Topic 6: Ecosystem concept

1. Define the ecosystem concept.

2. Explain the ecosystem structure and function.
3. Describe the energy flow in the ecosystem.
4. Describe nutrient cycling in the ecosystem.
 Outline
• Ecosystem structure and
function
• Energy flow in ecosystems
• Nutrient cycling in the
ecosystem
• Ecosystem services

2
 What is an ecosystem?
Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of
ecology.
The term ecosystem is coined form a Greek
word meaning study of home.

Definition
A group of organisms interacting among themselves
and with environment is known as ecosystem. Thus an
ecosystem is a community of different species
interacting with one another and with their non living
environment and one another and with their non-
living environment exchanging energy and matter.
 Types of ecosystem
• Natural ------Artificial/man engineered
• Terrestrial ------Aquatic
• Marine ------Fresh water
• Lotic----lentic
 Natural ecosystem

A natural ecosystem is a self-sustaining ecosystem in

which both living and non-living entities occur freely
in nature. No Human intervention
Based on habitat types, it can be further classified
into two types.
1. Terrestrial ecosystem
This ecosystem is related to land.
Example : Grassland ecosystem, forest ecosystem,
desert ecosystem, etc.,
 2. Aquatic ecosystem
• This ecosystem is related to water. It is further sub
classified into two types based on salt content.
• (i) Fresh water ecosystem
– (a) Running water ecosystems e.g., Rivers, Streams
• (b) Standing water ecosystems e.g., Pond, lake
• (ii) Marine ecosystem e.g., Seas and sea shores

6
7
 Components of Natural
Ecosystem

Every ecosystem possesses four

components which are responsible for its
functioning
• Biotic components
• Abiotic components
• Flow of energy
• Cycling of nutrients
 Man-Made / Artificial
ecosystem
Artificial ecosystem is operated (or) maintained by man himself.
biotic and abiotic components are made to interact with each other
for their survival
Example : Croplands, gardens, manmade forests, city parks and
aquariums
 Types of ecosystem
• Natural ------Artificial/man engineered
• Terrestrial ------Aquatic
• Marine ------Fresh water
• Lotic----lentic
 STRUCTURE /COMPONENTS
OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The term structure refers to the various components.
So the structure of an ecosystem explains the relationship

Biotic components
The living organisms (or) living members in an ecosystem
collectively form its community called biotic components (or) biotic
community.
Grouped in to three based on how they get food: Plants
(producers), animals (consumers), and microorganisms (decomposers).
 Autotrophs
Synthesize their food themselves through photosynthesis /
chemosynthesis
Example :
All green plants, algae.
Photosynthesis
The green pigments called chlorophyll, present in
the leaves of plants, converts CO2 and H2O in the presence
of sunlight into carbohydrates.
6CO2 + 12H2O ----------------------> C6H12O6 + 6O2+6H2O
This process is called photosynthesis
 Heterotrophs (Consumers)
Plant eating species
Insects, rabbit, goat, cow, etc.,
Classification of consumers
Consumers are further classified as
(i) Primary consumers (Herbivores) (Plant eaters)
Primary consumers are also called herbivores,
they directly depend on the plants for their food. So
they are called plant eaters.
Examples : Insects, rat, goat, cow, horse, etc.,
(ii) Secondary consumers (primary carnivores) (meat eater)
Are primary carnivores, that feed on primary consumers
(herbivores) e.g., Frog, cat, snakes, jackals, etc.,
(iii) Tertiary consumers (Secondary carnivores) (Meateaters)
Are secondary carnivores, that feed on secondary
consumers e.g., mongoose, hyenas etc.
 Decomposers
Examples: Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi.
Decomposers attack the dead bodies of producers and
consumers and decompose them into simpler compounds.
During the decomposition inorganic nutrients are
released.
The inorganic nutrients together with other organic
substances are then utilized by the procedures for the
synthesis of their own food.
 Abiotic components
The non-living components (physical and chemical) of
ecosystem collectively form a community called abiotic
components (or) abiotic community.
Examples: Climate, soil, water l air, energy, nutrients, etc.,
1. Physical components: They include the energy,
climate, raw materials and living space that the
biological community needs. They are useful for the
growth and maintenance of its member e.g., Air, water,
soil, sunlight, etc.,
2. Chemical Components: They are the sources of essential
nutrients e.g., (i) Organic substances : Protein, lipids,
carbohydrates, etc., (ii) Inorganic substances: All micro
(Al, Co, Zu, Cu) and macro elements (C,H, O, P, N, P, K)
and few other elements.
16
Ecosystem Function : The function of an
ecosystem is to allow flow of energy and cycling
of nutrients.
 Types of Functions
Functions of an ecosystem are of three types.
1. Primary function: Manufacture of starch
(photosynthesis).
2. Secondary function: Distribution energy in
the form of food to all consumers.
3. Tertiary function: “cycling”.

