4

Ecosystem

0. 1. What is an ecosystem? What are its components ? Describe them in

(Bundelkhand 1991, 96; Avadh 94; Agra 93)
brief.
(Purvanchel 1995)
Give an account of ecosystem.
(Avadh 1999)
Write a n essay on ecosystem.
of an ecosystem.
Define an ecosystem. Describe various components
Kumaon 97; Garhwal 94; Rohilkhand 94)
Lucknow 1993; Meerut 99; Purvanchal 92;

WHAT IS AN ECOSYSTEM 1?
was coined by Tansley in
1935. Ecosystem represents
The word ecosystem the biotic communities
unit of ecology which comprises of
the basic functional eiivironment. Thus a biotic
related with their non-living or abiotic
mutually environment together represent an ecosystem.
community a.ld its a biotic
ecosystem is a natural functional unit
Thus according to Odum (1963), an
environment that
organisms and their non-living
of ecology comprising living complete, largely self-
system. An ecosystem is a
interact to form a stable
contained ecological unit.

PRINCIPAL STEPs OF AN ECOSYSTEM

Principal Steps
of an ecosystem are
The principal steps in the operation

I. reception of energy,
2. manufacture of organic food by
producers,
material by consumers,
. Consumption of organic
and
4. decomposition of organic compounds, the
suitable compounds for
of these compounds into
.ranstormation
nutrition of the producers.
these steps not only involve the production
n operation of an ecosystem
the
infiuence the non-living
but also
and death of the living components
th
environment of the habitat.
70
Ecosystem
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS NON-ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS

LIGHT GREEN PLANTS

HERBIVORES CARNMVORES

PARASITES

SCAVENGERS

SAPROPHYTES

DECOMPoSERS

NUTRIENTS TRANSFORMERS

NON-LIVING LIVING COMPONENTS

cOMPONENTS
Fig. 1. Principal steps and components in a self-sufficient ecosystem.

Components of An Ecosystem
From structural viewpoint, the
(2) Abiotic components.
ecosystem is divided into (1) Biotic and

I. Bicic Components
The biotic component includes three
decomposers.
groups producers, consumers and
1. Producers These are
green plants of
chlorophyll, green plants entrap the light energy the ecosystem. With the help of
of the sun and bind it in the form
of carbohydrates from
simple inorganic compounds like CO2 and water. This
process is called photosynthesis. From the basic
glucose, plants form complex organic compounds like simple organie material, i.
starch, proteins and lipids.
2. Consumers These
heterotrophic organisms, i.e., animals which are
are
also called macroconsumers. These
ingest their food, so they are also called
phagotrophs. Consumers are of the following three types
(a) Herbivores or primary consumers: These animals are the primary
consumers of the
ecosystem. Rabbit, deer, goat, cattle, grasshoppers, etc.,
are the herbivores of
terrestrial
protozoans and many fishes are theecosystem
and crustaceans, molluscS,
herbivores of aquatic ecosystem.
(b) Secondary consumers :
These are primary carnivores, which ea
herbivores. Frog, fox, centipedes, fishes,
are the
examples of secondary consumers.predatory birds, lion and tiger
(c) Tertiary consumers : These are
secondary carnivores which eat ine
secondary consumers, e.g., snake eats insectivorous frog.
 71
Ecosystem

o r Red ducers: Bacteria, fungi and moulds are the

reducers of the ecosystem. These obtain their food by breaking
Decomposers

3.
decomposers or These are released in the
and animals into simple compounds.
the deadplants
utilisec by producers for
the synthesis of organic food. The
and are
osphere microconsumers or saprotrophs. These are also
decomposers are also called
atmo

down of complex organic compounds into

neralisersand the breaking
called mineralisation.

ones as
simpler CARNIVOROUS
HERBIVOROUS
ANIMALS
GREEN ANIMALS
sOLAR PLANTS
(Primary (secondary
ENERGY
(Producers) consumers)
consumers)
LARGE
CARNIVOROUS-

ENVIRONMENT REÇOMPoSERS ANIMALS

(Tertiary consumers)

in an ecosystem.
relations of various living organisms
Fig. 2. Food

I1. Abiotic Components climatic and

of the
environment are of two types: humidity.
Abiotie components temperature, light, wind,
factors include
The climatic substratum, topography, background
edaphic. factors include soil,
water. The edaphic
and
of
minerals and pH. behaviour and structure

influence the distribution

Abiotic factors

and vary
from place to place.
organisms,
upon
the habitat
Types of Ecosystems
aquatic. Depending
terrestrial or forest
be divided into crop
ecosystem,
Ecosystems may
may be Similarly,
freshwater

terrestrial ecosystems ecosystem.

