MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

NONG LAM UNIVERSITY – HO CHI MINH CITY

FACULTY: Chemical Engineering and Food Technology

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Topic: ECOSYSTEM

Instructor: Le Thi Lan Thao

Table of Contents
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1. Definition...............................................................................................3
2. Types of the ecosystem.........................................................................3
2.1 Terrestrial ecosystem.........................................................................3
2.2 Aquatic ecosystem.............................................................................5
3. Structure of ecosystem..........................................................................6
3.1 Biotic components..............................................................................6
3.2 Abiotic components...........................................................................7
4. Functions................................................................................................8
5. Ecological Principles.............................................................................9
6. Important Ecological concepts............................................................9
6.1 Food chain..........................................................................................9
6.2 Ecological Pyramids........................................................................10
6.3 Food Web.........................................................................................11
7. Ecological imbalance..........................................................................12
7.1 Definition.........................................................................................12
7.2 Causes..............................................................................................12
7.3 Effect of Eco-imbalance...................................................................13
7.4 Solutions...........................................................................................14
8. Diversity of Ecosystems in Viet Nam................................................15
9. Impact of eco-imbalance on Vietnam................................................16
10. References.........................................................................................17

1. Definition

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 The ecosystem is the community of living organisms in conjunction with non-living
components of their environment, interacting as a system. An ecosystem consists of all
the living and non-living things in a specific natural setting. Plants, animals, insects,
microorganisms, rocks, soil, water, and sunlight are major components of many
ecosystems. It is seen in nature that the Ecosystem can be as large or small. It depends on
the number of abiotic components available in the environment. The ecosystem in the
north or south poles does not have much flora and fauna as compared to a tropical climate
like a forest due to the extreme climate the animals are subjected to. Only organisms that
are resistant to such an environment will be able to make up the Ecosystem. Overall, it is
understood that different ecosystems combined would make up the biosphere.
2. Types of the ecosystem
2.1 Terrestrial ecosystem
A terrestrial ecosystem is a land-based community of organisms and the interactions of
biotic and abiotic components in a given area. The type of terrestrial ecosystem found in
a particular place is dependent on the temperature range, the average amount of
precipitation received, the soil type, and the amount of light it receives. The major types
of ecosystems are forest, grassland, tundra, desert ecosystems.
 Forest Ecosystem
The forest ecosystem has a huge variety of flora and fauna living together in a
specific area. There are different types of forest ecosystems based on climatic
conditions such as tropical, temperate, boreal, etc. In a tropical ecosystem, we can
find a large variety of vegetation as compared to another terrestrial ecosystem

Figure 1: Restoring Forest ecosystems provides multiple benefits to society

 Grassland Ecosystem
The grassland ecosystem mainly contains grasses along with some species of shrubs
& trees. Grassland is a perfect region for grazing animals. The atmosphere in the
grassland ecosystem is quite pleasant, and the climatic conditions are very similar to
semi-arid regions. The most found organisms in the grassland ecosystem are grazing
animals, herbivorous, insectivorous, etc. Tropical & temperate are typical regions of
the grassland ecosystem.
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 Figure 2: Herbivores optimize the function of grassland ecosystem
 Tundra Ecosystem
There is limited life in the tundra ecosystem due to the harsh environment of this
region. The tundra region refers to the lower altitudes of polar areas. Most of the
time in a year, the land in this region is covered with snow, which makes survival
very tough; This is the reason for the limited flora & fauna found in this kind of
ecosystem

Figure 3: Tundra Ecosystem

 Desert Ecosystem
The desert ecosystem has a high amount of flora & fauna found in this region. The
desert ecosystem has covered almost 17% of the Earth’s surface. Excessive
temperature, extreme sunshine, less water available, etc. do not allow a variety of
plants & animals to live in a desert ecosystem. You can find some plants such as
cactus in the desert ecosystem. These types of plants can conserve water as much as
they can. In this region, we can find animals like camels, reptiles, a few insects, etc.

