Ecosystem-Structure and Function

Introduction

The term ecosystem was first coined by A.G Tansley. The ecosystem word comes from two different words. Eco means the environment and the other hand system is the interaction. To sum it up for the ecosystem is the interaction of biotic all living things with the nonliving environment. 

Different ecologists define ecosystems differently. The ecosystem is the basic functional unit that explains all the basic functions an organism interacts with its environment and defines many other of its components.

There can be complex ecosystems such as ponds and lakes and simple ecosystems such as aquariums and even forest. 

Coming to the types of ecosystem there could be basically two types of them

• Terrestrial type
• Aquatic type

Terrestrial Type

As mentioned by the name the terrestrial type of ecosystem is all about the ones that don’t involve water bodies as such. One of the best examples of terrestrial types of ecosystem would be the forest.

There would be various ecosystems that involve terrestrial type of design and style. The most famous one is the forest. If you observe the forest in an aspect of an ecosystem very closely then there could be various biotic and abiotic components out there. Biotic components such as trees, herbs and shrubs and different animals are present in the forest. The abiotic components on the other hand have different water bodies, the sunlight and more.

Aquatic type  Aquatic ecosystem: Aquatic ecosystem is again of two types:

(i)  Lentic ecosystem:   Stagnant fresh water, lake, pond, swamp.

(ii) Lotic ecosystem:     Running freshwater ecosystem. E.g. river.

The aquatic types of ecosystem basically the ecosystem that involves water bodies as ponds and lakes. The aquatic ecosystems are more complex and are divided into various levels.

Aquatic types of ecosystems could be complex or simple. The simplest aquarium ecosystem is specially composed of living biotic creatures, suggesting fishes and other aquatic animals. The aquariums are composed of special aquatic herbs and shrubs that could be placed on special aquatic rocks. 

Structure of the Ecosystem

When one talks about the structure of the ecosystem there could be two different basic compounds of the ecosystem. 

• Abiotic
• Biotic

The abiotic component of the ecosystem is basically the non living component. There can be numerous things such as the sunlight, soil temperature and even water in such kinds of components. 

One must know that abiotic components of the ecosystem are very important and play a beneficial role in assisting the biotic components out there. 

On the other hand there are biotic components of an ecosystem that are basically the living ones. The living organisms interact with the non living ones to complete an ecosystem. The biotic components could range from unicellular organisms To highly developed multicellular organisms. 

When one defines the structure of the entire ecosystem it could be divided into four different major groups-

• Producers
• Consumers
• Decomposers
• Other abiotic component

Producers

Producers are the main or the primary producing organisms in an ecosystem. The producers of the role manufacture food using different processes such as photosynthesis. Producers are the main energy source and play the role to produce energy at the primary level. 

Consumers

Consumers on the other hand come on the second level in the ecosystem. Consumers are basically the ones that depend on producers for their energy. They are not capable of producing their own energy. In order to get an accurate supply of energy sources consumers are always looking up for the producers and are completely dependent on them.

Decomposers

Decomposers are the organisms that rely on dead and decaying organisms for their main energy source. Decomposers are not the main energy producers in the entire ecosystem but they have the big role of finishing up the dead and the decayed so as to return the initial energy to the ground so as to help the producers again gain this energy.

Functions of an ecosystem

• The main function of an ecosystem is to regulate and to promote the essential ecological processes so as to support life on earth and provide stability to the ongoing process
• There are different trophic levels of ecosystems and the work of an ecosystem is to maintain a balance between all such tropic labels
• It also provides a way to cycle the minerals
• The interaction of abiotic components with the biotic components is maintained by an ecosystem
• Ecosystem services are those humankind benefits from a multitude of resources and processes that are supplied by the natural ecosystem
•   These services include carbon fixation, pollination, oxygen release, cycle nutrients, mitigate droughts and floods etc.
•   Services can be subdivide into five categories
•    Provisioning, such as the production of food and water
•   Regulating, such as the control by climate and disease
•    Supporting, such as nutrients cycle and crop pollination
•    Cultural, such as spiritual and recreational benefits, and preserving, which includes guarding against uncertainty through the maintenance of diversity. 

Structure and Function of Forest Ecosystem

Forest ecosystem is also a complex ecosystem consisting of trees, herbs, shrubs and other items such as soils. On the other hand forests are the places for many animals ranging from unicellular or multicellular. All the balance between these is maintained by the forest ecosystem.

The functions of forest ecosystem

• An exchange of minerals and energy from biotic and abiotic components of the forest
• This also promotes a numerous ecological processes

The role of different factors in maintaining an ecosystem

When we talk of the role of maintaining the ecosystem it is moreover an obligate responsibility to do so. There are various factors that are hurting the ecosystem on a regular basis. Continuous harm to the environment has led to numerous problems which has led to the destruction of the entire ecosystem. 

It is one of our ethical duties to maintain the ecosystem and also to take care of any change in this ecosystem. If any of the factors get disrupted from the ecosystem that will be an imbalance of these factors. 

Conclusion

 Ecosystem is the smallest structural and functional unit of nature or environment. It is a self-regulatory and self-sustaining unit.Different ecologists define ecosystems differently. The ecosystem is the basic functional unit that explains all the basic functions an organism interacts with its environment and defines many other of its components.