ECOLOGY

AND
ECOSYSTEM
 -=ECO ldE)_Gl ~~
:rii: scienLilic stud) or 1th~ cli:drihution_abundunce .ind J ym1mics
or l)f{!rUlllSlllS. tb cir im1lcractilll]~ \\ ith otlicr c)fg~111is111s u11d ,,·itlt
1
1

their 11h~·sical en,rirfl11n1er1t

1

Eco,s·vsTEM
The tem1 ,\as fust inLroduceJ b,· A.G.Ta.rrsle\' in i9 35. ·Eel, ..
~ &
1

means cn,-ironmtc11t and ·s~·stem· unpli es 011 intcraccing~

1 1

in ter1tJhape11d1enl rC( U:11 J1 le~.

All l1[g~• rus111s anJ U1e al'lit,tic en,"trttru1.1e~l t'tlu.nd ia i_i ,Jefined
spatii.ll area. gencrall~· assumed to be the collecti,-e description
1

of a c,1n1n1uni~r- and its ph~~sical en,itl1nn1ent.

1\ fi.U]tJ3U))Clltalfiu1ctil 111a l ltnit OCCU{J~:ing ~fillBtial du11enswn11 on

1

~•Jill:t t_lJ1d cl1~1ra~lt:riz ed h~ ll1e h1lal ~~sse111bl~,g~ ,,r l1i,,1ic

1
1

COllllUtlllitics i1Dd ;1l1ruc,tic ~rn1111011cuts ~nJd tl1uir uc,utraJ

i11Ler1a·cl1t,ns ,,·iU1~n a gi,"en tin1e un~t.
~
CONI1\1tlN ITI
·rhu-. r~f.;1s Lo aU species i 11 u d~fi11e,d sp,alial t1rca or ec1,s~·s1e111.
1

\\ Jucl1 rnlcrn\11 \\ 1lJ1 e~u;(1 , 1il1~r~

POP UL ATION
1

II is '11 st11hse1 1,f i1ndi,~iduul:, r,r iCu1c spec~es mhal ncc1111ies a

p~1rticuJa1 ge,,gruphic area uoJ int,~rl,r~ed~ . 1

C0 l\ll\l UN ITY BC 0 LOG\ '

1 1 1

11 is the slud~e r,f tl1e urga11i7.~tl10 T1 ::u,d ft111cti,,uii11g t)f COl11Illl1nit i~s

P0 PULATION EC0 LOG\ ~

1 1 1 1

11 is t]1 c s111t:ly c,r 1J1c 11roc.a~scs 1]1al ui:l~cl 1]1c dislrmll111ticu1 amid
1

a l1u nJa ncci of an ianu I a11d 11li.1 nI Jl4:Jpu 13 l irn11s

 s,-:. ,Cllll ie & :Fu1·nc:(i 0 .n ; O··r·.An: Ecosystem
IT
11
1 1

,1:,;]?he s,~tluen·,ce rir 1In1tn:sJers rJ1f fo-rld ·e11erg)~in. U1e· ,ec11Js),sl,e1n fr,om
1
0irga_.n;,~~rn. t_9'.. Qit,g~1Jf~~J1j .i~'..e-~JJc~ .Ft-J,(!(l C(,:•~'J~~;:~f ·_Q_9¢t_ql1~1:_~J~_ :irrut~r1,~ri~[!lO
1 1

locally .·iu1toi a food 1-~,:eh l,e.cai:ts.e· :nr1ost. iorga·n,:sms c.l}n_su·me 1n,Jire fl,a.-n.
_;o·aJ,!· '~)-,.pe -,o.f a11i:rn.al -o.r ·pliunt.

~:~, '.7ro.rn /1iJ'c.~le,,el:.. i-s· a sl,e·p.- i11 .a foods cl1a:~.l] ,c..-:f Ull ecos··,,!l;te.]l1, 'I 'lt_e.
1 1
I
~

,oirga:m1is:m.s ,o·f .a •C:l1nu1 anrc. clrts.,s1iJlcd!. :into thcs,c ]c·,rc~s 0n.1th.c l,,aJs.is ,o(f
1

tlheir fccc]iug bohu.., :riflttr,i. ·"rh1e c,o:n.1ce;p'L (J,f trie1,pli1ic l~v,eJ is t1a:s;e'c:i rim th,,e
. .. .
1

1
cla:s·sic· \V·qrk of R~I~.I~indm1n~ (194.2).
1
 Ecosys:tetil Productivity
·O epends ,c111:
1

. .

