ECOSYSTEM

GUIDED BY: APARNA MAAM

PRESENTED BY: MEGHA PRASAD
CLASS:12th
ROLL NO.: 11

ACKNOWLEDGEME
NT
I would like to thank my wonderful
Biology teacher :Mrs Aparna maam
for giving me this amazing learning
opportunity to work on a topic of my
choice.

INDEX
INTRODUCTION
COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM
PRODUCTIVITY
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY FLOW
ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
SUCCESION OF PLANTS
NUTIENT CYCLE
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
BIBLOGRAPHY

Components of ecosystem:
Abiotic Components:

The abiotic components of an ecosystem are

all of the nonliving elements. They include the water, the air, the temperature and
the rocks and minerals that make up the soil.

Producers at the Base:

Producers are the living organisms in the

ecosystem that take in energy from sunlight and use it to transform carbon dioxide
and oxygen into sugars. Plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria are all examples
of producers.

Consumers in the Chain:

Consumers are living organisms in the

ecosystem that get their energy from consuming other organisms. Conceptually,
consumers are further subdivided by what they eat: Herbivores eat producers,
carnivores eat other animals and omnivores eat both.

Decomposers and Nutrient Cycling: Decomposers are

the living component of the ecosystem that breaks down waste
material and dead organisms.They perform a vital recycling function,
returning nutrients incorporated into dead organisms to the soil
where plants can take them up again

Productivity:
The rate of synthesis of organic matter (biomass)

during a given period of time. It is measured as

weight (g-2) or as energy (kcal m-2). It is used to
compare productivity of different ecosystems.
Primary productivity:

It is the amount of biomass produced per unit area

in a given time period by Plants during
Photosynthesis.
Secondary productivity

It is the amount of biomass produced at any of the

Consumer levels in a given period of time.

Decomposition:
It is the process of breaking down of dead organic matter

into smaller organic molecules and inorganic molecules by

Decomposers (bacteria, fungi)

DETRITUS: Dead remains of plants and animals is called

detritus.
DETRITIVORES: Animals that feed on decaying organic

matter (detritus).

Mechanism of Decomposition:
Fragmentation of Detritus
Leaching:
Catabolism:
Humification:

Energy Flow:
SUN Main Source of energy.
50% of incident light is PHOTOSYNTHETICALLY

ACTIVE RADIATION (PAR)

Only a small fraction of this (stored as organic
compounds) is transferred to consumers the rest
is used up in respiration and other lifesupporting
activities of the plants.
As energy is transferred as food, most part is lost
as heat at each stage (10% LAW)
Unidirectional flow of Energy:

Ecological Pyramids:
Pyramids are an expression of the relationship between organisms

at different tropic levels in terms of their number, biomass or

energy.
Pyramid of Number: The relationship between producers and

consumers in an ecosystem can be represented in the form of a

pyramid in terms of number called pyramid of number.
Pyramid of Biomass: The relationship between producers and
consumers in an ecosystem can be represented in the form of a
pyramid in terms of biomass called pyramid of biomass. It can
be of two types:
Upright (in case of grassland ecosystem)
Inverted (in case of pond ecosystem)
3. Pyramid of energy: The relationship between producers and

consumers in an ecosystem can be represented in terms of flow of

energy called pyramid of energy. It is always upright.

Ecological succession:
Refers to predictable and orderly change in

the composition or structure of a community.

May be initiated either by formation of new,

unoccupied habitat or by some form of

disturbance of an existing community.
Sere entire sequence of community that

successively change in a given area.

Primary Succession:

If the development begins on an area that has

not been previously occupied by a community.
Pioneer species lichens, phytoplankton, etc.
Secondary Succession:

If the community development is proceeding in

an area from which a community was removed.
Pioneer species grasses, wildflowers, algae.
Examples:an abandoned crop fieid.

Succession of plants:
Hydrarch succession:It takes place in wetter areas

and the successional series progress from hydric

to the mesic conditions.
Xerarch succession:It takes place in dry areas and

the series progress from xeric to mesic condition.

Bare rock > Lichens and mosses > Annual
grasses > Perennial grasses > Shrubs > Tall Trees

Nutrient Cycle:
Also known as biogeochemical cycle.
Environmental factors like soil, moisture,

temperature, etc. regulate the rate of release of

nutrients into the atmosphere.
Nutrients are never lost from the ecosystem they
are recycled time an again indefinitely.
There are two types:
Gaseous cycle
Sedimentary cycle

Ecosystem Services:
Humankind benefits from a multitude of resources and

processes that are supplied by natural ecosystems.

Collectively, these benefits are known as ecosystem services.
Purify air and water
Decomposition of waste materials
Cycle nutrients
Pollinate crops
Maintain biodiversity .
Researchers have put an average price tag of US $33 trillion

a year on these fundamental ecosystems services, which is

largely taken for granted because they are free.

A Barren Ecosystem:
Barren vegetation describes an area of land

whereplantgrowth is sparse, stunted, or possesses

littlebiodiversity. Poor growth may occur due to high
winds, climate, salt spray, infertile or toxicsoil, or
heavyexploitationby humans.
Barrens may look poorwithshrubsormoss instead
oftreesbut they provide good environments
forrareplant and animal species that can't compete in
nutrient-rich environments. Manyserpentine barrens host
unique assemblages of plant species. Some barrens, such
alpine barrens, are well-wooded with fairly tall trees,
though the only smaller plants present are those adapted
to a low nutrient supply.

Methods Of Desert
Greening:
Managed intensive rotational grazing
Holistic management
Landscaping methodsto reduce evaporation, erosion, consolidation of topsoil,

sandstorms, temperature and more

Permaculturein general - harvesting runoff rainwater to grow plant
communitiespolyculture, composting ormultitrophic agriculture
Planting trees (pioneer species) and salt-loving plants such asSalicornia
andHalophytes
Regeneration of salty, polluted, or degenerated soils
Floodwater retention and infiltration (flood control) [1]
Greenhouse agriculture like theIntegrated Biotectural System
Seawater farming like done by theSeawater Foundation
Inlandagriculture
Prevention ofovergrazingand firewood use
Training of local residents to care for plantings, water systems etc.
Planting trees with dew and rain harvesting technology

Modern example:
A modern example of desert farming is theImperial Valleyin

California, which has high temperatures and average rainfall of

just76mm per year. The economy is heavily based on agriculture
and the land is irrigated through a network of canals and pipelines
sourced entirely from theColorado Rivervia theAll-American
Canal. The soil is deep and fertile, being part of the river's flood
plains, and what would otherwise have been desert has been
transformed into one of the most productive farming regions in
California. Another problem of growing crops in this way is the
build-up of salinity in the soil caused by evaporation of river water.
The greening of the desert remains an aspiration and was at one
time viewed as a future means for increasing food production for
the world's growing population. This prospect has proved false as it
disregarded the environmental damage caused elsewhere by the
diversion of water for desert project irrigation.

BIBLOGRAPHY
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