophs

  - Organism which derive their food directly and indirectly from the produces. Consumers are also can be divided into Primary Consumers (Herbivores, Directly feed on producer), Secondary consumers (Primary Carnivores, They prey upon Herbivores), Tertiary Consumers (Secondary Carnivores, They feed on Primary Carnivores) and Omnivores (They feed on both plants and animals).

Decomposers/ Micro Consumer/ Saprobes

  - They obtain their nutrition from organic remains. E.g.- fungi and some bacteria etc.


Function of ecosystem

  1.  Fixation of energy (Productivity).
  2. Energy flow through different tropic level within the ecosystem.
  3. Relationship of producers and consumers.
  4. Decomposition and cycling of nutrients.


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