1..-_: - - ... 9unt-- o!~-solar-energy~a:ya.ilabJe~

.- - - - - - - - - - -
2~ f:.fficie11c)f of :plci"nts ta.-cd,11\1ert solar en&rg)r -into cberii.icai
.. ·.

-_e11erro, - P.runa11r ~Pro_qxtcl.ibn

:Priinat}1 :Pr1odt1c_tio□ is 1nie:ast.trcd in 2 .,,;:ays:·
] .. Gross Pru11an1 .l~oductio,n (G].lJl) - toJta ] .ar11t -o f·S•olar e11ergy
con,,ertc d to chetnic.a l e.nerg), b)' _
1
grec11 _plants aitTr?_plric :L-e,,cl
l.
.2. Net ·_ :·_ ary- ·Produc;ti9r1 (NPP) - :p-a rt of-GPP·l1sed-·b,y:
-autotro phs :for·tc'spiration.~Atrit ,jf ct1c1~g.y lie.~ft behind-aifter·
1 1

re~.pir.~t:i-on.
3. Thus GPP =NPP +R.
NPP -= ·GPP--.R.
ThLtS r.J.PP is tl1e·tfs·a b!le ,e11erg)'r'. a:vailable:. at higl1er trophic le\'els.
- - - ·- . - ,

.Ba~tl11 G:P·P & NPP .a;rc:-rncasutrcd -"in. g/m2/day or j 1car.

 Coi:rnpon.e:0·fs of~'1the Ec·0:sy:sl'1
1 1
1
.e:m 1

•:•· r~nerg, ·ao11.1JJonent. - sola-r ~trergy. .

1

•:~ Abi.otic C:OlTlt)OllOOts::

a,. ltlorgt11:1io ~_ubsta.11ces ~· :M :ior,011plri1~nts like ·C1LL~.]Vln, .ZnJ :J~l[b,
:Si, B, oro,n ·.ie.l1c. .Nla CF011·~1trJ.e1:rt:s lik·e ·C~I~I2,, O2 N2, -~ Na1S _,Ca,
1
1
1

;J

·1:. c~
~ - ]) ~·t·...,,
,. \J _.c ~
b . Orga·:ni,c -su·bs·tmices - c1:1:1~bo'h),cJr~t;~s~ pr0L~~ ;ns, fat~,
1 1

c. cli ·. aite .... tci'.111:rCtpturS~:minfo!lll. humidity~soiar 1acliatio1il.

~• ·- a· t .'4 -
,. .. ',_ IOtlC _CQJ:n1~0,11am1t~:
st.- P:rcJicluoers o.t .A:uto:tr~p,bs ~ JJrodu.ce food ·b}' :p1lo·t;os5~ntl1esis 1

(gi~ie~e:n, ~pln;1:1ts) or chcmt?S}~11ti1c~iis (l,a.oteti.a) ,.... -:ic~ ft,0 .111

1

in.otga11ac ~i1·1~~ta~nices.
h~Consumers or Phagtotrop11s· ,o;r·I-Teterotrophs - arc.tl,:e '.P . ._.,31)':
soc0Ji¢la1).r & tert5a·ryr co11s·ui,1e:rs i l!l ib_e ,crtmi,~r-es,
1
1

l1erbf,101ies ,&;· .0_ 1;1n1i·vo.ves1.

•Ct Deco.~posc;rs- ~ ~tirctc11a &.J :fungi. Als•o ca·Elctl Sap1~opb·3 . r.tes or
Su]1ro'~r,:11:1:J1.s·,1
•:• l.n an~· ecos~·ste111 . org,a.11is111s in.tera cl ,., itl1 one an!o,Ll1er
1 1

directl~-· or in directl~· tl1r 0L1gh fee ding rela.tio11sl1ips kn,o ,,n

1 1 1

as t r () p 1, i c i 11 t ~ r ac t 1(.l 11 s .

