Ecosystem: An ecosystem is a self-contained unit of living things (plants, animals and decomposers), and their non-living environment (soil, air and water). For example; a forest, a pond, a lake, a green land etc. In an ecosystem, energy and matter are continuously exchanged between living and non-living components. An ecosystem can be both natural or man- made. Some examples of natural ecosystems are grass land, forest, sea, river, desert, mountain, pond, lake etc. The desert, grass land and mountains represent the terrestrial ecosystem (land- based ecosystem). The ponds, rivers, lakes and sea represent the aquatic ecosystem (water-based ecosystem). Man-made artificial ecosystems are garden, crop fields, park, aquarium, etc.‘Aquatic Ecosystem Terrestrial Feosy stem. Marine Ecosystem Fresh water Ecosystem eg. Sea, Oceans ner, Lakefond, Poa! Components of Ecosystem: There are two components of an ecosystem : (i) biotic component and (ii) abiotic component. 1. Biotic component: It includes three types of organisms : (a) Producers: All green plants, blue green algae can produce their food (Sugar and starch) from inorganic substance using light energy (Photosynthesis). Therefore, all green plants are called producers. They are also called autotrophs. Planktons are very minute or microscopic organisms freely floating on the surface of water in a pond, lake, river or ocean. Planktons are of two types : Phytoplanktons and Zooplanktons. The microscopic aquatic plants freely floating on the surface of water are called phytoplanktons. The microscopic aquatic animals freely floating on water are called zooplanktons. The freely floating protozoa are an example of zooplankton(il) Carnivores: These are organisms (animals) which consume other animals. Therefore, carnivores feed on the flesh of herbivores. These are also called primary carnivores or second order consumers. Some common examples are snake, wild cat, jackal, frog, some birds, fishes, etc. There are animals which prey upon primary carnivores. They are called second order consumers or third order consumers. For example, owl, peacock, tiger, lion, etc., are some second order carnivores and may be eaten by third order carnivores. The carnivores which are not preyed upon further are called top carnivores. For example, lion is a top carnivore. (ill) Omnivores: The organisms which feed on both plants and animals are called omnivores. Human beings are common example of omnivores because they eat both plants (For example; pulses, grams, oilseeds, fruit, etc.) and animal products (milk, meat, egg, etc.). (c) Decomposers: Fungi and bacteria which break down (decompose) the dead plants, animals complex compounds into the simpler one. The decomposers help in the replenishment of natural resources. These are also known as microorganism or saprotrophs. These are also called reducers.Importance of Decomposers Decomposers help in disposing of the wastes and dead bodies of plants and animals. Therefore, they clean the environment and create space for a living of newer generations of organisms. The decomposers release minerals and other raw materials trapped in organic matter. These are picked up by plants. This also helps to maintain the fertility of soil. The decomposers produce some acids which are useful in solubilization of some minerals. Decomposers help in recycling the materials in the biosphere so that, the process of life may go on and on like an unending chain.Importance of Decomposers Decomposers help in disposing of the wastes and dead bodies of plants and animals. Therefore, they clean the environment and create space for a living of newer generations of organisms. The decomposers release minerals and other raw materials trapped in organic matter. These are picked up by plants. This also helps to maintain the fertility of soil. The decomposers produce some acids which are useful in solubilization of some minerals. Decomposers help in recycling the materials in the biosphere so that, the process of life may go on and on like an unending chain.2. Abiotic Components: These are non-living components of an ecosystem. These include the physical environment. e Edaphic factors like soil texture, topography, water, and air. ¢ Inorganic substances like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, water, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and calcium. These are involved in the cyclic of materials in the ecosystem. e Organic compounds like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. These largely form the living body and link the abiotic and biotic components.2. Abiotic Components: These are non-living components of an ecosystem. These include the physical environment. Edaphic factors like soil texture, topography, water, and air. Inorganic substances like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, water, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and calcium. These are involved in the cyclic of materials in the ecosystem. Organic compounds like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. These largely form the living body and link the abiotic and biotic components.Climatic factors: These are sunlight temperature, pressure humidity, moisture, rainfall, etc. these factors affect the distribution of the organisms. Functions of an Ecosystem Ecosystem indicates available solar energy and the efficiency of an ecosystem to trap the same. ut the available It gives information a essential minerals and their recycling periods. It provides knowledge about the web of interactions and inter-relationship among the various population as well as between the population and the abiotic environment. It helps human beings to know about conservation of resou 'S, protection from pollution and inputs required for maximizing productivity. In the ecosystem, two processes of energy flow and biogeochemical cycles (nutrients movement) proceed side by side. The energy flow is unidirectional