Ecosystems

What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of
relationships between living
things and their environment.

What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a natural unit
consisting of all plants, animals
and micro-organisms (biotic
factors) in an area functioning
together with all of the non-living
physical (abiotic) factors of the
environment.

 An ecosystem can be as large as the

Sahara Desert, or as small as a puddle!!!
Ecosystems are more than just the
organisms they contain. Geography,
weather, climate and geologic factors also
influence the interactions within an
ecosystem.

Components of an Ecosystem
BIOTIC COMPONENTS

Primary producers
Herbivores
Carnivores
Omnivores
Detritivores

All of these vary over space/time

Cont
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
Sunlight
Temperature
Precipitation
Water or moisture
Soil or water chemistry (e.g., P, NH4+)

Producers, Consumers,
Decomposers
Producers = plants etc. that capture energy from the sun
Herbivores = plant-eaters
Carnivores = animal-eaters

Carnivore

Herbivore

Producer

Cont..
Producers (Plants, algae)--capture
energy, produce complex organic
compounds
Primary consumers--feed on producers
Secondary consumers--feed on primary
consumers
Tertiary consumers--feed on secondary
consumers

Cont
Detritivores--invertebrates that feed on
organic wastes and dead organisms
(detritus) from all trophic levels
Decomposers--bacteria and fungi that
break down dead material into inorganic
materials

light
simple
inorganic
compounds

Cont..
photoautotroph

complex
organic
compounds
heat

complex
organic
compounds

heterotrophs

simple
inorganic
compounds

Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

The flow of energy in an
ecosystem begin first with the
input of energy from the sun.
Energy from the sun is captured
by green plants. with the help of
this energy they absorb the
nutrients from the soil and air,
and produces the FOOD
(photosynthesis).
It is consumed by the higher
levels and finally reaches in soil.
Thus everything is cycling.

THE WATER CYCLE

THE CARBON CYCLE

THE NITROGEN CYCLE

Food Chain

grass

grasshopper

mouse

snake

hawk

Food Web

Ecological Pyramids
The standing crop, productivity, number of
organisms, etc. of an ecosystem can be
conveniently depicted using pyramids,
where the size of each compartment
represents the amount of the item in each
trophic level of a food chain.
carnivores
herbivores
producers

Energy Pyramid
A pyramid of energy depicts the energy flow, or
productivity, of each trophic level.
Due to the Laws of Thermodynamics, each higher level
must be smaller than lower levels, due to loss of some
energy as heat (via respiration) within each level. An
energy pyramids shape shows how the amount of useful
energy that enters each level chemical energy in the
form of food decreases as it is used by the organisms
in that level.

Cont..

Cont

Ecological Succession
It is a process through which ecosystems
tend to change over time
Example: if a forest is cleared;
Colonies of small plants and animals
Grassland
Shrub land
Woodland
Forest

Forest Ecosystem

Cont
a forest is the community of plants and
the animals in its very undisturbed state.
A forest ecosystem has
The abiotic aspects; type of forest
depends on aboitic conditions such as
topography, temperature, rainfall ..
Biotic aspects; plants and animals

Types of forests
Tropical rainforests
o hot & humid region
o Annual rainfall- 2000 to 4500 mm.
o Found in south and central America,
Western & Central Africa, South East Asia,
and some islands of Indian & Pacific
Oceans.
o Tropical forests are considered important
because it helps in recycling water.
o Amazone rain forest
o Western ghats

Tropical rain forest

Cont..
Temperate forests
o Cold in winter and warm & humid in
summer.
o In moderate condition
o Annual rainfall is 750-2000 mm
o Soil is rich
o Found in western and Central Europe,
eastern Asia and eastern North America.

Temperate forests

Cont..
Coniferous forests
o Many coniferous trees are found in this
region like spruce, fir, pine etc.
o Found in northern parts of Northern
America, Europe and Asia.
o The soil in these forests is acidic and
humus-rich.

Cont..

Grassland
A wide range of
landscape in which
vegetation is grass and
small plants
The rain is low to grow
large treesSoil quality
is poor and low depth

Types OF Grasslands
The Himalayan pastures :
situated in himalaya
It helps in the migration of animals during
winter and summer
Colourfull flowering plants

Cont..
Terai grassland :
South of the himalayan foothills
Patches of tall elephant grass (5m height)
Also includes marshes

Cont..
Shola grassland
In western ghats, nilgiri and anamalai
On the slopes and forest habitats

Desert ecosystem

Cont..
Extremely specialised and sensitive
ecosystems
Western India, Deccan plateau
Extremely dry climate
Cold desert are there like Ladakh
Thar desert; largest in India
Certain shrubs are growing during rainfall, and
they are capable to survive without additional
water