•:• Sucl1 ir1leractio11s or rel~1tionsl·1ips basic.all~· in, ol,·e

lrm1sfor111atio11 ru1d trru1srer t)f e11erg\ -- . f'ro111 c111e indi,·idt1al
\(1 )lCXl tl1rot1gl1 tl1c·J)f(1CCSS (lr C()nSt.ll11pli(lll. Tl1.is basi C
1

transrer of energ)· thro,ugl1 tl1·e eco•s)·stern is kno,\n as the

llo,, c)f c11er-='- i11 ecos\·ste111
0 ·, ·
-

•:• --rl1is e11e·rg~; Ilo,, follo\\·s Ll1e La,, s c)l~rl~l1er111od~ 11ru11ics.

 IEIIROTROPI&
Det.ompomrs - -~ [m nsurnenl
1 1

ceUular respi rario n Energy Flio w

Herbi,oms in Ecosystem
~lJJOlROPHS
Primary 1produom phomsyn1hesis.
1ar
d11en1109'"I lei-I
boat I
haal

r tRllt-'U\11¥ ____.__ f>RINARY c ~ DNIA ■ Y ____.__ 1"EID1AR

c -··~'n~~~
PNODUC URG ~ · oN~ UnlR~ UN:JIIJNL.Nit ~ - ■,ael:'L ~
pl ■nil, h•fflli.1Di11! i 1: ■ m Ivelll QI c • nhi1i1U ii"1i 1

+
D[ CDnPDSIRS
+
heal
 La\\rs o:f Thermo d,ynamics 1

f___tl1.e;nn1o_d}[llan1i_cs __or~ _t]1:e _ la:,,~-- o·f

I~, 1l1e__ l st _. _R.aJ~r_o_
1oonse:n ratio11 o·f en erg), states tl,at erterg), ,cian nei1tl1er b,,e 1

,c1reated :i1or destra,J,ed,. :It can ,0:11])1 be tr,a11s.,fo,nned ·fro 111 1

,o~ne :fo:i1n i:nt~o ru1otl1er.

· -e 2nd
? To
. . . .~"' •
1
" .- ' I_ - . - -
1-a.,,,. of'• tl1·e·-,n- n·od7':Jr
; . , 'l"'I . •. ,. , ---,,.J', s·t•
]~·a,'v,Ji, o·. .·f·. ·e· 1:1·.:·t·.r·,op
, 1·a··-n11
-··c·.· s··
, ~- , '.. . , ,·.a·t·e·s
11
JL.. I . I . . , . . ;' .
/ . . ,

tl,at ene:rg}r ·"[Ji:ans:fo::r.1n:atio11 rres'Lilts. in1 21 loss ,of ,e111·erg)'. ]11

1

o:d1er ,,rords ,1il1e11 \¥o·r k :·is iqo11e e11erg)1 ;is c[is.si:p,ated . W,o:r~ k:.
:is d<JJ1 e ·1\~l1en.. e11erg)t :is tJ·llllsformerl.
1

·~:• En!e:rm, fl.o,,, i11 tl1.e eco S),':Ste·1n. is u11idi'.recti oirlal~ 1

1
1

·•:•Some energy is lost at e1,et)' level.

1 1 1
 Ecological Py1·an1ids

·r11c n bcr t1f species. their l1io1nass and energy transfer at cacl1
trtJpl1ic lc,·cl sl1t1,,· certain ct1n1111011 characteristics :

1.·r11c nun1hcr l,r species tends t(J decline succcssi,·cly frl11n the base
c1f tl1e lropl1ic lc\·cl tc1 tl1c tllp of the lrtlphic level .
2.·rhc llllal l11lHTIUSS lends lo dccrcas~ prc1grcssi\·cl)' rrcJm t}1c l1asc ()r
ll1c lrtlphic lc\·cl h.1 successive l1ighcr lfllph1c level lll tl1c lllf1.
3_·r11c energy a\·ailahil1Ly alst1 decreases ,vitl1 tl1c increase i11 tro1)l1ic
lc\·cl.

The abo\·c relationship \\'hen diagra.-v. ....... aticall)· represented forms an

cct1ll,gical pyra1n1J lbc concept of ccolt1gical pyra1nid ,vas first
dc,·clopcd by (,l,arles £/Jon 1n 1987.

t ·ompill-d b)· Deb:ssrcc Sinhn, Lor\:lo College

 Ecological Pyramids

·r11crc arc 3 l) pcs <>f l~cological l1)rramids:

1

1. J>)·1111nid of Nt1111bcrs - total 11wnbcr of i11e,li,·iduals or s1)ccics i11

each troJJl1ic lc,·el. Ma) be in,'crtcd (cg. ]'rec i11 a forest) .
1

2.l)yra,nid <ll' 13icl111ass - lcllal ,vcigl1l elf c1rganic 1natlcr al each trc1phic
lc, cl.
1

3 . l~11crg)' t>)1ra111id - Sl1tl\VS the cncrg)' used al each tropl1ic level.