conditions,
ecosystem
and desert and river
ecosystem.

ecosystem,
grassland lake ecosystem
ecosystem,
named as pond marine ecosystem.
ecosystems
are is deserts,
most
uniform ecosystem ponds,
The largest and rivers lakes,
streams,
seashores, world.
seas,
estuaries,
ecosystems
of the
The the major
are
grassland and the forest
EXAMPLE OF ECoSYSTEM detail the
in
POND AS AN ? Describe
ecosystem
understand by by you.
2 . What do you one
ecosystem
studied
Lucknow 96; Allahabad
97)

features of any 1990, 93; ?

Characteristic (Purvanchal ecosystem
What is an
ecosystem. (Bundelkhand 1998)
example
of
pond as a n ecosystem. freshwater
DIsCuss
of pond components
of a
components 2000)
Describe various on
various
(Garhwal
1999; Agra
Comment
ecosystem.
Deine

ecosystem. Definition of Ecosystem

Hint: Refer Q. 1.
 12 Ecosystem
Pond Ecosystem
self maintaining regualting ecosystem
and self .

is
A' freshwater pond a
water body. It is by quite water .
characterised
is shallow standing
pond micro-organisms, large plants and
a
thousands of
abundant vegetation with found
the basic units of an ecosystem
are
animals. In the pond ecosystem all

1. Abiotic Components
of the pond ecosystem. These inchuda
These are non-living components
such as water, CO2, oxygen, calcium, nitrogen
gen
inorganic and organic compounds acids. Besides, light, temperature
amino acids and humic
and phosphorus salts, conditions regulate the entire
of water, day-length and other climatic
pH
of on day-to-day basis.
pond
ecosystem

2. Biotic Components
of producers, consumers
Biotic component of a pond ecosystem comprises
and decomposers.
SUN

PRODUCERS

PHYTOPLANKTON
GREEN AND
PLANTS ALGAE
INSECTS

CYLOPS
INSECTS TADPOLE

hMARY

cONSUMERS SAMLL FISR

SECONDARY
cONSUMERS

LARGE FISH

TERTIARY CONSUMERS ROOTED

GREEN PLANTS

coBACTERIA AND FUNGI HUMUS

DECOMPOSERs
Fig.3. Pond ecosystem.
1. Producers Green plants are the producers of pond ecosystem. Ine
synthesise organic compounds from simple inorganic substances such as
carbon dioxide and minerals in the presence of sunlight. There are two ypeso f
producers in a pond:
(a) Large rooted plants growing along the bank or floating in shallow w
ater

like Eichornia, Pistia, Wolfia, marginal and emergent plants like ipon
Typha, Phragmites, etc., submerged plants like Potamogeton, Vallisner
etc.and filamentous algae like
Spirogyra, Chara, Oedogoniu, o
Ecosystem
73
b) Microscopic plants or phytoplankton include Oscillatoria, Anabaena,
Eudorina, Clostrium and Volvox. The phytoplankton are more important
as the producers in the pond than the large plants.
2. Consumers: These are heterotrophs which depend for their nutrition on
the food manufactured by the green plants. Most of the consumers are
organic fooo
organic
few insects and some large fish carnivores feeding on
are
herbivores, a
as well. The consumers in a
herbivores. Some fish also feed on other carnivores
consumers, secondary consumera and tertiary
consumers.
nond are : primary
herbivores feeding directly on living
(1) Primary consumers These are These may
or plant remains lying at the bottom of the pond.
plants (producers)
as well as minute in size. These are of following types
be large
animals associated with plants and bottom
(a) Benthos These include the at the bottom of pond.
remains
forms which feed upon the plants lying
detrivores. Benthic animals include fish, insect larvae,
These are called
crustaceans etc.
beetles, mites, molluscs,
also visit the pond and feed on
Some mammals like cows, buffaloes, etc.
and feed on hydrophytes.
rooted plants. Some birds also visit the pond
These include rotifers and some protozoans, and
(b) Zooplankton :
etc. are also present. They feed
crustaceans like Cyclops, Stenocypris,
chiefly on phytoplankton.
feed on the primary
(2) Secondary
consumers: They are carnivores which like
mainly insects and fish. Most insects
consumers (herbivores). These are

water beetles feed on zooplankton.

