THE COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEMName :T.W.G.F.A NijamdeenReg.No:612260302

ecosystem2

What is an Ecosystem?• An ecosystem is a very complex entity with many interactive

components. It can be defined as "a system of complex interactions of populations between themselves and with their environment" or as "the joint functioning and interaction of these two compartments (populations and environment) in a functional unit of variable size" (Odum, 1975; Ellenberg, 1973; Nybakken, 1982; Scialabba, 1998).

• A self sustainable community of organisms living in a particular area on earth

( land, water or air)

Eg:pond

The components of an ecosystem

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The Components Of Ecosystems• The structural components of an ecosystem consist of nonliving

arena and the living organisms.

• They are terms as Abiotic compounds and Biotic compounds.

Abiotic and biotic compounds

Abiotic FactorsNon living components of an ecosystem

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Abiotic Factors• The structural components of nonliving arena

• The largest ecosystems is the “Biosphere”

• The abiotic portion of the biosphere consists of three parts .They are the,

- Atmosphere (Air)

- Hydrosphere (The water)

- Lithosphere (The solid earth)

• Each of these three fundamental units of the ecosystem has properties of its own, which determine its role in the total ecosystem.

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1. The atmosphere• The atmosphere is an ocean of air which blends in to outer space

of the earth and reaches over 560 kilometers (348miles) from the surface of the earth.

• This can be differentiated on the basis of temperature in to four layers. They are the Troposhere,The sratosphere,The mesophere and The thermosphere.

• In relation to the ecosystem the most important layer is the troposphere; which is the lowest stratum. It is roughly 10km in thickness and is usually thicker in equatorial regions than at the poles.

• The ozone layer in the stratosphere, absorbs ultra violet radiation, thus preventing it from reaching the surface of the earth.

Source:www.theozonehole.com

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The role of troposphere• All organisms obtain their requirement of gasses from the troposphere

which is composed of 78% Nitrogen,21% Oxygen, and 0.03% Carbon dioxide, and less of others such as Hydrogen, Helium and Methane.

• determining the weather phenomena.

• Formation of the clouds.The dust particles serves as nuclei around which water vapour condense. Such droplets of water accumulate to form the clouds.

• Changes in troposphere results in changes of climatic factors such wind and ocean currents.

• These currents of air and water in turn strongly influence the distribution of precipitation, both in time and in space.

• Water in the troposphere is warmed both by the solar energy and the heat radiating from the earth’s surface. part of this heat is radiated back to earth. this leads to the retention of heat, keeping the earth relatively warm even at night when there is temporarily no flux of solar energy.

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2.The Hydrosphere The role of water

• Water is one of the most unusual natural compounds found on earth. It is essential to all life as both and internal and an external medium.

• Water is one of the main agents in the weathering of rocks which is necessary for the formation of soil, and erosion, deposition of sediment, the process that shape land forms.

• Water covers 71% of the earth’s surface and is the medium for several different ecosystems.

• The water molecule has polar covalent bonds and thus causes ionic compounds to dissociate and dissolve in it.-The universal solvent.

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• Water is the main medium through which chemical constituents are transported in ecosystems.

• Acts as a medium through which constituents can pass from the abiotic portion of the ecosystem in to the biotic portion.

• Water can absorb relatively large amounts of heat without greatly changing its temperature.

• The anamoulus expansion properties of water, eg: expansion of water when cooled beyond 4°C,result in which is less denser than water.

• High cohesive property.

• High surface tension.

Water

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3. The lithosphere

• The lithosphere can be divided into three main components.Rocks,Sediments and Soil .

• Rocks can be defined as consolidated units of the earth’s crust which are formed of minerals that have come together by hardening.

• The role of rocks include facilitating storage and movement of ground water. serve as sources of mineral constituents of sediment and soils.

• Weathering

• The distribution and nature of rocks determine the types and distribution of ecosystems.

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• Sediments can be defined as rock fragments that may not be chemically altered by weathering.

• Soils consists of complex mixture of rock fragments, highly altered minerals, organic debris and living organisms.

• The importance of soil to the ecosystem lies in that they are the source of almost all nutrients and much of the water available to the organisms in terrestrial ecosystems.

• Soils are the medium for the detritus food chain, and support all organisms.

Soil

Biotic factorsLiving components of an ecosystem

Ecosystem13

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Biotic factors• The biotic/living components of the ecosystem can be classified

as flora and fauna based on their structure and other features.

• Functionally the living organisms can be classified as,

- Producers

- Consumers

- Decomposers

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1.Producers• Producers are called as autotrophs .

• They can be of two main types; Photosynthetic forms, chemosynthetic forms.

• The photosynthetic forms are green plants that covert solar energy into chemical energy-Photosynthesis

• The producers therefore include green plants, photosynthetic bacteria and chemosynthetic bacteria.

• On land photosynthesis is carried out mainly by higher plants.

• In the sea the main photosynthetic organisms are the

microscopic algae, planktons, diatoms and the flagellates.

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2.Consumers• Heterotrophic organisms are unable to synthesize their own

food and hence obtain them by feeding on other organisms.

• The decomposers also fit in to this definition.

• The consumers are classed into various categories based on the nature of the food they consume. Such as Herbivores, Carnivores and Omnivores

• And also be classified as,

- Primary consumers

- Secondary consumers

- Tertiary consumers

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Primary consumers• Primary consumers are herbivores, which feed on plant

material.

• The amount they consumed are commonly referred to as the consumption rate. Based on these the ecosystem can be grouped as high rated, low rated.

• Primary consumers can be grazers or browsers.

Plant eating insect Grazing cattle

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Secondary consumers• Heterotrophic animals which feed on herbivorous organisms or

primary consumers are termed as the secondary consumers.

• These animals therefore carnivrous.

Fox

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Tertiary consumers• These are carnivorous heterotrophs that feed on other

carnivorous animals.

• Top carnivorous are few in number.

• Most birds of pray and cats fit this category.

Hawk Leopard

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3.Decomposers• Decomposers feed on dead meterial,and that is first broken

down before being absorbed.

• The detritivores ,plays the initial role of breaking up large bodies in to small particles.

• Decomposers are mainly fungi and bacteria

Fungus Bacteria

Major Types of Ecosystem1.Terrestrial ecosystem 2.Aquatic ecosystem

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1.Terrestrial ecosystem• Here the lithosphere ‘s influence is high.

• They can be four types; Forest, Grasslands, Desserts or Tundra.

Forest Grassland Dessert Tundra

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2.Aquatic ecosystem• Here hydrosphere plays the major role.

• The major types include Fresh water and Marine.

• Fresh water includes lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, swamps and springs.

• Marine include seas and oceans.

• Intermediate between fresh water and marine are the estuaries.

Fresh water ecosystem Marine ecosystem

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Conservation of the components of the ecosystem

• ecosystems are an intricate part of the human lifecycle as they provide us with water, food and energy.

• Since mankind is in a take and take some more relationship with the ecosystems, many of them have had their natural processes disrupted.

• “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” -Chief Seattle

• So conservation of ecosystems is a must for the mankind as we are a part of this web.

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THANK YOU…