(Kcal/1n 2/)rr).

Con1pill"ll by Dcb11srcl' Sinh11, Lorl•lo College

 Types of Ecosystems (Based on Habitat)
l:c<JS\ ste111

~att1ral i\rtifici~1l
( \t ~111-111~1(lc ··111t)c.lilicc.l)

·rcrrcstri~1I ( 1:()rest.
(jr~1ssl~111(l. Sa\ ~11111~1.
l)cscrt. ·rt111c.l r~1) I:st t1ari 11e \'tari11c
1: r cs I1\ \ at c r

ll)t1c (eu. l~.J\ er)

- \ \ 'etla11(i

(0111pill-<l b~ Dl·h:1't·l·c Sinha. l.orl·lu (ollegc

 Char,acte_ristic;.Featllres of Selected Ecosystems

•!• _fores!' Ecosystem:

• .JJrodL1cers - all green pla11ts
• Co11stuncrs - all forest d,vclli11g a11i1nals.
• I)cctltnposcrs - bacteria:, li.11Jgi: aclino1n)1Cctcs.

•!• Grassland .Ecosyste1n:

• })roduccrs .- grass species like C)'nodon:, dcsmodium:, digitaria,
set.aria etc.
Conswncrs - l1crbi,1ores & cami\rorcs (zcbraJ fox).
Deco1n1Josers - bacteria, fungi', actino1nycetes.

•!• :Desert.1:: S)'Stcin:

• l>roduccrs - xcro11l1) tcs (cacti;- tl1om)' slU1Jbs ct~).
1

• c ·onstuners - l:1erbi,·ores (camels): reptiles.

Dcco1n1)osers - onl)' son1c bacteria & fungi .
· omP,iled by ebasr e 'i :1, oreto Coll£ge
 Characteristic Features of Selected Ecosystems

•!•IJl>nd/1 ,akc (l ,ent1c) l~cosystc111 - l1as 1 Zl1ncs on the hasis of

\\·atcr dcr>tl1 & t~·pcs ()r vcgctati()ll & an11nals :

• l.iltoral Zone - sl1allo,v ,valcr regi()l1 near sl1orc (tnarsilca.

ex: ph)1<)pla11ktl)t1s. fr()gs . snakes. snails etc).

• I.i1n11elic Zo11c - <)pen surface \Valer a\vay frc>m shore \Vith light
pc11ctralion lo tl1c bottom~ (}1~·drl>phytcs like lc1ru1a. \Vtllll'ia.
l1)·drilla: pl1)1oplanktor1s like blue-green algae. zt1oplankll)ns).

• PrclCu11dal Z(>nc - clcc11 ,valcr parts ,vitl1 nc> cfTccti,,c.i. ligl1t

pc11etratio11 (ilat lisl1, pra\v11. crab. dcco1n1Jtlscrs)

c·on,pilcd by Debasr"e Sinha, Loreto College

 ~~~·w• l ~•iM

~•i~il9~~1•1 lmEsl~11f!9•>fWim

Jru111•@•i•tnm11ftdlHF·mm;,. ~~· ••lulr!-

o~lAmt! Jijtl4llmJn,
alihJnlljb] ~~•@
-K-- tifiS!EI~
.!.1 tJ imltlc-.,,_
• -- I "1'Cffl fff':f--m
:M11,1.l i.w W!'BJD@i)l

~1f{)bt!J ?lilt:@~
~~flll~®ffils,;riltfluts.
 ..,.__ _ _ _ _ _ pel egic _ _ _ _ ___,..
~- , .-- ner1l1c ► .__ _ ocean1c-----. ==r
photi c==i_
epipe1agic m
200
mesopelagi c
~";:?'SW,]tttatll~
~ - - - - -~ 1,000 m

bath_y !.,
ephotic
4,000 m

t O 000 m
©1996 Encyclopa•dia Britannica, Inc.