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Ecosystem

The document provides an overview of ecosystems, defining them as self-contained areas where organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. It details the components of ecosystems, including biotic (plants, animals, microbes) and abiotic (air, water, sunlight) factors, as well as food chains and webs. Additionally, it discusses the types of forests in India, the interdependence of organisms, and the challenges faced by ecosystems, emphasizing the need for conservation and restoration efforts.

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5 views9 pages

Ecosystem

The document provides an overview of ecosystems, defining them as self-contained areas where organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. It details the components of ecosystems, including biotic (plants, animals, microbes) and abiotic (air, water, sunlight) factors, as well as food chains and webs. Additionally, it discusses the types of forests in India, the interdependence of organisms, and the challenges faced by ecosystems, emphasizing the need for conservation and restoration efforts.

Uploaded by

sahauday21
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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

Ecosystem
Notes

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

Ecosystem
Greek word ‘Oikos’ meaning ‘house’
An ecosystem is a self-contained area composed of all the different organisms
living in it, interacting with each other as well as interacting with the physical
conditions i.e. sunlight, air, water, soil, climatic factors prevailing in the area.

Forest Ecosystem
Forest is a large area of land with dense growth of trees & a large variety of
shrubs, bushes, grasses.
1. Producers – which make their own food through photosynthesis.
These are also called autotrophs.
2. Plant eating animals (herbivores) – deer, rabbits, pigeons. Also called
primary consumers.
3. Flash eating animals (carnivores) – tiger, lion, wolf, lizards. Also called
secondary consumers.

• Grass (Producers)
• Grasshopper (Primary Consumers)
• Frog (Secondary Consumers)
• Snake (Tertiary Consumers)
• Peacock (Quaternary Consumers)

• These different food levels are called trophic levels.


• All the animals at these levels die and either their body is eaten by
putrefying flesh eaters (scavengers) or the dead material is broken by
bacteria and fungi in the soil.

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

• This breaking down by bacteria or fungi in soil, help in return of


nutrients back to the soil for plants to grow.

Components of an Ecosystem
1. Biotic Components – Plants, Animals, Microbes
• Trophic Level 1 (Green Plants)
• Trophic Level 2 (Plant-eating animals- herbivores)
• Trophic Level 3 (Flesh-eating animals)
• Trophic Level 4 (Second rank flesh-eaters)
• Scavengers – Feed on dead animals and plant material. E.g. Vulture,
kites, crows
• Detritivores – Feed on detritus or decomposing plant and animal parts
as well as faeces. E.g. Earthworm, millipedes
• Decomposers – Obtain nutrition by absorbing nutrients that result from
the breaking down of the dead organic matter. E.g. Bacteria, fungi and
protists

2. Abiotic Components – Air, water, Sunlight


• Sunlight – Useful for photosynthesis
• Air – Provide oxygen to plants & animals for respiration and carbon
dioxide for photosynthesis.
- Medium for birds to fly
- Agency for dispersal of seeds, fruits and pollen
• Water – Used for drinking & photosynthesis
• Temperature – Hot, mild or cold temperature of a region influences
body functions of plants and animals living in that region.
• Soil - foremost component of forests.

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

- Plants to grow
- Contains water & nutrients for plants
- Dwelling for burrowing animals

Food Chains and Food Webs


Food chain is a linear sequence of organisms in which each organism eats the
lower members and is itself eaten by the next higher member.

Food web is a network of several inter-connecting food chains.


Or
Network of interconnecting food chains in a natural community of different
organisms.

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

Fig. Food Web

Fig. Simplified Food Web

Advantages of Food Webs


- Permit alternative foods.
- Ensure better chance of survival of an organism
- Provide stability to an ecosystem than a food chain.

Food Pyramids
Pyramid means any figure or shape that has a large base, which continues
narrowing at each level upwards, finally ending as a small point.

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

Types of Pyramids
1. Pyramid of Numbers

2. Pyramid of Biomass

Interdependence between organisms

Symbiosis

Parasitism

Predation

Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a biological interaction where two different species live together
in close physical proximity, often benefiting each other.

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

Examples:
Bees and Flowers - Bees get nectar from flowers (food), while flowers get
pollinated, aiding in reproduction.
Lichens is an associated in which a fungus and a photosynthetic alga live in a
symbiotic relationship.

Parasitism
One partner receives advantage while other is at a loss.
- E.g. malarial parasite, Plasmodium needs an intermediate host
(vector) – a mosquito to spread to other hosts.
- Human liver fluke (a nematode parasite) depends on two
intermediate hosts (snail and a fish) to complete its life-cycle.
- Parasite harms host to reduce the revival, growth and reproduction
of the host.

Predation
Predator catches and kills other organisms for food.

E.g. Tiger and deer provide a good example of predation.

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

Flora and Fauna of Forest Ecosystem

Flora means the plants naturally occurring in a particular area.


Fauna means the animals naturally living in that area.

Kinds of Forests in India


Tropical Rain Forests:
• Western coast of India and North East Himalayas
• Flora: Evergreen trees, bamboos, ferns, shrubs
• Fauna: Jungle cats, leopards, monkeys, flying squirrels, snakes,
centipedes, millipedes, many insects, snails.
Temperate Deciduous Forests:
• Eastern coast of India
• Flora: Teak, Sandalwood, Sal
• Fauna: Moths, beetles, deer, wolves, foxes
Coniferous Forests:
• Found in Himalayas at an altitude above 1700 to 3000 m
• Flora: Fir and pine trees
• Fauna: Squirrel, deer, goat, wolves, some birds like robin and sparrow
Gir Forests (Gujarat):
• Flora: Large shady trees such as peepal, acacia, neem.
Some wild bushes and grasses

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Class 8 Biology ICSE | Ecosystem | Notes

• Fauna: Bears, dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, crows, kits vultures.


Most significant animal - Lion
Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand):
• Flora: Pine trees, shrubs, grasses
• Fauna: Various animals, especially tigers
Jaladpara Sanctuary (West Bengal):
• Flora: Various kinds of trees including banyan trees
• Fauna: Various animals and birds, especially rhinoceros

Why Ecosystem is at risk?


• Industrialisation
• Scientific approach towards life

Challenges of Ecosystem
• Climate change
• Vector-borne diseases
• Decay in wildlife and its resources
• Food and water shortage

Need to restore and conserve the Ecosystem


• Establishing finer balance between organisms and environment
• Protection of native natural resources
**********

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