Ecosystem

Ecosystem
Any

system which includes all diverse

components of biological environment (i.e.
community) when interacts with its
physical environment so that such
interaction is clearly defined that system is
called as ECOSYSTEM.
An ecosystem is a region with a specific
and recognizable landscape.
Geographical features
Also controlled by climatic conditions.

Ecosystem
The

living community of plants and

animals in any area together with the non
living component of the environment
such as soil, air and water constitutes
the ecosystem.
Some are robust less affected by human
activity
Some are fragile quickly destroyed by
human activity.

Components of
Ecosystem
ABIOTIC

COMPONENTS-Sunlight,
Temperature, Water or moisture,
Precipitation Soil .

BIOTIC

Components
producers Herbivores
Omnivores etc.

- Primary
Carnivores

Structure and Function

Abiotic

Components
Biotic Components
1. Autotrophic
2. Heterotrophic (Micro/Macro)

Structural aspect of
Ecosystem

Inorganic compounds C,N, CO2, H2O

Organic compounds protein, carbohydrates,
lipids
Climatic regime temperature, moisture, light
and topography
Producers plants
Macro consumers Phagotorphs i.e. large animals
Micro consumers Saprotrophs i.e. absorbers like
fungi

Ecological Succession

Ecological
succession,
is
the
phenomenon or process by which
anecological communityundergoes
more or less orderly and predictable
changes

Succession may be initiated either by

formation of new, unoccupied habitat
(e.g.,
alava
flow
or
a
severelandslide) or by some form
ofdisturbance(e.g.fire, severewind
throw,logging)
of
an
existing

 Food

Chain, Food Web and

Ecological Pyramids

Types of Ecosystem
Forest

Ecosystem
Grassland Ecosystem
Desert Ecosystem
Aquatic Ecosystem

Forest Ecosystem
It

has two parts:

Abiotic aspect of the forest
Biotic aspect of the forest

Threats of forest
ecosystem
We cannot use more resources

than
growing

they can produce during

season.
If timber is felled beyond a certain limit,
the forest cannot regenerated.
Sensitive species
cannot survive in
changing environment.

The red-cockaded woodpecker is a woodpecker

found in southeastern North America.

Illegal

extraction of wood from forests.

What if forest disappear?

Survival of tribal people is difficult if forest
disappear.
Agricultural people do not get fuel wood.
Urban
people depend on food from
agricultural areas which in turn, depends on
neighboring forest ecosystem.
Insects that live and breed in the forest like
bees and butterflies decrease in abundance.
As their number decreases, they are unable
to effectively pollinate agricultural crops and
fruit trees.
This will decline in agricultural yield.

What if forest disappear?

The rain that falls on deforested
land flows directly into nearby
rivers. Thus water is not retained
underground and people do not get
sufficient
amount
of
water
throughout the year.
The
exposed soil will rapidly
washed away.
Wild life lose their habitat, leading
to extinction of many species.

How it can be conserved?

Only if we use their resources carefully.

Using alternate source of energy instead
of fuel wood
Need to grow more trees.
Afforestation
need
to
be
done
continuously, from which fuel wood and
timber can be judiciously used.
The natural forests with all their diverse
species must be protected as national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries where all
the plants and animals can be preserved.

Grassland Ecosystem
Grassland covers areas where rainfall is usually
low and/or the soil depth and quality is low.
The low rainfall prevents the growth of large
number of trees and shrubs, but is sufficient to
support the growth of grass cover during the
monsoon.
There
are various types of grassland
ecosystem.

The Himalayan Pastures

The Terai Grassland
Semiarid Grassland
Shola Grassland

Threats
to
Ecosystem

Grassland

Over utilization and changes in land

use of the common grazing land of
rural communities has lead to their
degradation.
Conversion of grassland into irrigated
farmlands. For example in Deccan,
mainly used to grow sugarcane, which
is water intensive crop.
Residual
grassland converted into
industrial area.
Modification of grassland by human
activities.

Conservation
Ecosystem

of

Grassland

Continue

education efforts on
how to protect the soil and
prevent soil erosion.

Protect

and restore wetlands,

which are an important part of
grassland ecology.

Desert Ecosystem

Desert
and
semiarid
lands
are
extremely specialized and sensitive
ecosystem that are easily destroyed by
human activities.
The species of these dry ecosystem can
live only in this specialized habitat.
The deserts are mainly located in
western India and the Deccan Plateau.
The climate is extremely dry.
There are also cold deserts such as
Ladak.

Threats to Desert Ecosystem

Several
types
of
development
activities
Growing human population
Conversion of these lands through
extensive irrigation has changed its
natural characteristics.
The special species that evolved over
million of years may soon become
extinct.

Threat to Aquatic Ecosystem

Overexploitation
Pollution

of species

load

Poisonous

pollutants
Suspended solids
Seewage and organic pollutants
Thermal pollution

Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystem

Plantation

of trees
Avoid
the
establishment
of
industries, chemical plants and
thermal power plants near the
water resources as their discharge
affect the ecology of water body
resulted in loss of biodiversity.
Many specialized programs should
be instituted to protect biodiversity

Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystem

Regulatory

measures must be taken

on wastewater discharge in the water
body to conserve biological diversity.

Increasing

public awareness is one of

the most important ways to conserve
aquatic biodiversity. This can be
accomplished through educational
programs, incentive programs, and
volunteer monitoring programs.

Biodiversity