Ecosystem Class 12 Biology

M G E C Sr. Sec.
School
Mansoorpur, Malipur, Amberkar Nagar
Class-12
Biology
CHAPTER – 14 ECOSYSTEM
Syllabus: Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition;

energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy (Topics excluded: Ecological
Succession and Nutrient Cycles).
◆ British ecologist Arthur Tansley first defined the term Ecosystem.
◆ ECOSYSTEM :- Ecosystem is the functional unit of nature, where living organisms interact
among themselves and with the surrounding physical environment.
Types of Ecosystems:
New Species Discovered in Different Ecosystems:

· Pinocchio: long nosed frog found in Indonesia
· Bald headed parrot in Amazon
· Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta) near Easter islands.
Structure of Ecosystems
An Ecosystem has two components:
· Abiotic components and
· Biotic components
Stratification:
This is the Vertical Distribution of Different Species occupying Different Levels.
◆ The levels are called STRATA.

Aspects Affecting the Functioning of an Ecosystem are:
1. PRODUCTIVITY
The rate of synthesis of organic matter (biomass) during a given period of time. It is measured
as weight • m-2 or as energy (kcal m-2). It is used to compare productivity of different
ecosystems.
◆ Primary productivity: It is the amount of biomass produced per unit area in a given time
period by Plants during Photosynthesis.
GPP – R = NPP
*GPP-Gross Primary Productivity *NPP-Net Primary Productivity
● Secondary productivity
It is the amount of biomass produced at any of the Consumer levels in a given period of time.
2. DECOMPOSITION
It is the process of breaking down of dead organic matter into smaller organic and inorganic
molecules by Decomposers (bacteria, fungi)
DETRITUS: Dead remains of plants and animals are called detritus.

DETRITIVORES: Animals that feed on decaying organic matter (detritus). Examples:
earthworms, termites, snails etc
Mechanism of Decomposition:
1. Fragmentation of Detritus: Detritivores feed on detritus ---breakdown --- increases the

surface area of detritus particles for microbial action.
2. Leaching: Soluble inorganic nutrients dissolve in water -– percolate through the soil
---removed due to leaching action.
3. Catabolism: Decomposers (bacteria, fungi) release enzymes --- decompose detritus
--- simpler inorganic compounds.
4. Humification: Simplified detritus--- converted to HUMUS.
- Humus is a Dark, Amorphous substance.
- Highly resistant to Microbial Action
- Undergoes Decomposition very Slowly.
- Reservoir of nutrients (due to colloidal nature)
5. Mineralisation: Humus is degraded – releases inorganic substances (CO2,

H2O etc) and nutrients (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ etc)
Factors affecting rate of Decomposition:
○ Chemical composition - decomposition rate will be slow when detritus is rich

in lignin and chitin and rate increases when detritus is rich in nitrogen and
water soluble substances like sugars.
○ Climatic conditions – warm and moist environment favour decomposition and
low temperature and anaerobiosis inhibit decomposition.
3. ENERGY FLOW
► SUN- Main Source of energy
► 50% of incident light is PHOTOSYNTHETICALLY ACTIVE RADIATION (PAR)
► 2- 10 % of PAR is captured by plants.

► Only a small fraction of this (stored as organic compounds) is transferred to consumers;
the rest is used up in respiration and other life-supporting activities of the plants.
► As energy is transferred as food, most part is lost as heat at each stage (10% LAW)
Unidirectional flow of Energy:
Sun —--> Producers —---> Consumers
◆ Transfer of energy / food from the producer through a series of organisms is known as
FOOD CHAINS.
FOOD CHAINS:
● Food chains represent energy flow through ecosystems.

● Different steps in a food chain are TROPHIC LEVELS
● Basic terms: Producers, Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores.
1. GRAZING FOOD CHAIN (GFC)

● Primary source of energy - Solar radiations.
● First trophic level includes - All Herbivores.
● GFCs are Long-sized chains.
2. DETRITUS FOOD CHAIN (DFC)
● Primary source of energy is Detritus.