The functioning of an ecosystems may be

understood by studying the following terms.
• Energy and material flow through :
• Food chains
• Food webs
• Food pyramids
 Definitions
1. Food chains : series of feeding groups of organisms that
transfer nutrients and energy to one another

The food chain is a diagram that

shows how energy moves linearly
from an organism at one trophic
level to another at a higher
level.
Detritus Food chain: It begins
with dead organic matter (fallen
leaves) that is consumed by
saprotrophic (detritivorous)
organisms such as bacteria,
fungus, and protozoans.
Detritus Food Chain is a
significant energy conduit in the
terrestrial ecosystem
19
 2. Food webs: all of the
interactions between the species
within a community that involve the
transfer of energy through
consumption. A food web
incorporates different food chains
within an environment.

3. Food pyramids: an
ecological hierarchy of food
relationships in which a chief
predator is at the top, each level
preys on the next lower level,
and usually green plants are at
the bottom
4. An ecological pyramid is a
graphical representation of the
relationship between the different
living organisms at different trophic
level 20
Trophic levels

21
22
 ENERGY FLOW IN THE ECOSYSTEMS
Solar energy is the only source to our planet
earth. Solar energy is transformed to chemical
energy in photosynthesis by the plants . Only 1%
of solar energy is utilized for photosynthesis.

Some amount of chemical energy is used by the

plants for their growth and the remaining is
transferred to consumers by the process of
eating.

Energy enters the ecosystems through

photosynthesis and passes through the different
tropic levels feeding levels.
 ENERGY FLOW IN THE ECOSYSTEMs

The flow of energy through an ecosystem follows

the two laws of thermodynamics.
1. Ist law of thermodynamics: states that “energy
can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can
be converted from one from to another”.
2. 2nd law of thermodynamics: states that,
“Whenever energy is transformed, there is a loss
of energy through the release of heat”.
When energy is transferred between
trophic levels, there is a loss of energy (about 80-
90%) in the form of heat. The loss of energy
takes place through respiration, running, hunting
etc.,
NUTRIENT CYCLING / BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
IN THE ECOSYSTEM

Nutrients
The elements, which are essential for the
survival of both plants and animals are called
are called nutrients.
Macronutrients
The elements needed in large amounts are
called macronutrients e.g., oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Micronutrients
The elements, needed in small amounts
are called micronutrients e.g., Boron, cobalt,
strontium, zinc, copper
NUTRIENT CYCLING / BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
IN THE ECOSYSTEM
Definition: Cyclical transformation of elements in
the Biosphere (between the biotic and abiotic
components).
• Biological, chemical and geological activities are
intimately linked.
• Microorganisms account for a significant
proportion of the biological activity in these
cycles
• In some cases, microorganisms are the only
agents capable of recycling important nutrients
and minerals that are required by higher
organisms
• Reactions in these cycles are predominantly
oxidation-reduction.
NUTRIENT CYCLING / BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
IN THE ECOSYSTEM
• The nutrients enter into primary producers
and move through the food chain and
ultimately reach the consumer.

• The bound nutrients of the consumers, after

death, are decomposed and converted into
inorganic substances (mineralization), which
are readily used up by the plants and again
the cycle starts.

• The major nutrients like C, H, O, P, and N

are cycled again and again between biotic
and abiotic component of the ecosystem.
 Biogeochemical Cycles
Hydrological cycle: Movement of water in a
cyclic manner.
 Carbon cycle
• Carbon is the basic component in all the organic
components where it occurs in different forms e.g.,
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats and amino acids.

