UNIT 2

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

OF ECOSYSTEM

By: Dr Aditya Sharma

Ecosystem

Ecosystem is defined as a dynamic entity composed of a biological community and

its associated abiotic environment. An Ecosystem is a self-regulating group of biotic
communities of species interacting with one another with their non-living
environment exchanging energy and matter.

.
Ecosystem (Continued)

The ecosystem can be as small as a house lawn, with only few organisms
interacting or as big as forest with lots of biotic and abiotic components involved.

Ecosystem can also be modeled in terms of energy and matter flow. Energy and
matter can also flow one ecosystem to the other.
.
Concept of Ecosystem

There are many supporting systems like forests, oceans, grasslands, deserts which
have structural components and functions.

They all have living organisms interacting with their surroundings exchanging matter
and energy.
Type of Ecosystem

Open Ecosystem: It may exchange energy & matter from outside.

Closed Ecosystem: Ecosystem that is isolated from outside. The Closed once are
generally artificial. Eg. Biosphere2, in Oracle, Arizona.
Ecology

The term ecology is derived from the Greek words OIKOS (a house or a place where
one lives) and Logos (study of).

Ecology is the study of how living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) parts of the
environment interact with and depend upon each other.
Ecology (Continued)

Ecology can be defined more specifically as the study of the interactions between
organisms and the non-living components of the environment. The each includes the
tremendous variety of the living things in its environment.
Ecology (Continued)

Ecology involves collecting information about organisms and their environment,

looking for patterns, and seeking to comprehend these patterns.

When scientists (ecologist) study the ecology of certain areas, they call those areas
ecosystems.

Ecosystem is a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with

their physical environment.
Structure of Ecosystem/
Components of Ecosystem

Biotic and abiotic are the two essential factors responsible for shaping
the ecosystem are:
Biotic component
Abiotic component

Both these components are reliant on each other.

Suppose if one of the factors is removed or altered,
its repercussions will be faced by the entire
Biotic Component

The term “biotic” is formed by the combination of two terms, “bio” meaning life and
“ic” meaning like. Thus, the term means life-like and is related to all the living
entities present in an ecosystem.

The biotic component includes plants, animals (this includes

people) microorganisms, and all other living things.

The ecosystems are characterized by a wide variety of

species. The species in the ecosystem are divided into
producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Species in the Ecosystem (Producers)

Producers- they produce their own food either by process of Photosynthesis or by

Chemical Process.

Photoautotrophs (Photosynthesizers): Plants produce food

by Photosynthesis(using sun, CO2 and water) in
presence of Chlorophyll
Chemotrophs (Chemosynthesizers): There are some micro-
organisms which produce organic matter to some extent by
oxidation of certain chemicals in absence of sunlight.
Species in the Ecosystem
(Consumers)
All organisms which get their food by feeding on other organisms are called as Consumers.
They are further divide as Macroconsumers and Microconsumers.

Macroconsumers: The word ‘macro consumer’ refers to

mostly all the organisms. Macroconsumers are generally
Heterotrophs that depend on other organisms for their food.

Microconsumers: The word ‘macro consumer’ refers to

microscopic bacteria and fungi. Microconsumers are generally
Saprotrophs that depend on debris left behind by scavengers.
 Hetrotrophs

Herbivores- Feed on producers (plant eaters). Also called as Primary

Consumers Carnivores- Feed on other consumers
If they feed on Herbivores- Secondary Consumers – eg frog
If they feed on Carnivores – tertiary Carnivores/ Consumers- eg. Snake,
Big Fish
Omnivores- They feed on plants and animals- Man,
many birds, fox
Saprotrophs

Saprotroph, also called saprophyte or saprobe, organism that feeds on nonliving organic
matter known as detritus at a microscopic level.
Saprotrophic organisms are considered critical to decomposition and nutrient cycling and
include fungi, certain bacteria, and fungus-like organisms known as water molds.
Saprotrophs

Saprotrophs feed by a process known as absorptive nutrition, in which the nutritional

substrate (e.g., dead organism or other nonliving organic matter) is directly digested by a
variety of enzymes that are excreted by the saprotroph. The enzymes convert the detritus into
simpler molecules, which are then absorbed by the cells to feed the organism.
Abiotic Component

The abiotic or non-living parts of the environment would include lifeless things, like
sunlight, the soil, atmosphere, climate, nutrients and water.

The atmosphere constitutes oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, etc. These substances
cycle from atmosphere to earth and made available to plants and animals and then
released back to the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis, respiration,
transpiration and precipitation.

