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Question
What is the ecosystem? Discuss its different components with specific example of pond as an ecosystem.
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Solution
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. Two main components exist in an ecosystem: abiotic and biotic. The abiotic components of any ecosystem are the properties of the environment; the biotic components are the life forms that occupy a given ecosystem.
Pond and lake are freshwater ecosystems in which, like other ecosystems, there are two main components:
(A) Abiotic component: Abiotic component of pond consists of water, dissolved minerals, oxygen, carbon dioxide, light, dissolved oxygen. These abiotic components are the properties of the environment (pond, in this case).
(B) Biotic component: It includes the following:
(i) Producers: The main producers in the pond or lake ecosystem are algae and other aquatic plants, such as Azolla, Hydrilla, Potamogeton, Pistia, Wolffia, Lemna, Eichhornia, Nymphaea, Jussiaea, etc. These are either floating or suspended or rooted at the bottom. The green plants convert radiant energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. The chemical energy stored in the form of food is utilized by all the organisms. Oxygen evolved by producers in photosynthesis is utilized by all the living organisms in respiration.
(ii) Consumers: In a pond ecosystem, the primary consumers are tadpole larvae of frogs, fishes and other aquatic animals which consume green plants and algae as their food. These herbivorous aquatic animals are the food of secondary consumers. Frogs, big fishes, water snakes, crabs are secondary consumers. In the pond, besides the secondary consumers, there are consumers of the highest order, such as water-birds, turtles, etc..
(iii) Decomposers and Transformers: When aquatic plants and animals die, a large number of bacteria and fungi attack their dead bodies and convert the complex organic substances into simpler inorganic compounds and elements. These micro-organisms are called decomposers chemical elements liberated by decomposers are again utilized by green plants in their nutrition.
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. Two main components exist in an ecosystem: abiotic and biotic. The abiotic components of any ecosystem are the properties of the environment; the biotic components are the life forms that occupy a given ecosystem.
Pond and lake are freshwater ecosystems in which, like other ecosystems, there are two main components:
(A) Abiotic component: Abiotic component of pond consists of water, dissolved minerals, oxygen, carbon dioxide, light, dissolved oxygen. These abiotic components are the properties of the environment (pond, in this case).
(B) Biotic component: It includes the following:
(i) Producers: The main producers in the pond or lake ecosystem are algae and other aquatic plants, such as Azolla, Hydrilla, Potamogeton, Pistia, Wolffia, Lemna, Eichhornia, Nymphaea, Jussiaea, etc. These are either floating or suspended or rooted at the bottom. The green plants convert radiant energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. The chemical energy stored in the form of food is utilized by all the organisms. Oxygen evolved by producers in photosynthesis is utilized by all the living organisms in respiration.
(ii) Consumers: In a pond ecosystem, the primary consumers are tadpole larvae of frogs, fishes and other aquatic animals which consume green plants and algae as their food. These herbivorous aquatic animals are the food of secondary consumers. Frogs, big fishes, water snakes, crabs are secondary consumers. In the pond, besides the secondary consumers, there are consumers of the highest order, such as water-birds, turtles, etc..
(iii) Decomposers and Transformers: When aquatic plants and animals die, a large number of bacteria and fungi attack their dead bodies and convert the complex organic substances into simpler inorganic compounds and elements. These micro-organisms are called decomposers chemical elements liberated by decomposers are again utilized by green plants in their nutrition.
(i) Producers: The main producers in the pond or lake ecosystem are algae and other aquatic plants, such as Azolla, Hydrilla, Potamogeton, Pistia, Wolffia, Lemna, Eichhornia, Nymphaea, Jussiaea, etc. These are either floating or suspended or rooted at the bottom. The green plants convert radiant energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. The chemical energy stored in the form of food is utilized by all the organisms. Oxygen evolved by producers in photosynthesis is utilized by all the living organisms in respiration.
(ii) Consumers: In a pond ecosystem, the primary consumers are tadpole larvae of frogs, fishes and other aquatic animals which consume green plants and algae as their food. These herbivorous aquatic animals are the food of secondary consumers. Frogs, big fishes, water snakes, crabs are secondary consumers. In the pond, besides the secondary consumers, there are consumers of the highest order, such as water-birds, turtles, etc..
(iii) Decomposers and Transformers: When aquatic plants and animals die, a large number of bacteria and fungi attack their dead bodies and convert the complex organic substances into simpler inorganic compounds and elements. These micro-organisms are called decomposers chemical elements liberated by decomposers are again utilized by green plants in their nutrition.
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