What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a system or a functional unit in the environment where biotic and abiotic components interact with each other. Abiotic components are water, soil, atmosphere, temperature etc.
Living entities exhibit an inner hierarchy in an ecosystem which are the producers, the decomposers and the consumers. They interact with one another, giving rise to the food chain inside the ecosystem.
Linking within these food chains forms the basis for complex webs and attributes for the ecosystem to exist.
They are usually identified and named after the life forms, for instance, grassland, coral reef, tropical rain forests etc.
All the essential material required for survival comes from the abiotic components of the ecosystem, such as solar radiation, energy, water, nutrients, etc., which are obtained as a result of various biological cycles.
Energy moves in a unidirectional path.
What is a Biome?
Biomes on earth, on the other hand, is a zone that is identified by large-scale climate and vegetation traits.
They are climatically controlled associations of entities.
Species in different parts of a biome may appear similar in behaviour and appearance due to the similarity in the patterns of natural selection.
Examples of biomes – Tundra, temperate, evergreens, taiga etc.
Difference Between Biome And Ecosystem
Following are the difference between biome and ecosystem:
|
Biome |
Ecosystem |
|
It is a large land area with a distinct climate and plants and animal species. |
It refers to the interaction of biotic and abiotic components. |
|
The geographical area is large. |
The geographical area is small. |
|
It comprises multiple ecosystems. |
It is a part of the biome comprising biotic and abiotic factors. |
|
It abounds in plant and animal species. |
It is smaller in size and has fewer species of plants and animals. |
|
All the organisms in a biome do not interact with each other. |
All the organisms in an ecosystem interact with each other in various trophic levels of the food web. |
|
It is affected by latitude. |
It is not influenced by latitude. |
|
Deserts, grasslands, tundra, and tropical rainforests are some examples of biomes. |
An ecosystem includes ponds, coral reefs, etc. |
Key Points
- An ecosystem is smaller in comparison to a biome as a biome can be widely distributed all through the earth.
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Unlike an ecosystem, a biome is strongly influenced by its physical factors, such as climatic conditions such as snow, temperature, rainfall etc.
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An ecosystem is not influenced by latitude, whereas a biome is influenced.
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In an ecosystem, all animals interact in trophic interactions of food webs and chains, whereas, in a biome, animals do not necessarily interact.
For more information on the difference between biome and ecosystem, keep visiting BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app for further reference.
Read Also:
| Forest |
| Biotic And Abiotic |
| Saprophytes |
| Energy Flow in Ecosystem |
| Adaptation And Habitats |
This is an interesting paragraph of biomes and ecosystems.