Figure 4: Desert Ecosystem

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2.2 Aquatic ecosystem
An ecosystem that is located in a body of water is known as an aquatic ecosystem. The
nature and characteristics of the communities of living or biotic organisms and non-living
or abiotic factors which interact with and interrelate to one another are determined by the
aquatic surroundings of their environment they are dependent upon.
The aquatic ecosystem can be broadly classified into:
 Freshwater Ecosystem
Freshwater is another type of aquatic ecosystem that covers less area as compared
to the marine ecosystem. The freshwater ecosystem covers almost 0.8% of the
Earth's surface. The major kinds of freshwater ecosystems are lentic, lotic, and
wetlands. Lentic ecosystem refers to stagnant water bodies such as ponds, lakes,
etc. whereas the lotic ecosystem means fast-flowing water bodies such as a river.
On the other hand, in wetland areas, the land becomes saturated and remains for a
long period.

Figure 5: Freshwater Ecosystem

 Marine Ecosystem
Marine ecosystem covers almost 70% of the area on Earth's surface, hence known
as one of the biggest kinds of ecosystems on the Earth. Water is the main
component of the marine ecosystem, which contains various minerals & salt
dissolved in it. Many organisms such as sharks, cephalopods, brown algae,
echinoderm, corals, dinoflagellates, etc. contribute to being a part of the marine
ecosystem.

Figure 6: Marine Ecosystem

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3. Structure of ecosystem
The structure of an ecosystem is basically a description of the organisms and physical
features of the environment including the amount and distribution of nutrients in a
particular habitat. It also provides information regarding the range of climatic conditions
prevailing in the area. From the structure point of view, all ecosystems consist of the
following basic components: Biotic and abiotic components

Figure 7: Structure of Ecosystem highlighting the biotic and abiotic factors

3.1 Biotic components
 Producers: The producers are the autotrophic elements—chiefly green plants. They
use the radiant energy of the sun in the photosynthetic process whereby carbon
dioxide is assimilated, and light energy is converted into chemical energy. The
chemical energy is actually locked up in the energy-rich carbon compounds. Oxygen
is evolved as a by-product of photosynthesis.
This is used in respiration by all living things. Algae and other hydrophytes of a
pond, grasses of the field, trees of the forests are examples of producers.
Chemosynthetic bacteria and carotenoid-bearing purple bacteria that also assimilate
CO2 with the energy of sunlight but only in the presence of organic compounds also
belong to this category.
 Consumers:
 Primary: These are purely herbivorous animals that are dependent for their food on
producers or green plants. Insects, rodents, rabbits, deer, cows, buffalo, goats are
some of the common herbivores in the terrestrial ecosystem and small crustaceans,
molluscs, etc. in the aquatic habitat. The herbivores serve as the chief food source for
carnivores.
 Secondary: These are carnivores and omnivores. Carnivores are flesh-eating animals
and omnivores are the animals adapted to consume herbivores and plants as their

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 food. Examples of secondary consumers are the sparrow, crow, fox, wolves, dogs,
cats, snakes, etc.
 Tertiary: These are the top carnivores that prey upon other carnivores, omnivores and
herbivores. Lions, tigers, hawks, vultures, etc. are considered as tertiary or top
consumers.
 Parasites, scavengers, and saprobes: Besides different classes of consumers, the
parasites, scavengers, and saprobes are also included in the consumers. The parasitic
plants and animals utilize the living tissues of different plants and animals. The
scavengers and saprobes utilize dead remains of animals and plants as their food.
 Decomposers: include saprophytes such as fungi and bacteria. They directly thrive
on the dead and decaying organic matter.  Decomposers are essential for the
ecosystem as they help in recycling nutrients to be reused by plants.

Figure 8: Biotic components in an ecosystem

3.2 Abiotic components
The physicochemical environment reflects ecological interactions. Basic inorganic
elements and compounds, such as soil, water, oxygen, calcium carbonates,
phosphates, and a range of organic molecules, make up the abiotic component of an
ecosystem (by-products of organic activities or death).
Moisture, wind currents, and solar radiation are examples of physical components and
ingredients. The sun's radiant radiation is the sole important source of energy for any
biosphere. The number of non-living components existing at any particular moment,
such as carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and so on, is referred to as the standing state or
standing quantity.