fish and other
These are some large fish called game
(3) Tertiary consumers: consumers of the pond ecosystem.
animals and form the tertiary
level. The small fish belong
In a pond, fish may occupy more than oneastrophic
well as living plant parts,
and also
to herbivores level, feeding on phytoplankton
Some fish may feed on zooplankton, thus
remains at the bottom.
lying fish feeding on
on plant consumer level. There are some large
Occupying the secondary c o n s u m e r level.

Smaller fishand occupy the tertiary the mud

bacteria are abundant in
and saprophytic
3. Decomposers: The fungi where dead bodies of plants and animals
are

bottom of ponds ard derive their

water and the the dead bodies of the organisms
the medium of
deposited. These decompose return the mineral elements again to
nourishment. In doing so they
pond.
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Meerut 2000)
(Bundelkhand 2000;

Hint Refer Q. 2.
Q.2. Write notes in thefollowing:
1. Grassland Ecosystem
2. Forest Ecosystem (Gorakhpur 1995)

3. Cropland Ecosystem
4. Desert Ecosystem
 14 Ecosystem
1. Grassland Ecosystem
Grasslands occupy about 19% of the earth's surface. The major grasslan
ecosystems of the world are the great plains of Canada and United `tates
Argentina to Brazil and S. Asia to Central Asia. The various components of
grassland ecosystem are as follows:
1. Abiotic components These include the nutrients present in the soil and
the aerial environment. The clements required by plants are hydrogen, oxygen.
nitrogen, phosphorous and sulphur. These are supplied by the soil and air in the
form of CO02, water, nitrates, phosphates and sulphates. In addition to these some
trace elements are also present in the soil.
2. Producers These are mainly grasses of the family Graminae, a large
variety of herbs, some shrubs and scattered trees.
3. Herbivores such as grazing mammals (e..g, cows,
Consumers: sheep
cer, rabbit, buffaloes, etc.), insects (e.g., Dysdercus, Coccinella, Leptocorisa,
etc.), some termites and millipedes are the primary consumers.
The animals like fox, jackals, snakes, frogs, lizards, birds etc. are the
carnivores feeding on the herbivores. These are the secondary consumers of the
grassland ecosystem. Hawks occupy the tertiary trophic level as these feed on
the secondary consumers.
4. Decomposers: These include bacteria of death and decay, moulds and fungi
(e.g., Muco, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, etc.). These bring the minerals
back to the soil to be available to the producers again.

2. The Forest Ecosystem

Forests occupy roughtly 40% of the total land. In India about 18% of the total
area is under forests. Depending on climatic conditions the forests have been
divided into four categories:
1. Tropical forests
2. Subtropical forests
3. Temperate forests
4. Alpine forest
All the above types of forests have their own typical fauna and flora. The chiet
components of a forest ecosystem are as follows:

1. Abiotic ecomponents : In addition to minerals present in the soil, the forest

floor is rich in dead and decaying organic matter.
2. Producers: The dominant producers of the forest ecosystem are the higner
fonns of the plant kingdom, most specifically seed bearing plants. In for
ecosystem the producers form three major functions. First, they provide the inud
source of food. Second, large plant structures provide habitats for other organist
Third, they are prime agents in soil formation and in modifying the abiou
environment.
as
3. Consumers: The herbivores that include the foliage arthropods suct
ants, flies, beetles, leaf-hoppers, bugs and spiders, etc., and the larger an
E c o s y s t e n

75
ag shoots and fruits such as elephants, nilgai, deer, moles,
on
grazing squirrels,
shrews,flying foxes, fruit bats and mongoose , etc. are the primary consumers.
Secondary consumers are the carnivores like snakes, birds, lizards and foxes
ivores.
eding on herbivo The top carnivores like lion, tiger, ctc., prey upon both
herbivores and carnivores of the secondary consumer level.
4. Decomposers The decomposers of the forcst ecosystcm, as in other
arosystem, are the bacteria and fungi. These organisms obtain energy to carry on
chelífe functions by break1ng down the organic compounds of dead organic matter
nd also release the essential minerals for reuse. Decomposers are mostly found in
and
soil and are represented by the numerous hetrotrophic bacteria.

