Ecosystem and Food Chain Overview

Study Notes

An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit in ecology.
Living organisms interact with each other and their environment within an ecosystem.
An ecosystem is a chain of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Ecosystems are characterized by both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
Energy distribution is part of the ecosystem structure.
Climatic conditions within a specific environment also form part of the ecosystem.

Light energy is converted to chemical energy in a biological process and passed through successive levels.
The flow of energy from a producer (e.g., grass) through consumers (e.g., grasshopper, mice, snake) to an apex predator (e.g., eagle) or detritivore forms a food chain.
Example of a food chain: Grass → Grasshopper → Mouse → Snake → Eagle

Biotic components: Living organisms (e.g., plants, animals, microorganisms).
- Producers: Organisms that make their own food (e.g., plants).
- Consumers: Organisms that eat other organisms (e.g., herbivores, carnivores).
Primary consumers: Organisms that eat producers (e.g., herbivores that eat plants).
Secondary consumers: Organisms that eat primary consumers (e.g., carnivores that eat herbivores).
Tertiary consumers: Organisms that eat secondary consumers (e.g., carnivores that eat other carnivores).
- Decomposers: Organisms that break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the ecosystem (e.g., fungi, bacteria).
Abiotic components: Non-living factors (e.g., water, soil, sunlight).