Ecosystem | Components of ecosystem| Ecology | Biotic | Abiotic | Biosphere | Concept of ecology
This video explains the concept of ecology, the precise definition of an ecosystem, and the various components that constitute such ecosystems.
The word Ecology comes from the Greek words OIKOS meaning house or place where one lives and LOGOS meaning study of.
Ecology is a discipline of science of the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment. Ecology explores the intricate connections between plants, animals, and their physical surroundings, including soil, water, and climate.
Living organisms (biotic) and their non-living (abiotic) environment are inseparably interrelated and interact upon each other. Any unit that includes all the organisms in a given area interacting with the physical environment within the system is an ecological system or ecosystem. Ecosystems can be of many sizes and complexities, ranging from small ponds, forests, and grasslands to vast oceans and entire biomes.
Examples of some ecosystems: Pond ecosystem,, Grassland ecosystem, Forest ecosystem, Deserts and so on.
Biosphere is the largest ecosystem.
Biotic components and Abiotic component. These components interact and influence each other to create a functioning ecological system.
Biotic components comprise of all living organisms present in the ecosystem. Abiotic components are the non-living elements of an ecosystem. These factors play a crucial role in shaping the environment and influencing the distribution and abundance of biotic components.
Biotic or living components of ecosystem comprise of all living organisms present in the ecosystem. They can be broadly categorized as Producer and Consumers.
There are two basic types of consumers: Macro-consumers and Micro-consumers. First, we will discuss about Producer.
Producers are also known as Autotroph. Auto means self and troph meaning nutrition.
These organisms are capable of producing their own food using sunlight through the process of photosynthesis.
They convert solar energy into chemical energy, which serves as a basis for the entire food chain. Examples include green plants, algae, and some bacteria.
These are called Photoautotrophs because they need sunlight.
In this photo chemical reaction, Carbon dioxide and Water vapour reacts in presence of sunlight and chlorophyl to produce Glucose and oxygen.
There are two types of autotrophs: Photoautotroph and Chemoautotroph.
Photoautotrophs are autotrophic organisms that use sunlight as their primary source of energy to synthesize organic compounds, such as glucose, through the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, these organisms capture light energy using specialized pigments e.g., chlorophyll and convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Chemoautotrophs derive their energy from inorganic chemical reactions instead of sunlight.
Consumers are also known as Heterotrophs, Hetero meaning other. Heterotrophs or consumers cannot produce their own food. They rely on consuming other organisms for their energy.
Two types of Consumers Macro-consumers and Micro-consumers.
: Macro-consumers are also known as Phagotrophs. Phago means to eat. They eat or ingest other organisms. If they are plant eaters, they are called Herbivore, Flesh eaters are called Carnivores.
Consumers are further classified into: PRIMARY CONSUMERS, or herbivores; SECONDARY CONSUMERS , the carnivores that feed on herbovores; TERTIARY CONSUMERS, carnivores that feed on secondary carnivores; and OMNIVORES; that consume both plants and animals.
Herbivores may be insects, zooplankton or animals like deer, cattle, elephant, etc. Carnivores consume flesh and usually prey on herbivores and other carnivores. They are animals like tiger, lion etc.
Macroconsumers or Sapratrophs are popularly known as Decomposers. Sapro meaning to decompose.
Detritivores are organisms that feed on dead and decaying organic matter. Detritivores are larger than microconsumers and can be found at different trophic levels in the food chain.
Examples: Earthworms, WOODLICE, DUNG BEETLES, SOME INSECTS AND LARVAE.
The dead bodies of Producers and Consumers are the food for the microconsumers.
They decompose or break down dead organic matter and waste materials. Because of the decomposition, the essential nutrients return to the soil.
This breakdown facilitates nutrient recycling, making essential elements available for uptake by plants and other organisms in the ecosystem.