● First trophic level includes Detritivores.
● Detritus Food Chains are small-sized chains.
●
SAPROPHYTES:These include decomposers (fungi, bacteria) which feed on detritus.
FOOD WEBS: The Natural Interconnection of Several Food Chains forms a FOOD WEB.
● Provides alternate pathways for food availability.

● Unlike food chains, food webs are never straight.
● Help in ecosystem development and stability.
TEN PERCENT LAW: (By Lindemann in 1942) It states that during transfer of energy from one
trophic level to another, only about 10% is stored at higher levels; the remaining 90% is lost in
respiration (heat).
Or
The ten percent rule states that each trophic level can only give 10%
of its energy to the next level. The other 90% is used to live, grow,
reproduce and is lost to the environment as heat.
◆ All energy pyramids start with energy from the Sun which is
transferred to the first trophic level of producers.
4. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
● Developed by Charles Elton in 1927.

● Pyramids are an expression of the relationship between organisms at different trophic
levels in terms of their number, biomass or energy.
● Three types of pyramids:
1. Pyramid of Number
2. Pyramid of Biomass
3. Pyramid of energy
Pyramid of Number: The relationship between producers and consumers in an ecosystem

can be represented in the form of a pyramid in terms of number called pyramid of number.
Pyramid of Biomass: The relationship between producers and consumers in an ecosystem

can be represented in the form of a pyramid in terms of biomass called pyramid of biomass. It
can be of two types:
a) Upright (in case of grassland ecosystem)
b) Inverted (in case of pond ecosystem)
Pyramid of energy: The relationship between producers and consumers in an ecosystem can
be represented in the form of a pyramid in terms of flow of energy called pyramid of energy. It
is always upright.
Limitations of Ecological Pyramids:
● It does NOT consider the same species belonging to two or more trophic levels.
● It is based on simple food chains, which hardly exist. It does NOT accommodate food
webs.
● Saprophytes (decomposers) are NOT given any place in the ecosystem.
Climax Community:
● Changes that lead finally to a community that is in near equilibrium with the
environment.
● It remains stable as long as the environment remains unchanged.
● The Rainforest is an example of a climax community ecosystem.

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M G E C Sr. Sec.

Syllabus: Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition;

◆ British ecologist Arthur Tansley first defined the term Ecosystem.

New Species Discovered in Different Ecosystems:

· Bald headed parrot in Amazon

· Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta) near Easter islands.

An Ecosystem has two components:

· Abiotic components and

This is the Vertical Distribution of Different Species occupying Different Levels.

◆ The levels are called STRATA.

*GPP-Gross Primary Productivity *NPP-Net Primary Productivity

DETRITUS: Dead remains of plants and animals are called detritus.

1. Fragmentation of Detritus: Detritivores feed on detritus ---breakdown --- increases the

- Humus is a Dark, Amorphous substance.

- Highly resistant to Microbial Action

- Undergoes Decomposition very Slowly.

- Reservoir of nutrients (due to colloidal nature)

5. Mineralisation: Humus is degraded – releases inorganic substances (CO2,

Factors affecting rate of Decomposition:

○ Chemical composition - decomposition rate will be slow when detritus is rich

► SUN- Main Source of energy

► 50% of incident light is PHOTOSYNTHETICALLY ACTIVE RADIATION (PAR)

► 2- 10 % of PAR is captured by plants.

Unidirectional flow of Energy:

Sun —--> Producers —---> Consumers

● Food chains represent energy flow through ecosystems.

1. GRAZING FOOD CHAIN (GFC)

2. DETRITUS FOOD CHAIN (DFC)

● Primary source of energy is Detritus.

● Provides alternate pathways for food availability.

● Developed by Charles Elton in 1927.

Pyramid of Number: The relationship between producers and consumers in an ecosystem

Pyramid of Biomass: The relationship between producers and consumers in an ecosystem

b) Inverted (in case of pond ecosystem)

Limitations of Ecological Pyramids:

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GPP-Gross Primary Productivity NPP-Net Primary Productivity