Ecosystems and Their Components

Study Notes

An ecosystem is a community of plants, animals, microorganisms interacting with each other and the non-living environment.
Ecosystems have two main components: biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living).

Biotic Components: The living members (organisms) in an ecosystem. Examples include plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Abiotic Components: The non-living parts of an ecosystem. Examples include climate, soil, water, air, and energy.

Biotic components are grouped based on how they obtain food:
- Producers (Autotrophs): Organisms that make their own food, typically through photosynthesis. Example: plants.
- Consumers (Heterotrophs): Organisms that cannot make their own food and consume other organisms.
- Decomposers (saprotrophs): Organisms that break down dead organisms and waste products. Example: microorganisms.

Producers synthesize their food through photosynthesis.
All green plants are producers.
Photosynthesis uses chlorophyll, a green pigment in leaves, to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into carbohydrates (sugars) in the presence of sunlight. This process is represented by the formula: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.

Consumers depend on other organisms for food.
Primary Consumers (Herbivores): Consumers that eat only plants. Examples include insects, rats, goats, deer, and cows.
Secondary Consumers (Primary Carnivores): Consumers that eat primary consumers. Examples include frogs, cats, snakes, and small birds.
Tertiary Consumers (Secondary Carnivores): Consumers that feed on secondary consumers. Examples include hawks, eagles, tigers, and lions.
Omnivores: Organisms that consume both plants and animals. Examples include humans, rats, and some birds.
Detritivores: Organisms that feed on dead organisms, wastes, and partially decomposed matter. Example: termites, earthworms, and ants.

Decomposers break down the dead bodies of producers and consumers into simpler compounds.
During decomposition, inorganic nutrients are released.
These released inorganic nutrients are used by producers for the synthesis of their food.

Abiotic components include physical and chemical components of an ecosystem
Physical Components: These relate to the energy, climate, and living space that the biological community needs. Examples include air, water, soil, and sunlight.
Chemical Components: These are the source of essential nutrients, including organic nutrients (protein, lipids, carbohydrates) and inorganic nutrients (all micro- and macro-elements like Al, Co, Zn, Cu, C, H, O, P, N).