ECOSYSTEM Interaction of biotic and abiotic factors

Biotic - Living Abiotic - Non-living

Plants Animals Insects Decomposers Air Water Soil

Biotic community is dynamic - Changes constantly, reaches an equilibrium called climax

community.

Succession - Gradual change in biotic community

to form a stable community. (Climax)

Productivity – Rate of biomass production Producer

GPP – Gross primary productivity
NPP – Net primary productivity Plants take up
NPP = GPP – Respiration [R} energy from
(utilised by plants) sun.

Humus - Rich
in nutrients
Unidirectional
flow of energy Primary
Consumer

Decomposer – Feed
on dead and decaying
matter (detritus)

Nutrient cycling
Secondary Consumer
Nutrients from humus seep down into
soil and are taken up by plants
Decomposition
Gaseous Sedimentary Fragmentation
Detrivores break down com-
Carbon Cycle Phosphorus cycle plex detritus into small particles.
CO2 Leaching
Water soluble nutrients seep down
Factory and
vehicle
in the soil to form salts.
Catabolism
emissions

Ocean Uptake
Plant Respiration

Maineral Carbon
Bacterial & fungal enzymes degrade
Root Respiration
detritus.
Fossils and fossil fuels

Ecological pyramid
PP – Primary Producer;
TC
PC – Primary Consumer
SC Decrease in biomass,
SC – Secondary Consumer;
PC Energy, Dry weight
TC – Tertiary Consumer
PP