The sun provides energy in the form of radiation to

carry on the processes in the ecosystem.
Abiotic Component (Physical Factors)

• The sunlight & shade We can clearly see the difference in solar flux,

• Intensity of Solar flux temp., rainfall pattern in desert, tropical and Tundra

• Average Temperature Ecosystem. While in grassland and forest they also

• Annual Rainfall vary as per geographical location

• Wind
• Soil type, availability of water,
Abiotic Component (Geographical
Factors)
• Latitude
• Longitude
• Altitude
Abiotic Component (Chemical Factors)

Organic and Inorganic substances

Protein, carbohydrates, lipids constitute organic Components

Elements such as C, N, P, O, S, H etc. form inorganic constituents.

Levels of toxic substances, salts causing salinity influence the function of
ecosystem.
General Characteristics of Ecosystems

The nature of ecosystem depends upon species biodiversity. The more complex the
ecosystem, the more species diversity exists in that particular ecosystem.

The function of the ecosystem depends upon the energy flow and material cycle
through and within the system.
General Characteristics of Ecosystems
(Continued)
The energy requirement by the ecosystem depends upon the complexity. Less energy is
required for a complex ecosystem to maintain on its own.

As the ecosystem moves from less complex to more complex states, the energy
accumulation goes on decreasing.
Law of Thermodynamics in the
Ecosystem
The law of thermodynamics in the ecosystem explains the flow of energy at each
trophic level. The first law states that energy is neither created, nor destroyed; it can
only be converted from one form to another. This is true in energy flow in the ecosystem.

The second law states that there is loss of energy at each step of energy flow. This law
also stands true in ecology as their is progressive decrease in energy
at each trophic level.
Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

The energy flow in the ecosystem is important to maintain an ecological balance. The
producers synthesise food by the process of photosynthesis.
A part of the energy is stored within the plants. The remaining energy is utilised by the plants in
their growth and development.
This stored energy is transferred to the primary consumers when they feed on the producers.
This energy is further passed on to the secondary consumers when they feed on the primary
consumers, and so on.
Models of Energy Flow
Single Channel Energy Flow
Model
This model uses light, heat, import,
export, and storage of organic matter to
explain energy flow in an ecosystem.
Y-Shaped Model of Energy Flow

Y-Shaped Model of Energy Flow: The Y-Shaped Model of Energy Flow is a

representation of the flow of energy through ecosystems.

The Y-Shaped Model of Energy Flow illustrates how energy flows through an
ecosystem, from the sun to producers, consumers, and decomposers.
 Y-Shaped Model of Energy Flow
(Continued)
The three arms of the Y represent the three different pathways that energy can take through the
ecosystem:
1. Photosynthesis: The first arm of the Y represents the pathway of energy that flows from the
sun to producers.
2. Grazing Food Chain: The second arm of the Y represents the pathway of energy that flows
from producers to herbivores, through the process of grazing.
3. Detritus Food Chain: The third arm of the Y represents the pathway
of energy that flows from dead organic matter to decomposers,
through the process of decomposition.
Types of Ecosystem

Ecosystem may be classified as:

i. Natural Ecosystem

ii. Artificial Ecosystem/Man-made Ecosystem/ Anthropogenic Ecosystem

Types of Ecosystem (Natural Ecosystem)

Natural ecosystem include the forests, grasslands, deserts, and aquatic

ecosystems such as ponds, rivers, lakes and the seas. Natural ecosystems are of
two kinds:
• Aquatic ecosystems involve marine environments and fresh water
environments on the lands (river, spring, stream)
• Thermal Ecosystem consists of forests, green lands, desert and tundra.
Types of Ecosystem (Artificial Ecosystem )

Man made ecosystems are maintained artificially by man by manipulating the energy
requirements.
Some of the Man-made ecosystems are crop, urban, industrial etc.
The artificial ecosystems that have evolved in past few years produce high levels of
toxic by-products. The systems work well in short time periods but quickly decay and
break down.
Function of Ecosystem

There is a direct relationship between the structural complexity that forms in an

ecosystem and the diversity of species, the richness of species, the overall amount of
energy held in the system, and how that energy is able to move within the system.

Function refers to the processes that move and cycle energy through and among all
elements (living and Non- living). Within the structure of an ecosystem compounds
such as water carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous, are all cycled through an
ecosystem.
Function of Ecosystem

The flow of energy and materials within the ecosystem constitute the functional
aspects of the ecosystem. The mineral and atmospheric gases cycle in the ecosystem
through biogeochemical cycles. The functioning of the ecosystem is explained under
following topics:
• Food chain
• Food pyramids
• Energy flow
• Nutrient cycles
• Evolution
THANKS