Question

Taking the example of a lake as a simple aquatic ecosystem,intercept how various functions of this ecosystem are carried out. Make food chain that is functional in this ecosystem.

Answer 1

• Both biotic and abiotic componenets are included in a lake ecosystem. Plants, animals, and microorganisms form the biotic component whereas the physical and chemical interactions form the abiotic component of the ecosystem. This type of ecosystem is an example of still water ecosystem. It comprises of different species of producers, herbivores, carnivores, parasites, detritivores etc.
  
• The aquatic plants and algae provide energy to the lake ecosystems by doing photosynthesis whereas the bacteria present in the lakes decompose the animal matter and vegetation to obtain energy. One can see complex trophic relationships among the species in the lake. The other species obtain energy by capturing the prey.
  
• One food chain found in lake ecosystem is as follows:
  

Phytoplanktons (Producers) → Zooplanktons (Primary consumers) ​→ Rotifers (Secondary consumers) ​→ Zooplanktivorous fish (Tertiary consumer) ​→ Piscivorous Fish (Top Consumer)