Ecosystem and Its Functions
An Exploration of Ecological
Interactions and Services
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What is an Ecosystem?
• • A system where living (biotic) and non-living
(abiotic) components interact to form a self-
sustaining unit.
• • Key Features:
• - Dynamic in nature
• - Energy flows through trophic levels
• - Cycles matter and nutrients
Components of an Ecosystem
• 1. Biotic Components:
• - Producers: Autotrophs (plants, algae) that
synthesize food through photosynthesis.
• - Consumers: Heterotrophs that depend on
producers and other organisms (herbivores,
carnivores, omnivores).
• - Decomposers: Microorganisms (bacteria,
fungi) that break down organic matter.
• 2. Abiotic Components:
• - Non-living elements: Sunlight,
Classification of Ecosystems
• 1. Based on Habitat:
• - Terrestrial: Forests, grasslands, deserts,
tundra.
• - Aquatic: Freshwater (rivers, lakes), Marine
(oceans, coral reefs).
• 2. Based on Origin:
• - Natural: Created by nature (forests,
wetlands).
• - Artificial: Man-made ecosystems (crop
fields, aquariums).
Structure of an Ecosystem
• • Trophic Levels: Organisms categorized by
their feeding position:
• - Producers (1st level)
• - Primary consumers (2nd level)
• - Secondary consumers (3rd level)
• - Decomposers (recycle nutrients)
• • Food Chain and Food Webs:
• - Linear vs. complex networks of feeding
relationships.
Functions of Ecosystems
• • Energy Flow: Transfer of energy from
producers to consumers through trophic
levels.
• • Biogeochemical Cycles: Movement of
nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus,
and water through ecosystems.
• • Decomposition: Breakdown of organic
matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil.
• • Primary and Secondary Productivity:
• - Primary: Biomass produced by autotrophs.
Energy Flow in Detail
• • Pathway:
• - Sun → Producers → Consumers →
Decomposers
• • Trophic Efficiency: Only 10% of energy is
passed on to the next level; the rest is lost as
heat.
Nutrient Cycles
• 1. Carbon Cycle:
• - Photosynthesis absorbs carbon; respiration
and combustion release it.
• - Stored in fossil fuels, oceans, and forests.
• 2. Nitrogen Cycle:
• - Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by
bacteria into usable forms.
• - Nitrification, assimilation, and
denitrification.
Decomposers and Their Role
• • Break down dead plants and animals into
simpler compounds.
• • Release essential nutrients back into the soil.
• • Examples: Earthworms, fungi, bacteria.
Importance of Ecosystems
• • Regulation of Climate: Forests act as carbon
sinks.
• • Support for Biodiversity: Provide habitats for
diverse species.
• • Provision of Resources: Food, water, raw
materials, and medicine.
• • Cultural Benefits: Aesthetic, spiritual, and
recreational values.
Threats to Ecosystems
• • Pollution: Air, water, and soil contamination.
• • Deforestation: Loss of forest cover for
agriculture or urbanization.
• • Climate Change: Global warming, melting ice
caps, and extreme weather.
• • Overexploitation: Overfishing, hunting, and
resource extraction.
Conservation of Ecosystems
• • Sustainable Development: Balance between
resource use and preservation.
• • Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting
trees to restore degraded areas.
• • Legislation: Wildlife protection acts,
pollution control measures.
• • Individual Actions: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle;
conserving energy and water.
Case Studies of Ecosystem
Conservation
• • Coral Reef Restoration: Great Barrier Reef
initiatives.
• • Mangrove Replanting: Protection from
coastal erosion.
• • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Tigers in India, Pandas
in China.
Future of Ecosystems
• • Predictions about ecosystem health with or
without human intervention.
• • The need for immediate and collective
action.
Conclusion
• • Key Takeaways:
• - Ecosystems are vital for survival and
balance.
• - Their functions sustain life on Earth.
• - Conservation is a shared responsibility.
• • "The Earth is what we all have in common."
– Wendell Berry