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 Figure 9: Abiotic components in an ecosystem
4. Functions
An ecosystem is a discrete structural, functional, and life-sustaining environmental
system. The environmental system consists of biotic and abiotic components in a habitat.
Biotic component of the ecosystem includes the living organisms; plants, animals, and
microbes whereas the abiotic component includes inorganic matter and energy.
Abiotic components provide the matrix for the synthesis and perpetuation of organic
components (protoplasm). The synthesis and perpetuation processes involve energy
exchange, and this energy comes from the sun in the form of light or solar energy.
The functions of the ecosystem are as follows:
- It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and renders stability.
- It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic components.
- It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem.
- It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
- The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components that involves the
exchange of energy.
The functional units of an ecosystem or functional components that work together in an
ecosystem are:
Productivity – It refers to the rate of biomass production.
Energy flow – It is the sequential process through which energy flows from one trophic
level to another. The energy captured from the sun flows from producers to consumers
and then to decomposers and finally back to the environment.
Decomposition – It is the process of breakdown of dead organic material. The top-soil is
the major site for decomposition.

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 Nutrient cycling – In the ecosystem nutrients are consumed and recycled back in various
forms for the utilization by various organisms.
5. Ecological Principles
- Protection of species and species’ subdivisions will conserve genetic diversity
- Maintaining habitat is fundamental to conserving species
- Large areas usually contain more species than smaller areas with similar habitat
- All things are connected but the nature and strength of those connections vary.
- Disturbances shape the characteristics of populations, communities, and ecosystems
- Climate influences terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.
6. Important Ecological concepts
6.1 Food chain
A food chain explains which organism eats another organism in the environment. The
food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy are transferred
from one organism to the other. This occurs when one organism consumes another
organism. It begins with the producer organism, follows the chain, and ends with the
decomposer organism. After understanding the food chain, we realize how one organism
is dependent upon another species for survival.
The food chain consists of four major parts, namely:
 The Sun: The sun is the initial source of energy, which provides energy for everything
on the planet.
 Producers: The producers in a food chain include all autotrophs such as phytoplankton,
cyanobacteria, algae, green plants. This is the first stage in a food chain. The producers
make up the first level of a food chain. The producers utilize the energy from the sun to
make food. Producers are also known as autotrophs as they make their food. Producers
are any plant or other organisms that produce their own nutrients through photosynthesis.
For example, green plants, phytoplankton, and algae are some examples of producers in a
food chain.
 Consumers: Consumers are all organisms that are dependent on plants or other
organisms for food. This is the largest part of a food web, as it contains almost all living
organisms. It includes herbivores which are animals that eat plants, carnivores which are
animals that eat other animals, parasites are those organisms that live on other organisms
by harming them, and lastly the scavengers, which are animals that eat dead animals’
carcasses.
Here, herbivores are known as primary consumers and carnivores are secondary
consumers. The second trophic level includes organisms that eat producers. Therefore,
primary consumers or herbivores are organisms in the second trophic level.
 Decomposers: Decomposers are organisms that get energy from dead or waste organic
material. This is the last stage in a food chain. Decomposers are an integral part of a food

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chain, as they convert organic waste materials into inorganic materials like nutrient-rich
soil or land.
Decomposers complete a life cycle. They help in recycling the nutrients as they provide
nutrients to soil or oceans, that can be utilized by autotrophs or producers. Thus, starting
a whole new food chain.

Figure 10: A classic example of a food chain in an ecosystem

6.2 Ecological Pyramids
The graphical representation of the relationship between various living beings at 
various trophic levels within a food chain is called an ecological pyramid. The pyramid is
formed based on the number of organisms, energy, and biomass.
The ecological pyramid is highly significant in an ecosystem and the reasons are 
explained below:
An ecological pyramid shows how efficiently energy is transferred from one level to 
the other and also helps to quantify energy in a food chain. 
This pyramid also shows how various organisms in various ecosystems feed on each 
other, highlight their food patterns and explains the relationship between the various 
levels within it. 
The ecological pyramid also helps monitor the overall health and condition of an ecosyste
m and helps restore balance. It also helps to understand how any further damage to an
ecosystem can be prevented.

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 Figure 11: Ecological Pyramids
6.3 Food Web
A single food chain is the single possible path that energy and nutrients may make while 
passing through the ecosystem. All the interconnected and overlapping food chains in an 
ecosystem make up a food web. The Food web is a network of interconnected food
chains. It comprises all the food chains within a single ecosystem. It helps in
understanding that plants lay the foundation of all the food chains. In a marine
environment, phytoplankton forms the primary producer.

