ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT

1. Ecology, coined by Ernst Haeckel, explores interactions among organisms and their
environment.

2. A.G. Tansley introduced the term Ecosystem, a system of living organisms and non-
living components.
3. Key features of ecology/ecosystem include being an open system, encompassing all
living organisms and physical elements, functioning as a unit, having its
productivity, and comprising biotic and abiotic components.
4. Ecosystems are classified into Aquatic (e.g., oceans) and Terrestrial (e.g., forests,
grasslands). Examples of artificial ecosystems include fields, gardens, and natural
ecosystems like forests and ponds.
5. Carrying capacity denotes the maximum number of organisms an environment can
support.
 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
6. John Bennett proposed the concept of Ecological Transition, studying human-
physical environment relationships.

7. Ecological niche defines an organism's physical space and functional role in a

community.
8. Deforestation is a main cause of ecological imbalance, with secondary causes
including desertification, lumbering, floods, famines, and rainfall variations.
9. Decomposers (fungi, bacteria) recycle organic matter from dead bodies.
10. Food chains depict the transfer of energy, with man serving as both primary and
secondary consumer. Types include Grazing and Detritus food chains.
11. In ecosystems, primary producers (e.g., green plants) are abundant due to maximum
energy availability.
12. Deer is a herbivore, ants are decomposers and primary consumers, and green plants
are primary producers.

13. Trophic levels represent energy flow in an ecosystem.

 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
14. Raymond Lindeman's 10 percent law states that only 10 percent of energy transfers
between trophic levels, with the sun being the primary energy source.
15. Phytoplankton (microalgae) are key marine primary producers, relying on sunlight
and inorganic nutrients.
16. Ecological Pyramids (Numbers, Biomass, Energy) depict trophic levels in different
organisms.
17. Pyramid of Numbers can be upright or inverted (e.g., grassland and tree
ecosystems).
18. Pyramid of Biomass shows biomass per unit area, generally upright in grasslands
and forests, but inverted in ponds.
19. Pyramid of Energy represents energy at each trophic level, always upright.
20. Bioaccumulation is the gradual buildup of pollutants in an organism.
21. Biomagnification is the increase in pollutant concentration at each trophic level over
time.

22. DDT is a non-biodegradable, biomagnifying pollutant.

 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
23. Energy flow in ecosystems is unidirectional.

24. Invasive fauna in India includes Eucalyptus, Gold Fish, and House Gecko.

25. Eucalyptus, termed the 'enemy of the environment,' consumes excessive water.
26. Lentic ecosystems are static (ponds, lakes), while lotic ecosystems are dynamic
(rivers).
 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
27. Ecotone is a transition region between biological communities (e.g., mangrove
forests).

28. Edge effect occurs when the species density in an ecotone surpasses that in either
community.
29. Coral reefs represent the most stable ecosystem.
 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
30. A biome is a large community of flora and fauna, including natural (e.g., rainforest)
and anthropogenic (e.g., cropland) biomes.

31. Coral Reefs host diverse animal phyla, and Australia has a significant share of the
world's coral reefs.
32. The Biosphere is the largest ecosystem on Earth.
33. Biotic interactions in a food web involve various relationships.
34. Biogeochemical cycles involve cycling elements through gaseous and sedimentary
cycles.
 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
35. Nitrogen fixation occurs through microorganisms, industrial processes, and
atmospheric phenomena.
36. 'Narmada Bacho Andolan' opposed the construction of dams on the Narmada River.
37. Chipko movement's slogan is "Ecology is permanent economy," started in 1974 by
Gaura Devi.
38. 'Apiko Movement' began in Karnataka in 1983.
39. 'Mitti Bachao Andolan' opposed water logging and salinity from the Tawa Dam in
1977.
40. Decomposers convert inorganic into organic matter.
41. Ecosystem productivity sequence: Mangroves → Grasslands → Lakes → Oceans.
42. Arne Naess coined the term "deep ecology."
 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
43. Grinnell introduced the concept of the ecological niche.

44. Ecological footprint measures human demand on Earth's ecosystem.

45. National Environmental Legislation includes acts like Wildlife Protection, Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution), and Environment (Protection) Acts.
46. Pycnocline indicates density, Halocline shows salinity, and Thermocline shows
temperature gradients.
47. Marine upwelling enhances marine productivity, while downwelling decreases
productivity.
48. Eco-sensitive zones regulate human activities within designated areas, excluding
agriculture.
 ECOSYSTEM BASICS IN ONE SHOT
49. State governments should declare land within 10 km of national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones.
50. Ecological succession is the gradual change in ecosystems over time, involving
pioneer communities and climax communities.
51. Biotic succession sequence: Nudation → Migration → Ecesis → Reaction →
Stabilization.