while the movement of nutrients is cyclic.Food Chain: The sequence of living organisms in a community in which one organism consumes another organism to transfer food energy, is called a food chain A food chain is unidirection where transfer of energy takes place in only one direction. OR Food chain is sequential process which represents “who eats whom”. OR Food chain refers to an arrangement of different biotic groups in a sequence of energy transfer. These biotic groups are producer herbivores, carnivores For example, T1(Grass) — T2(Deer) = T3(Lion) Examples of Food Chains: Simple food chain operating in a grass land or forest Grass(Producer) — Deer(Herbivore) — Lion(Carnivore) In this food chain, grass represent the producers (first tropic level). Grass synthesize their own food by the process of photosynthesis. Grass is eaten up by deer, which represents the herbivores or the primary consumers. Deer in turn is consumed by lion, the carnivores or the secondary consumers. A food chain in grassland which has four steps is: Grass(Producers) — Insect(Herbivores) — Frog(Carnivores) + Eagle(Secondary Carnivore)Significance of Food Chains * The study of food chains helps in understanding food relationships and interactions among the various organisms in an ecosystem. The food chains, transfer energy and materials between various living components of an ecosystem ¢ The food chains transfer energy and materials between various living components in an ecosystem or biosphere. * The food chains give dynamicity to an ecosystem or biosphere. * The movement of toxic substances like pesticides, weedicides, etc., through food chains, can prove very harmful. Food Web: The inter-connected food chains operating in an ecosystem which establish a network of relationship between various species, are called a food web. In a food web, one organism may occupy a position in more than one food chain. An organism can obtain its food from different sources and in turn, may be eaten up by different types of organisms.Significance of Food Web *Food webs distinguish levels of producers and consumers by identifying and defining the importance of animal relationships and food sources, beginning with primary producers such as plants, insects and herbivores. *Food webs are important tools in understanding that plants are the foundation of all ecosystems and food chains, sustaining life by providing nourishment and oxygen needed for survival and reproduction. *The food web provide stability to the ecosystem.Trophic Levels: The various steps in the food chain at which the transfer of food (or energy) takes place is called trophic levels. There is a gradual decrease in the amount of energy transfer from one trophic level to the next trophic level in a food chain. /\—oreste Ad. t Enegy row Z Proaeer $000 sprue eve So only 10% of energy is transferred to next trophic level while 90% of energy is used by present trophic level in its life processes. The various trophic levels are given below : ¢ The plant or the producers constitute the first trophic level. e The herbivores or primary consumers form the second trophic level. * Carnivores or secondary consumers make up the third trophic level ¢ Large carnivores or the tertiary consumers which feed upon the small carnivores constitute the fourth trophic level.Flow Open Energy Energy is used and conveyed from one trophic level to another in a food chain. This is called flow of energy. Green plants capture about 1% of the solar energy incident on the Earth through the biochemical process of photosynthesis. A part of this trapped energy is used by plants in performing their metabolic activities and some energy is released as heat into the atmosphere. The remaining energy is chemical energy stored in the plants as ‘carbohydrates’. When plants are eaten up by herbivores, the chemical energy stored in the plants is transferred to these animals. These animals (herbivores) utilize some of this energy for metabolic activities, some energy is “released as heat and the remaining energy is stored. The process of energy transferred is similarly repeated with carnivores and so on.Ten percent law: Ten percent law states that only 10 percent of the energy entering a particular trophic level of organisms is available for transfer to the next higher trophic level. Reemptg Sorcery + 100 tun — a + 1 ale io) For example, Suppose 1000 J of solar energy is received by green plants, then only 1% of solar energy available on earth is utilized by plants. So only 10 J (1% of 1000 J) is trapped by plants and the rest 990 J of energy is lost to the environment. So, plants utilizes only 10 J of energy. Next, only 10% of the 10 J energy of plant, that is, 1 J, is available to the herbivore animal while 9 Jis lost to the environment. Again, just 10% of the 1 J of energy of herbivore animals is utilized by carnivore animals. Thus, carnivore animals have only 0.1 J of energy while 0.9 Js lost to the environment. Environmental Problems: Changes in the environment affect us and our activities change the environment around us. This led to the slow degradation of the environment that arose many environmental problems. For Example; depletion of the Ozone Layer and waste disposal. Depletion of Ozone Layer: Ozone (03) layer is largely found in the stratosphere which is a part of our atmosphere from 12 km -50 km above sea level. This region is called ozonosphere. Ozone is deadly poisonous at the ground level. Ozone is formed as a result of the following photochemical reaction M+ 0 + 0 (Splitting of molecular oxygen) (1800 A to 2000 Ay 0, +O ——> 0, (Ozone)Ozone layer is a protective blanket around earth which absorbs most of the harmful U.V. (Ultraviolet) radiation of the Sun, thus, protecting the living beings of the Earth from health hazards like skin cancer, cataract in eyes, weaken immune system, destruction of plants etc. The decline of Ozone layer thickness in Antarctica was first discovered in 1985 and was termed as OZONE HOLE. Steps taken to limit damage of ozone layer: Excessive use of CFCs (Chloro Flouro Carbon) a synthetic, inert chemical. For example; Freon which are used as refrigerants and also in fire extinguishers caused Ozone depletion in the upper atmosphere. A single chlorine atom can destroys 1,00,000 Ozone molecules. U.N.E.P. (United Nation Environment Programme) did an excellent iob in foraina an aareement to Protocol) by all countries. Biological Magnification: The increase in concentration of harmful chemical substances like pesticides in the body of living organisms at each trophic level of a food chain is called biological magnification. Example: Grass Deer Lion (10 ppm) ——> (200 ppm) .