Figure 12: Food web in an ecosystem

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7. Ecological imbalance
7.1 Definition
Ecosystems establish a state of balance where species coexist with other species. If
anything happens in an ecosystem, it might go from being in a state of balance to being in
a state of imbalance. Ecological imbalance occurs when a natural or human-caused
disturbance undermines an ecosystem's natural balance. This disturbance is any change
that causes a disruption in ecosystem balance

Figure 13: Difference of ecological imbalance and ecological balance

7.2 Causes:
The main reason for imbalance in ecosystem of the world is man’s dominance in the
global ecosystem and people’s thoughtless alternation of it to satisfy people’s needs and
greed. Some specific causes for eco-imbalance are as follow:
 Changing hydrology
 Large-scale use of fertilizers
 Changes in Earth’s surface
 Acid rain
 Green-house effect
 Forest fires
 Overgrazing
 Clearance of forests
 Plant and animal breeding
 Loss of genetic resources
 Mining activities
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  Industrialization
 Urbanization
7.3 Effect of Eco-imbalance
 Soil degradation:
Soil degradation has many causes, but the immediate concerns are improper land
use, soil erosion, acidification, salinization, water-logging and chemical degradation.
Soil erosion is the washing or blowing away of the surface soil. Erosion can occur
naturally, but it is substantially accelerated when human activities result in the loss
of natural vegetation's protective cover of natural vegetation. Soil fertility is directly
impacted by acidification and salinization. Acid rain and the buildup of water-
soluble salts in the soil may be to blame. If dangerous chemicals like DDT and
radioactive compounds are leached out of the soil, it can cause chemical
deterioration. Soil erosion is a worldwide issue.
 Endangerment of species:
Ecological imbalance can lead to the endangerment or even extinction of species. If
these areas are destroyed due to natural disasters or due to human interventions,
these species will be lost forever.
 Resource depletion
Natural resources can be depleted as a result of man-made ecological issues. As the
world's population grows, so does the need for material commodities. Natural
resources must be used to create these things. However, many of these natural
resources, such as metal, are non-renewable and may run out in the future unless we
cut our usage.
 Loss of livelihood for many people
Through ecological imbalance, many people will lose their livelihood. This may be
because the problem of water shortage would be exacerbated as a result of global
warming. Thus, many farmers will be unable to tilt their fields or grow cattle
because they will simply not have enough water. Furthermore, many islands will be
flooded due to a rise in sea levels.
 Global warming
Ecological problems like the emission of harmful greenhouse gases contribute to the
global warming issue. Global warming, in turn, will lead to a massive decline in
biodiversity
 Biodiversity loss
Biodiversity loss may be caused by many ecological problems, either by natural
causes like earthquakes or also through human interventions in ecological systems.
In the last decades, we have already lost a significant number of species. The
problem of biodiversity loss is likely to increase in the future due to many ecological
problems our planet currently faces.
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 7.4 Solutions
 Conservation areas
One measure to protect our ecological systems is to install conservation areas where
animals and plant populations can recover and live in peace with nature and are safe
from harmful human interventions.
 Restore ecological systems
These ecosystems should be restored in order to protect endangered species and provide
them with a habitat in which to rebuild their populations.
 Government regulations
The utilization of natural environments for human purposes should be subject to
stringent government controls. Profit-maximizing businesses should find it increasingly
difficult to utilize undisturbed environment for their goals, which often involve severe
pollution. Governments should establish a framework in which the conservation of
natural systems took priority above corporate profit maximization.
 Stop deforestation
Our forests are essential for human life because they store a variety of hazardous
substances while also providing ample oxygen. They also provide a natural
environment for a wide range of animals and other species. As a result, in order to
mitigate a variety of ecological problems, we have to stop or at least reduce the level of
deforestation.
 Reduce consumption
We have to be aware that all the products we consume are made from natural resources.
Excessive consumption can thus contribute to resource depletion and the loss of many
natural areas. As a result, in order to conserve our ecosystems, we must minimize our
consuming habits.
 Reduce waste
Every day, a large amount of garbage is generated. A considerable portion of this
garbage is burnt to get rid of it, which causes a slew of environmental issues.
Furthermore, a portion of the garbage is disposed of in landfills, where harmful
substances may cause widespread soil contamination. Thus, we should try to reduce
waste production whenever possible in our daily life.
 Reuse and recycle
Reusing and recycling material things is crucial in order to mitigate several ecological
issues.
8. Diversity of Ecosystems in Viet Nam
Although Vietnam’s territory just covers an area of more than 330,000 square kilometers,
several ecosystems can be found in Viet Nam including terrestrial, wetland, and marine
ecosystems.

