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Gayathri Vasu
Gayathri Vasu

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their non-living physical environment. The lecture defines ecosystems and describes their key components and functions. Ecosystems have biotic factors like producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as abiotic factors such as sunlight, water, temperature, oxygen, and soil. Producers convert solar energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis. Consumers feed on other organisms and each other, in a food chain. Decomposers break down dead organic matter and release nutrients. Key functions of ecosystems include energy flow, food chains, nutrient cycling, and the evolution of biodiversity. Students were assigned a group project to create an infographic poster explaining a specific

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES MODULE 2 ¨C LECTURE 1 ECOSYSTEMS AND ITS COMPONENTS AR. GAYATHRI VASU ASST. PROFESSOR SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING AVIT, CHENNAI
Introduction ENVIRONMENT Environment involves both living organisms and the non-living physical conditions. These two are inseparable but inter-related. For food, shelter, growth and development, all life systems interact with the environment. Environment is a life supporting system. ECOLOGY In the subject of ecology, the term ecosystem refers to the environment of life. It is a self- sustaining, structural and functional unit of biosphere. An ecosystem may be natural or artificial, land based or water-based. Artificial systems may include a cropland, a garden, a park or an aquarium.
1.DefinitionofanEcosystem 2.BioticComponents 3.AbioticComponents 4.Functionsofanecosystem 5.Processesofecosystems 6.TypesofEcosystems CONTENTS
DEFINITION OF AN ECOSYSTEM Theterm`eco'referstoapartoftheworldand `system'referstotheco-ordinatingunits. Thelivingorganismsofahabitatandtheir surroundingenvironmentfunctiontogetheras asingleunit.Thisecologicalunitiscalledasan `ecosystem'.
? An Ecosystem is a naturally occurring assemblage of life and the environment. The life is referred to the biotic community including the plants, animals and other living organisms. The environment is the biotope encompassing the physical region of life. ? The term ecosystem first appeared in a publication by the British ecologist Arthur Tansley, during 1935. An ecosystem may be of very different size. It may be a whole forest, as well as a small pond.
Different ecosystems are often separated by geographical barriers, like deserts, mountains or oceans, or are isolated otherwise, like lakes or rivers. As these borders are never rigid, ecosystems tend to blend into each other. As a result, the whole earth can be seen as a single ecosystem, or a lake can be divided into several ecosystems, depending on the used scale.
An ecosystem has a physical environment, or factors, biological components and interactions between them. Any ecosystem is characterized by a set of abiotic and biotic factors, and functions. The organisms in an ecosystem are usually well balanced with each other and with their environment. Introduction of new environmental factors or new species can have disastrous results, eventually leading to the collapse of an ecosystem and the death of many of its native species.
MACROANDMICRO ECOSYSTEMS
The dimension and spread of an ecosystem may vary. Depending upon their existence and dimension, ecosystems are classified as Macro- ecosystems and Microecosystems. Dimensionally larger systems such as a forest or a lake are called as macro-ecosystems. Life scientists and environmental biologists who are interested to evaluate the functional mechanisms of an ecosystem, may create an experimental setup in the field or in the laboratory. Such setup are considered to be microecosystems.
BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
Biotic components include all living organisms and their products. This group includes all animals, plants, bacteria, fungi and their waste products like fallen leaves or branches or excreta. Based on their activity, biotic components are classified into THREE categories as ¨C a) producers b) consumers c) decomposers.
PRODUCERS Producers are called energy transducers. They convert solar energy into chemical energy, with the help of organic and inorganic substances. The producers are called as autotrophic ( auto = self; troph = nourishing) organisms. They are capable of synthesizing food from non-living inorganic compounds. They are largely represented by green plants on land (trees, grasses, crops) and phytoplanktons on water.
CONSUMERS Consumers are the organisms, whose food requirement are met by feeding on other organisms. They consume the food materials prepared by the producers (autotrophs). Hence, consumers are called as heterotrophic organisms. Animals belong to this category. Depending upon their food habits, consumers are classified into primary, secondary and tertiary consumers.
CONSUMERS - TYPES The PRIMARY CONSUMERS are solely feed on plants. Herbivores are plant eaters - grasshopper, rabbit, goat, sheep are primary consumers. The SECONDARY CONSUMERS feed on some primary consumers. Eg. several species of insects and fishes. TERTIARY CONSUMERS are the predators of predators. They are mostly larger animals.
