Knowing More About Ecosystem

A wide range of living organisms is present on the earth’s surface. All together forms an ecosystem. In this article, you will learn about ecosystem definition and the meaning of ecosystem.

An ecosystem consists of everything here; ‘everything’ is the biotic and abiotic components. Both the components together make the ecosystem.

According to geographical places where biotic or abiotic components thrive, there are several types of ecosystems.

Ecosystem Definition

We can explain the ecosystem definition as below.

Many living organisms present on the earth surround us. All living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms interact with each other and the surrounding physical environment. 

It maintains a balance in nature. It forms a self-sustaining and functional living world called an ecosystem.

Types of ecosystem 

The ecosystem varies in size. It can range from a small pond in a small area to a large, diverse sea or river. Many ecologists consider the entire biosphere as a global ecosystem. It comprises all local ecosystems on earth. 

This ecosystem is too big. It becomes difficult and complex to study it entirely at one time. So to make the inquiry easier, we broadly classify ecosystems into two basic categories:

• Terrestrial ecosystem
• Aquatic ecosystem

The terrestrial ecosystem comprises land, for example, grassland, desert, forest etc. The next one is the aquatic ecosystem, which occurs in water bodies. Examples include wetlands, rivers, ponds, lakes, etc.

The definition of the ecosystem in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems explains its different geographical areas.

Similarly, concerning human interference, the ecosystems are of two types that depend on human activities and behaviour.

• Natural ecosystem
• Anthropogenic ecosystem

Natural ecosystem definition 

It develops in nature without human interference or support. For example:

• Forests
• Marine ecosystem

Anthropogenic ecosystem or artificial (manufactured) ecosystem definition

It is created and maintained by human beings. For example:

• Crop fields
• Garden
• Aquarium
• Agroecosystem or agriculture, the largest artificial (manufactured) ecosystem

Characteristics of the anthropogenic ecosystem are:

• It does not possess self-regulatory mechanisms.
• It has little diversity.
• It is a simple food chain.
• It has high productivity.
• There is little cycling of nutrients in this ecosystem.

Ecosystem components and meaning of ecosystem

An ecosystem has two components: abiotic and biotic.

Abiotic components

The non-living factors prevalent in an ecosystem constitute the abiotic components. 

We can divide them into three types. Those types are mentioned below.

• Climatic factors
• Edaphic factors
• Topographic factors

Biotic components

All living organisms, that is, plants and animals and the microorganisms present in the environment, constitute the biotic components of the ecosystem. 

Based on their role in the ecosystem, we can categorise them into three main groups.

• Producers
• Consumers
• Decomposers

Producers

Producers like plants carry on photosynthesis to prepare their food. They are usually green.

Plants capture solar energy, which comes from sunlight through chlorophyll. They synthesise organic food from inorganic raw materials. So they are called autotrophs which means self-nourishing.

• In a terrestrial ecosystem, the primary producers are meadow plants. Woody plants are also producers in this type of ecosystem.
• In an aquatic ecosystem, phytoplankton is a chief producer. The algae and the floating, submerged and marginal plants found at the edges are also part of the marine ecosystem.

Producers are also known as converters as they convert solar energy into chemical energy. Eventually, it gets stored in the bonds of sugar for use.

Consumers

Consumers are those animals that are not capable of producing their own food materials. 

Since they are dependent on the source, i.e., the producer, they get fed directly or indirectly with the help of producers for their survival. So, they are called heterotrophs.

Consumers meaning of ecosystem are of the following types:

• Primary consumers or the First order consumers 
• Secondary consumers, Second-order consumers, or primary carnivores
• Tertiary consumers, third-order consumers or secondary carnivores
• Top carnivores

Decomposers

Decomposers are organisms feeding on dead and decaying twigs. These organisms or microorganisms derive their food from organic matter present in dead remains of plants and animals.

They have digestive enzymes. They convert this organic substance into simple matter. The microorganisms assimilate a part of the digested organic matter and break down the rest into simpler inorganic substances for recycling.  

They bring about a cyclic exchange of materials between the biotic community and the environment. They are, thus, essential components with great significance in the environment.

Conclusion

In this article, you learnt the definition of ecosystem and meaning of ecosystem.  The ecosystem definition says that it comprises two different types of factors. Factors are biotic and abiotic.

Biotic factors include all the living organisms, including plants and animals. Whereas abiotic factors include different further divisions such as climatic, topographic, and edaphic factors.

Biotic factors also had further divisions based on their roles in the ecosystems. The division of biotic ecosystems is producer, consumers, and decomposers.