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 Terrestrial ecosystems consist of forests, agricultural and urban areas. Among them,
forests are characterized by the rich biodiversity of both flora and fauna as tropical
monsoon climate with high temperature and rainfall. Three-quarters of Vietnam is
mountains and hills; thus, the tropical evergreen forest is the dominant ecosystem in
Vietnam. In agricultural and urban areas, ecosystems are less diverse and mainly
artificial.
Vietnam's wetlands ecosystems are diverse, with each having its own characteristics
based on geographical location and temperature. Coastal mangroves, peat swamps,
lagoons, coral reefs, and the water around coastal islands are all examples of wetland
habitats in Vietnam. Many local and migratory creatures, including as birds, mammals,
amphibians, and reptiles, call coastal mangroves home. Many aquatic creatures such as
fish, shrimp, crab, and others call these places home. Peat bogs can only be found in
Southeast Asia. The upper and lower U Minh peat wetlands in Vietnam's Mekong Delta
are the only remaining peat swamps. Lagoons are a typical sight along the Central
Vietnamese coast, and they are home to a diverse range of wildlife. Many animals that
live in freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater make their homes in lagoons. Seasonal
variations have a tremendous impact on the biological community in the lagoons. Coastal
areas are known for their coral reefs and seagrass, which are home to many benthos and
small fish. The ecosystems of the water around coastal islands are comparable to coral
reef ecosystems.
Marine ecosystems of Vietnam cover a huge area of more than 1,000,000 square
kilometers. Therefore, marine resources of Vietnam are abundant and plentiful. In
estimate, there is around 11,000 marine species inhabiting in 20 typical marine
ecosystems.

Figure 14: U Minh Ha National Park Figure 15: U Minh Thuong National Park

9. Impact of eco-imbalance on Vietnam

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 Any extinction of a species has the potential to degrade ecosystems, making it harder for
local inhabitants to maintain a high quality of life. Because of its limited technological
and financial resources, this issue is particularly important for a developing country like
Vietnam. The way natural resources, particularly biological resources, are utilized has a
significant impact on current and future generations' survival.
Vietnam has a diverse range of biological resources, including several species that are
peculiar to Southeast Asia. These abundant resources have been critical to the stability
and prosperity of Vietnam. Many of these resources, however, are now exhausted.
Forest and wetland areas are being rapidly reduced and 355 plant species and 365 animal
species are now under threat. Vietnamese ecosystems, such as the tropical forest, are both
diverse and fragile and will easily deteriorate with irregular climate fluctuations.
For humanity, it is relatively easy to change habitat when the environment alters but
many animal and plant species cannot respond so readily. Many species may be on the
verge of extinction because they will not have enough time to adapt to a swift change in
the climate. Resistance to climate change in species that have a small population appears
to be very low.
A rise in sea level would flood wetlands and lowlands, erode shorelines, intensify coastal
floods, raise the salinity of estuaries and aquifers’ salinity, adversely degrade water
quality, change tidal ranges in rivers, and bays, and change where rivers deposit
sediment. Intertidal zones may be modified radically and ecosystems such as the
mangrove forest could disappear. The physical and morphological characteristics of
shallow waters might change considerably, impairing the functioning of these ecological
systems. The complete loss of resources such as birdlife, fish spawning, nursery grounds,
and shellfish production is possible. The mangrove forests of Vietnam cover about
200,000 hectares and provide a diverse home for a variety of species. The availability of
marine items such as shrimp, crab, and fish is extremely important to local residents'
lives. It takes between 100 and 1,000 years to grow and mature mangrove forests. Any
considerable rise in sea level would be disastrous for everyone who lives in or depends
on this ecosystem.
Like many other developing countries, Vietnam relies extensively on its natural
resources. Losses in biological resources caused by climate change and sea-level rise will
pose many difficulties in future socio-economic development.
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BYJUS.
https://byjus.com/biology/ecosystem/

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3. N. (2015, August 27). Ecosystem: It’s Structure and Functions (With Diagram). Biology
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with-diagram/6666
4. Fleming, E. (2020, December 1). What is an ecological imbalance? – SidmartinBio.
What Is an Ecological Imbalance?
https://www.sidmartinbio.org/what-is-an-ecological-imbalance/
5. F. (2020, April 20). Sound Pollution Essay For Kids. Earth Reminder.
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%20of%20species%20and%20species,smaller%20areas%20with%20similar%20habitat.
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