DECOMPOSERS They are also called as microconsumers. They depend on dead organic matter for their food . They are chiefly micro organisms like bacteria and fungi. They break the complex organic matter found in plant and animal bodies, and release simple substances . These substances will be used by autotrophs once again. Some invertebrate animals like protozoa and earthworms use these dead organic matter for their food. They are called as secondary decomposers.
The abiotic factors determine the type of organisms that can successfully live in a particular area. ? Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis; it influences organisms and their environment; it has a profound effect on the growth and development of life. ? Water is the elixir of life; all living things require water for their survival, but some can live with lesser amounts ? Temperature -- all living things have a range of temperatures in which they can survive; beyond those limits it will be difficult for them to live.
? Temperature -- all living things have a range of temperatures in which they can survive; beyond those limits it will be difficult for them to live. ? Oxygen -- many living things require oxygen; it is necessary for cellular respiration, a process used to obtain energy from food; others are actually killed by the presence of oxygen (certain bacteria) ? Soil -- the type of soil, pH, amount of water it holds, available nutrients, etc determine what type of organism can successfully live in or on the soil; for example, cacti live in sand, cattails in soil saturated with water.
FUNCTIONS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
A system is an organization that functions in a particular method. The functions of an ecosystem include 1) Flow of energy through the medium of living organisms and their activities 2) Food chains 3) Biodiversity and biomass 4) Circulation and transformation of elements and nutrients 5) Development and evolution and 6) Control.
Energy is also consumed by the autotrophs at cellular level for the reactions related to 1. Growth 2. Development 3. Maintenance 4. Reproduction
The specific functional processes of an ecosystem include ? Photosynthesis ? Decomposition ? Predator - prey relations (herbivory, carnivory, parasitism) ? Symbiois.
ASSIGNMENT
TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS ? FOREST (2 MEMBERS) ? GRASSLAND (2 MEMBERS) ? DESERT (2 MEMBERS) ? TUNDRA (2 MEMBERS) ? FRESHWATER AND MARINE (3 MEMBERS) EACH TEAM WILL MAKE AN INFOGRAPHIC POSTER THAT EXPLAINS THEIR TOPIC. IT SHOULD INCLUDE ALL THE DETAILS THAT HAVE BEEN COVERED IN TODAY¡¯S LECTURE FOR THEIR SPECIFIC ECOSYSTEM. SIZE ¨C A1 , MEDIUM - ANY SUBMISSION ¨C NEXT FRIDAY.
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M2.1

  • 1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES MODULE 2 ¨C LECTURE 1 ECOSYSTEMS AND ITS COMPONENTS AR. GAYATHRI VASU ASST. PROFESSOR SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING AVIT, CHENNAI
  • 2. Introduction ENVIRONMENT Environment involves both living organisms and the non-living physical conditions. These two are inseparable but inter-related. For food, shelter, growth and development, all life systems interact with the environment. Environment is a life supporting system. ECOLOGY In the subject of ecology, the term ecosystem refers to the environment of life. It is a self- sustaining, structural and functional unit of biosphere. An ecosystem may be natural or artificial, land based or water-based. Artificial systems may include a cropland, a garden, a park or an aquarium.
  • 4. DEFINITION OF AN ECOSYSTEM Theterm`eco'referstoapartoftheworldand `system'referstotheco-ordinatingunits. Thelivingorganismsofahabitatandtheir surroundingenvironmentfunctiontogetheras asingleunit.Thisecologicalunitiscalledasan `ecosystem'.
  • 5. ? An Ecosystem is a naturally occurring assemblage of life and the environment. The life is referred to the biotic community including the plants, animals and other living organisms. The environment is the biotope encompassing the physical region of life. ? The term ecosystem first appeared in a publication by the British ecologist Arthur Tansley, during 1935. An ecosystem may be of very different size. It may be a whole forest, as well as a small pond.
  • 6. Different ecosystems are often separated by geographical barriers, like deserts, mountains or oceans, or are isolated otherwise, like lakes or rivers. As these borders are never rigid, ecosystems tend to blend into each other. As a result, the whole earth can be seen as a single ecosystem, or a lake can be divided into several ecosystems, depending on the used scale.