• Carbon is present in the atmosphere as CO2. The

CO2 taken up by the green plants as a raw material
for photosynthesis.

• The carbohydrates fixed through photosynthesis

enter the food chain, and finally returning into
lithosphere as dead matter.

• Eventually, the carbon is returned to the

atmosphere as CO2 by microorganisms.
Sources of CO2 in atmosphere
•During respiration, plants and animals liberates
CO2 in the atmosphere.

•Combustion of fuels also release CO2.

•Volcanic eruptions also release CO2.

 Nitrogen cycle
• Nitrogen is present in the atmosphere as N2
in large amounts (78%).

• The nitrogen is present in all biotic

components in different forms as food e.g.,
Proteins, vitamins, amino acids, etc.
 Plant Nitrogen sources

Nitrogen fluxes
N2O + NO + NH3 + N2 Nitrogen transformation
processes
Litter-fall

Decomposition
Dead plants &
animals
SOM Recalcitrant
N Fixation: DON
Mineralization
N2 + H20 + ATP
= NH4+ NH4+ NH3 + H+ Large ε

Stele
Nitrification –
-
NO2 denitrification
NO + N2O
Root
cortical cells NO3- Denitrification
Ecto-mycorrhizae Rhizobia
Vesicular-Arbuscular NO + N2O + N2
(ECM) Root nodule
mycorrhizae (VAM)
 Nitrogen mineralization
After death of plants and animals , ammonifying
and nitrifying bacteria convert organic nitrogen
into ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, which are
again used by the plants. Some bacteria convert
nitrates into molecular nitrogen (N2) which is
again released back into atmosphere and the
cycle goes on.
 Nitrogen mineralization
Nitrification : The conversion of ammonia into
nitrates is termed as nitrification. This is
brought about by nitrifying bacteria e.g.,
Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas.
Denitrification: The conversion of nitrates into
nitrogen (N2) is termed denitrification.
This process is brought about by denitrifying
bacteria e.g., Pseudomonas spp.
 Phosphorus cycle
Phosphorus is mainly present in the rocks and
fossils but is present in all biotic components in
different forms e.g., Bones, teeth, guano
deposits.

Phosphate rocks is excavated by man for use as

fertilizers. Farmers use excess of fertilizers
for the crops.

The excess phosphate fertilizers move with the

surface run-off reaches the oceans and are
lost into the deep sediments.
 Phosphorus cycle
Sea birds eat sea – fishes, which are
phosphorus rich, and the excreta of the birds
return the phosphorus to the land.

Thus the sea birds, are playing an important

role in phosphorus cycling animals and plants
use these dissolved phosphates during the
biosynthesis.
 The Sulphur Cycle
• The Sulfur Cycle begins with the gas sulfur
dioxide (SO2) or particles of sulfate (SO4-)
compounds in the air. These compounds are
deposited from the atmosphere as particulate
matter or in rainfall.
 The Sulphur Cycle
• These sulfur-containing compounds are taken
up by plants and fixed into tissues. Then, as
with the N2 cycle, these organic sulfur
compounds are returned to the land or water
after plants die or are consumed by animals.
Bacteria are important in this cycle because
they transform this organic sulfur into
hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). In the oceans,
certain phytoplankton can produce SO2 gas.
• These gases enter the atmosphere, water,
and soil, continuing the cycle.
 The Sulfur Cycle
• In its reduced oxidation state, sulfur plays
an important part in the structure and
function of proteins. In its fully oxidized
state, sulfur exists as sulfate and is the
major cause of acidity in both natural and
polluted rainwater. This link to acidity makes
sulfur important to geochemical, atmospheric,
and biological processes such as the natural
weathering of rocks, acid precipitation, and
denitrification.
 The Sulfur Cycle
• The bulk of the earth’s sulfur is found
deep within the earth’s crust in the form
of minerals within sediments and rocks:
• Sulfate minerals e.g. Gypsum, CaSO4
• Sulfide minerals e.g. Pyrite, FeS2
• However, because most of the sulfur in
these forms is inaccessible to living
organisms, the oceans constitute the
largest environmental sink for sulfur in the
form of inorganic sulfates
Questions???