ECOSYSTEM –
STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION
Ecosystem Definition
“An ecosystem is defined as a community of
lifeforms in concurrence with non-living
components, interacting with each other.”
The ecosystem is the structural and functional unit
of ecology where the living organisms interact with
each other and the surrounding environment. In
other words, an ecosystem is a chain of interaction
between organisms and their environment. The
term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansley,
an English botanist, in 1935. It is a community or
group of living organisms that live in and interact
with each other in a specific environment. It 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: An ecosystem consists of
a biological community, its physical and chemical
environment, and the dynamic interactions that link
them. Ecosystems can also be thought of as energy
transformers and nutrient processors. A diversity of
ecosystems exist throughout the world and can be
classified according to their functional groups and
physical context. It is a community or group of living
organisms that live in and interact with each other
in a specific environment. It 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:
Abiotic factor
The biotope (abiotic): a particular physical
environment with specific physical characteristics
such as the climate, temperature, humidity,
,concentration of nutrients or ph. The term abiotic
refers to all the non-living factors present in an
ecosystem. Sunlight, water, land, all constitute the
abiotic factors.
Abiotic factors refer to all the non-living, i.e.
chemical and physical factors present in the
atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Sunlight, air, precipitation, minerals, and soil are
some examples of abiotic factors. These factors
have a significant impact on the survival and
reproduction of species in an ecosystem. For
instance, without an adequate amount of sunlight,
autotrophic organisms may not be able to survive.
When these organisms eventually die, it will create
a shortage of food for primary consumers. This
effect cascades up the food chain, affecting every
organism. Consequently, it leads to an imbalance in
the ecosystem. Abiotic examples typically depend
on the type of ecosystem. For instance, abiotic
components in a terrestrial ecosystem include air,
weather, water, temperature, humidity, altitude,
the pH level of soil, type of soil and more. Abiotic
, examples in an aquatic ecosystem include water
salinity, oxygen levels, pH levels, water flow rate,
water depth and temperature. Abiotic factors are
also called environmental factors. Moreover, these
along with biotic factors cover approximately the
entire biosphere. In other words, it is the sum
covering all the ecosystems. Moreover, abiotic
factors consist of factors like humidity, light, pH,
soil, temperature, wind, climate, water, gases, and
more. Similarly, these non-living things influence
the growth of the biotic factors in a direct or
indirect manner. For instance, if the temperature of
a particular ecosystem undergoes changes
suddenly, it will have ill-effects on the plants,
animals, and living organisms living there.
Biotic Factors
The term biotic is made up of two terms: “bio”
means living organism and “ic” means like, thus
combined they are known as living organisms.
Therefore it can also be defined as all living
organisms present on earth are known as biotic
STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION
Ecosystem Definition
“An ecosystem is defined as a community of
lifeforms in concurrence with non-living
components, interacting with each other.”
The ecosystem is the structural and functional unit
of ecology where the living organisms interact with
each other and the surrounding environment. In
other words, an ecosystem is a chain of interaction
between organisms and their environment. The
term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansley,
an English botanist, in 1935. It is a community or
group of living organisms that live in and interact
with each other in a specific environment. It 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: An ecosystem consists of
a biological community, its physical and chemical
environment, and the dynamic interactions that link
them. Ecosystems can also be thought of as energy
transformers and nutrient processors. A diversity of
ecosystems exist throughout the world and can be
classified according to their functional groups and
physical context. It is a community or group of living
organisms that live in and interact with each other
in a specific environment. It 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:
Abiotic factor
The biotope (abiotic): a particular physical
environment with specific physical characteristics
such as the climate, temperature, humidity,
,concentration of nutrients or ph. The term abiotic
refers to all the non-living factors present in an
ecosystem. Sunlight, water, land, all constitute the
abiotic factors.
Abiotic factors refer to all the non-living, i.e.
chemical and physical factors present in the
atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
Sunlight, air, precipitation, minerals, and soil are
some examples of abiotic factors. These factors
have a significant impact on the survival and
reproduction of species in an ecosystem. For
instance, without an adequate amount of sunlight,
autotrophic organisms may not be able to survive.
When these organisms eventually die, it will create
a shortage of food for primary consumers. This
effect cascades up the food chain, affecting every
organism. Consequently, it leads to an imbalance in
the ecosystem. Abiotic examples typically depend
on the type of ecosystem. For instance, abiotic
components in a terrestrial ecosystem include air,
weather, water, temperature, humidity, altitude,
the pH level of soil, type of soil and more. Abiotic
, examples in an aquatic ecosystem include water
salinity, oxygen levels, pH levels, water flow rate,
water depth and temperature. Abiotic factors are
also called environmental factors. Moreover, these
along with biotic factors cover approximately the
entire biosphere. In other words, it is the sum
covering all the ecosystems. Moreover, abiotic
factors consist of factors like humidity, light, pH,
soil, temperature, wind, climate, water, gases, and
more. Similarly, these non-living things influence
the growth of the biotic factors in a direct or
indirect manner. For instance, if the temperature of
a particular ecosystem undergoes changes
suddenly, it will have ill-effects on the plants,
animals, and living organisms living there.
Biotic Factors
The term biotic is made up of two terms: “bio”
means living organism and “ic” means like, thus
combined they are known as living organisms.
Therefore it can also be defined as all living
organisms present on earth are known as biotic