  • 7. An ecosystem has a physical environment, or factors, biological components and interactions between them. Any ecosystem is characterized by a set of abiotic and biotic factors, and functions. The organisms in an ecosystem are usually well balanced with each other and with their environment. Introduction of new environmental factors or new species can have disastrous results, eventually leading to the collapse of an ecosystem and the death of many of its native species.
  • 9. The dimension and spread of an ecosystem may vary. Depending upon their existence and dimension, ecosystems are classified as Macro- ecosystems and Microecosystems. Dimensionally larger systems such as a forest or a lake are called as macro-ecosystems. Life scientists and environmental biologists who are interested to evaluate the functional mechanisms of an ecosystem, may create an experimental setup in the field or in the laboratory. Such setup are considered to be microecosystems.
  • 11. Biotic components include all living organisms and their products. This group includes all animals, plants, bacteria, fungi and their waste products like fallen leaves or branches or excreta. Based on their activity, biotic components are classified into THREE categories as ¨C a) producers b) consumers c) decomposers.
  • 12. PRODUCERS Producers are called energy transducers. They convert solar energy into chemical energy, with the help of organic and inorganic substances. The producers are called as autotrophic ( auto = self; troph = nourishing) organisms. They are capable of synthesizing food from non-living inorganic compounds. They are largely represented by green plants on land (trees, grasses, crops) and phytoplanktons on water.
  • 13. CONSUMERS Consumers are the organisms, whose food requirement are met by feeding on other organisms. They consume the food materials prepared by the producers (autotrophs). Hence, consumers are called as heterotrophic organisms. Animals belong to this category. Depending upon their food habits, consumers are classified into primary, secondary and tertiary consumers.
  • 14. CONSUMERS - TYPES The PRIMARY CONSUMERS are solely feed on plants. Herbivores are plant eaters - grasshopper, rabbit, goat, sheep are primary consumers. The SECONDARY CONSUMERS feed on some primary consumers. Eg. several species of insects and fishes. TERTIARY CONSUMERS are the predators of predators. They are mostly larger animals.
  • 15. DECOMPOSERS They are also called as microconsumers. They depend on dead organic matter for their food . They are chiefly micro organisms like bacteria and fungi. They break the complex organic matter found in plant and animal bodies, and release simple substances . These substances will be used by autotrophs once again. Some invertebrate animals like protozoa and earthworms use these dead organic matter for their food. They are called as secondary decomposers.
  • 16. The abiotic factors determine the type of organisms that can successfully live in a particular area. ? Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis; it influences organisms and their environment; it has a profound effect on the growth and development of life. ? Water is the elixir of life; all living things require water for their survival, but some can live with lesser amounts ? Temperature -- all living things have a range of temperatures in which they can survive; beyond those limits it will be difficult for them to live.
  • 17. ? Temperature -- all living things have a range of temperatures in which they can survive; beyond those limits it will be difficult for them to live. ? Oxygen -- many living things require oxygen; it is necessary for cellular respiration, a process used to obtain energy from food; others are actually killed by the presence of oxygen (certain bacteria) ? Soil -- the type of soil, pH, amount of water it holds, available nutrients, etc determine what type of organism can successfully live in or on the soil; for example, cacti live in sand, cattails in soil saturated with water.
  • 19. A system is an organization that functions in a particular method. The functions of an ecosystem include 1) Flow of energy through the medium of living organisms and their activities 2) Food chains 3) Biodiversity and biomass 4) Circulation and transformation of elements and nutrients 5) Development and evolution and 6) Control.
  • 20. Energy is also consumed by the autotrophs at cellular level for the reactions related to 1. Growth 2. Development 3. Maintenance 4. Reproduction
  • 21. The specific functional processes of an ecosystem include ? Photosynthesis ? Decomposition ? Predator - prey relations (herbivory, carnivory, parasitism) ? Symbiois.
  • 23. TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS ? FOREST (2 MEMBERS) ? GRASSLAND (2 MEMBERS) ? DESERT (2 MEMBERS) ? TUNDRA (2 MEMBERS) ? FRESHWATER AND MARINE (3 MEMBERS) EACH TEAM WILL MAKE AN INFOGRAPHIC POSTER THAT EXPLAINS THEIR TOPIC. IT SHOULD INCLUDE ALL THE DETAILS THAT HAVE BEEN COVERED IN TODAY¡¯S LECTURE FOR THEIR SPECIFIC ECOSYSTEM. SIZE ¨C A1 , MEDIUM - ANY SUBMISSION ¨C NEXT FRIDAY.