———» (5000 ppm) DDT DDT DDTMaximum concentration of such chemicals gets accumulated in human bodies. Garbage Disposal: Industrialization and rise in demand of consumer goods have created a major problem in the form of wastes/garbage accumulation and its disposal especially in urban areas The disposal of waste should be done ina scientific way. There are different methods of waste disposal. The method to be used depends on the nature of the waste. Some of the important modes of waste disposal are Incineration: Burning of waste on high temperature to form ash is called incineration. This process is carried out in an incinerator. Incineration is used to destroy household, chemical and biological wastes. Open dumping: A conventional method in which solid waste are dumped in selected areas of a town. It actually cause pollution Land fillings: Wastes are dumped in low living areas and are compacted by rolling with bulldozers Composting: Organic wastes are filled into a compost pit (2m x 1m x 1m). itis then covered with a thin layer of soil After about three months the same garbage filled inside the pit changes into organic manure. + Recycling: The solid wastes is broken down into its constituent simpler materials. These materials are then used to make new items. Even non-bio degradable solid wastes like plastic, metal can be recycled + Reuse: A very simple conventional technique of using an item again and again, For example; paper can be reused for making envelops, etc.Four practices which can help in the protection of our environment: * Disposal of wastes after separating them into biodegradable and non- biodegradable waste material. Use of unleaded petrol and alternate sources of energy, and keeping the engine properly tuned and serviced and the tyres inflated to the right pressure so that the vehicle runs efficiently. The use of gunny bags and paper bags in place of polythene/plastic bags. Activities such as gardening, rain-water harvesting and use of compost in place of fertilizers will help protect our environment from further damage. Harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment. » Excessive use of fertilisers changes the chemistry of soil and kills useful microbes. Excessive use of non-biodegradable chemical pesticides leads to biological magnification. Extensive cropping causes loss of soil fertility. Excess use of groundwater for agriculture lowers the water table. Agricultural practices lead to some amount of damage to the natural ecosystem/habitat10. A generalised food chain: Er oer > Consumer-1—> Consumer-2 > Consumers > Space) ae ow Sea ‘etme carer) ‘os. “re “_ ‘Some examples of food chains on Land : ‘Some examples of food chains in water : () grains —+ sparrow —+ cat. 400 algae protozoa — small fish + big fish. (i) grass—+ rabbit —+ hawk (gardens and parks). ‘chytoplankion) — ooplankion) iii) cacti —+ antsMocust —+ spider —+ lizard —> (ii) algae —+ tadpoles —+ small fish —+ big fish. snake (desert). Gi) algae —+ mussel —+ small fish —+ water bird.10. A generalised food chain: ke Producer -» Consumer-1-> Consumer-2 -> Consumer-3 —> (crven plant) (ertmore) Sma carver) Larger carver) ‘Sun 4st Trophic (or energy) ‘2nd Trophic ‘ed Trophic: atone vet ‘oe ‘ot ovat ‘Some examples of food chains on Land: ‘Some examples of food chains in water : (i) grains —+ sparrow —+ cat. {09 algae + protozoa —+ small fish — big fish. (ii) grass —+ rabbit —> hawk (gardens and parks). (ehyoplankion) —Gooplankion) iil) cacti —+ ants/locust —+ spider —+ lizard —> (ii) algae —+ tadpoles —+ small fish —» big fish. (iii) algae —+ mussel —+ small fish —> water bird. snake (desert).13. The flow of energy between various components of the environment: Green plants capture about 1 % of the energy and convert it into food energy. About f % of the food eaten is turned into the body of an organism and made available for the next level of consumers. About 10% of organic matter is present at each step and reaches the next level of consumers. Since so little energy is available for the next level of consumers, food chains generally consist of only three or four steps. The loss of energy at each step is so great that very little usable energy remains after four trophic levels. There are generally a greater number of individuals at the lower trophic levels of an ecosystem, the greatest number is of the producers.Difference between Biodegradable and Non- Biodegradable wastes Biodegradable Non-Blodegradable wastes wastes 1. The wastes that 1. The wastes that are broken down are not broken down naturally by by the microbes. microbial action. 2. Biodegradation forms harmless and | 2. No such action is non- poisonous possible, products. 3. They release raw | 3. They do not materials backto _ release raw nature, materials 4, They pollute the environment only 4.Non- when they are biodegradable produced in wastes pollute the quantity beyond the environment even in capacity of the small quantity. environment to degrade them. 5. Bloconcentration 5. Bioconcentration | or biomagnifications does not occur. occurs when wastes enter food chains. 6. Recycling is 6. Recycling is possible both possible only naturally or through | through human human efforts. efforts.