Ecosystem

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical

environment.

The interaction of animals, plants and their environment is known as an

ecosystem, and the study of how they interact, for example, what sort
of animals you might find in a particular environment, is called
ecology. Planet Earth is one big ecosystem that can be divided down
into smaller (e.g., terrestrial and marine ecosystems).

Anecosystemis acommunityof living organisms in conjunction with the

nonliving componentsof their environment (things like air, water and
mineral
soil),
interacting
as
a
system.These
biotic
and
abiotic componentsare regarded as linked together through nutrient
cycles and energy flows.As ecosystems are defined by the network of
interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their
environment,they can be of any size but usually encompass specific,
limited spaces.

Ecosystems are finely balanced; they are very complex and made up of
many parts, but every part of an ecosystem, from a rock to a jellyfish
to a particular water current, has a role to play. Organisms depend on
and are controlled by the physical and chemical environmental
conditions in an ecosystem, and they can also change their
environments in various ways. Sometimes by changing one part of an
ecosystem, the whole ecosystem can change a common example of
this is changing the nutrient input (chemical conditions) in a water
body, leading toeutrophication.

Anytime a stranger (living thing(s) or external factor such as rise in

temperature) is introduced to an ecosystem, it can be disastrous to
that ecosystem. This is because the new organism (or factor) can
distort the natural balance of the interaction and potentially harm or
destroy the ecosystem.

Whenyou want to talk about how a certain natural area functions

together,
you
can
call
it abiome.A biome is a very
specialized ecosystem that only exists in a certain area or climate.
They are identified by factors like temperature, rainfall, soil type and
altitude. Abiomeis NOT an ecosystem, although in a way it can look
like a massive ecosystem. If you take a closer look, you will notice
that plants or animals in any of the biomes have special adaptations
that make it possible for them to exist in that area. You may find
many units of ecosystems within one biome.

Components of an Ecosystem

ABIOTIC COMPONENTS

BIOTIC COMPONENTS

Sunlight

Primary producers

Temperature

Herbivores

Precipitation

Carnivores

Water or moisture

Omnivores

Marine Ecosystem

Marine Ecosystem

Anaquatic ecosystemis anecosystemin abody of water.Communitiesof

organismsthat are dependent on each other and on their environment live in
aquatic ecosystems. The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are
marine ecosystemsandfreshwater ecosystems.

- The marine ecosystem is the largest ecosystem after the whole of Planet
Earth because water accounts for more than 70 % of Earths surface. They are
distinguished from freshwater ecosystems by the presence of dissolved
compounds, especiallysalts, in the waters.

Such places are considered ecosystems because the plant life supports the
animal life and vice versa.

Marine ecosystemsare home to a host of different species ranging from

planktonicorganisms that form the base of the marinefood webto large
marine mammals. Many species rely on marineecosystemsfor both food and
shelter from predators. They are very important to the overall health of both
marine and terrestrial environments.

Marine ecosystems can be divided into many zones depending upon water
depth and shoreline features.

1. Theoceaniczone is the vast open part of the ocean where animals such as
whales, sharks, and tuna live.

2. Thebenthiczone consists of substrates below water where many

invertebrates live. Theintertidalzone is the area between high and low tides;
in this figure it is termed the littoral zone.

3. Other near-shore (neritic) zones can includeestuaries,salt marshes,

coral reefs,lagoonsandmangroveswamps.

5. In the deep water,hydrothermal ventsmay occur wherechemosynthetic

sulfurbacteriaform the base of the food web.

Freshwater ecosystems

Freshwater ecosystemsare a subset of Earth'saquatic ecosystems. They

includelakesandponds,rivers,streams,springs, andwetlands. They can be
contrasted withmarine ecosystems, which have a largersaltcontent.
Freshwater habitats can be classified by different factors, including
temperature, light penetration, and vegetation.

Freshwater ecosystems can be divided intolentic ecosystems(still water)

andlotic ecosystems(flowing water).

Coastal Ecosystems

- Coastal ecosystemsare areas where land and water

join to create an environment with a distinct structure,
diversity, and flow of energy. They include salt marshes,
mangroves, wetlands, estuaries, and bays and are home
to many different types of plants and animals.

- However, coastal ecosystems are also very sensitive

to changes in the environment

- In addition to their role in the wider marine and

terrestrial systems they link to, coastal ecosystems
provide a broad range of benefits to humans. They can
act as storm barriers and water filters, they are
nurseries and habitat for commercially important plants
and animals, and they are among the most popular
tourist destinations.

Because ecosystems are intertwined webs of living and

nonliving things, even the smallest change can impact
the entire ecosystem. Things such as climate change
and associated changes like increases in sea level and
ocean temperature, as well as extreme natural events,
such as hurricanes, droughts, andharmful algal blooms,
can all impact ecosystems.

Jan Raymund G. Peralta

BS-Architecture 3A
(Report originally done using written visual
Aids)