Ekosisteem: Samestelling en Komponente

Definition of Ecosystem

• A community of living and non-living things interacting with each other in a specific environment.
• Composed of biotic (living) factors: plants, animals, microorganisms, and abiotic (non-living) factors: sunlight, water, soil, air, temperature.

Components of Ecosystem

Biotic Factors

• Producers (autotrophs): plants, algae, phytoplankton (convert sunlight into energy)
• Consumers (heterotrophs): animals, fungi, bacteria (obtain energy by consuming other organisms)
• Decomposers: bacteria, fungi (break down dead organic matter)

Abiotic Factors

• Light: essential for photosynthesis
• Temperature: affects metabolic rates, growth, and distribution of organisms
• Water: essential for life, influences chemical reactions and nutrient availability
• Soil: provides nutrients, water, and physical support
• Air: provides oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases

Ecosystem Processes

Energy Flow

• Energy from sunlight is converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis
• Energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next through consumption
• Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level

Nutrient Cycling

• Nutrients are absorbed, used, and released by organisms
• Decomposition returns nutrients to the soil
• Nutrients are reused by producers, maintaining ecosystem fertility

Water Cycle

• Water is absorbed, used, and released by organisms
• Evapotranspiration: water is evaporated from plants and soil
• Precipitation replenishes water sources

Ecosystem Services

• Provisioning services: food, water, wood, and other resources
• Regulating services: climate regulation, pollination, pest control
• Cultural services: recreation, tourism, spiritual values
• Supporting services: nutrient cycling, soil formation, primary production

Ekosisteem: Definisie en Komponente

• 'n Ekosisteem is 'n gemeenskap van lewendige en nie-lewendige dinge wat met mekaar interakteer in 'n spesifieke omgewing.
• Dit bestaan uit biotiese faktore (lewende dinge) en abiotiese faktore (nie-lewendige dinge).

Biotiese Faktore

• Produsente (outotrofie): plante, alge, fytoplankton (omset sunlight in energie)
• Konsumente (heterotrofie): diere, fungi, bakterieë (kry energie deur ander organismes te verbruik)
• Ontbinders: bakterieë, fungi (breek dood organiese materiaal af)

Abiotiese Faktore

• Lig: noodsaaklik vir fotosintese
• Temperatuur: beïnvloed metaboliese tempoe, groei en verspreiding van organismes
• Water: noodsaaklik vir lewe, beïnvloed chemiese reaksies en voedingsbeskikbaarheid
• Grond: verskaf voedingstowwe, water en fisiese ondersteuning
• Lug: verskaf suurstof, koolstofdioksied en ander gasse

Ekosisteemprosesse

Energie-vloei

• Energie van sonskyn word omgesit in chemiese energie deur fotosintese
• Energie word oorgedra van een trofiese vlak na die volgende deur verbruik
• Energie word verloor as hitte by elke trofiese vlak

Voedingsiklus

• Voedingsstowwe word geabsorbeer, gebruik en vrygestel deur organisasies
• Ontbinding keer voedingsstowwe terug na die grond
• Voedingsstowwe word hergebruik deur produsente, wat ekosisteem-vrugbaarheid handhaaf

Water-siklus

• Water word geabsorbeer, gebruik en vrygestel deur organisasies
• Evapotranspirasie: water word verdampt uit plante en grond
• Neerslag vul waterbronne aan

Ekosisteem-dienste

• Voordekingsdienste: kos, water, hout en ander hulpbronne
• Reguleringsdienste: klimaatregulering, polinasie, plaagbeheer
• Kulturele dienste: rekreëring, toerisme, spirituele waardes
• Ondersteuningsdienste: voedingsiklus, grondvorming, primêre produksie