3. The Desert Ecosystem

The deserts occupy about 17% of the land and occur in the regions with an
average rainfall of less than 23 cm. Due to extremes of temperature, the species
cOmposition of desert ecosystem is less varied and typical. The various components
ofa desert ecosystem are
1. Producers The shrubs, bushes, grasses and some trees are the iain
producers in deserts. The shrubs have extensive and much branched root system
also found
with the stems and leaves variously modified. Some succulent cacti are
time of water
stem to be used during the
in deserts. These store water in their
mosses and blue-green
scarcity. Some lower plants such as lichens, xerophytic
are also found there.
algae
deserts. The most common
2. Consumers : Only a few animals are found in
live under xeric conditions.
animals are those reptiles and insects which are able to
nocturnal rodents. Some birds are
Mammals are represented by a few species of
feeds on tender shoots ofthe plants
also present-The camel, called the ship of desert,
in its stomach. The larger animals including
and conserves large quantities of water
carnivores are scarce. The desert
animals have various morphological and
environment.
wich enable them to live in such extreme
physiological adaptations
3. Decomposers Due to poor vegetation and less amount of dead organic
and bacteria.
matter, decomposers are few. They are thermophilic fungi
4. The Cropland Ecosystem
his best modifying the
This is a man made ecosystem. Man has been doing be
out of them. A cropland ecosystem may
Croplands to get maximum benefit
rice, sugarcane, etc. It has following
by crops like wheat, maize,
llustrated
Components such as
Inorganic and organic compounds
. Abiotic component: of
0 , CO2, O2, Ca, N, P salts and
amino acids are the abiotic components
conditions of the region and use
In addition to these, climatic
and ecosystem.
Chemical fertilisers are also important abioticcomponents.
are the
with the weeds growing in the field
. Producers : A crop along of maize, weeds like
ecosystem. In the cropland ecosystem
of
cers a cropland Launea nudicaulis are very
COon dactylon, Euphorbia hirta, Alysicarpus,
common. consumers of the cropland
3. Consumers Herbivores are the primary
insects. The second order
ecosys rabbits, birds, man and
ySIem. These include rats,
 76
and the third order consumers are represented by irogs, snakes, birds such
Ecosystem
such a.as hawk
etc.
4. Decomposers and transformers Bacteria and fungi like D.
Clostridium, Agaricus, Mucor,Aspergillus and1
Aspergillus,
of cropland ecosystem of maize.
Bacil us
Fusarium are comm
decomposers and transformers
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q.3. What is the importance of the study of ecosystem ?

1. It tells us about the availability of solar energy and efficiency o
ecosystem to trap it.
2. It gives information about the essential minera present and the
recycling period.
3. It tells us about the gross and net productivity of an ecosystem.
4. It tells us about the interactions and inter-relations amongst different food
chains operating in the ecosystem.
5. It helps us to know about conservation resources, pollution and inputs
required to increase productivity.
Q. 4. What is the importance of producers in an ecosystem?
Producers pick up carbon dioxide from the environment and release oxygen
during the process of photosynthesis. All other organisms depend upon the
producers for organic food. Producers also maintain CO2/02 balance in nature.
Q.5. Mention the importance of decomposers in the ecosystem.
Decomposers return the chemical nutrients to the environment by
decomposing the dead bodies of plants and animals. These nutrients are reused by
the producers. The decomposers are present in the soil and at the bottom of ponds
lakes and oceans. Thus, decomposers play an important role by recycling the
materials in the biosphere.
Q.6. What are the basic requirements of an ecosystem.
The basic requirements of a self-sustaining ecosystem are:
1. Inorganic nutrients like CO2 and water.
2. Producers, i.e., autotrophs or green plants.
3. Consumers, i.e., herbivores and carnivores.
4. Microconsumers or decomposers like bacteria and fungi.

Q.7. What will happen if all the decomposers are eliminated from the
ecosystem ?
plants
Decomposers break down the waste organic material and dead bodies f
and animals into simpler ones. Ifthe decomposers are removed the cychng
materials will stop and the earth will be full of dead organic matter.
Q.8. Give the biotic components of pond ecosystem.
Hint: Refer Q. 2.
Q.9. What are the principal steps of an ecosystem.
Hint: Refer Q. 1.