Ecosystems Textbook PDF

Okay, I will convert the information from the images into a structured markdown format. ### 18. Ecosystems 1. Which factors do you find in your surroundings? 2. Are these factors directly or indirectly related to you? Classify the following into living and non-living factors: Sunlight, sunflowe...

Okay, I will convert the information from the images into a structured markdown format. ### 18. Ecosystems 1. Which factors do you find in your surroundings? 2. Are these factors directly or indirectly related to you? Classify the following into living and non-living factors: Sunlight, sunflower, elephant, lotus, algae, stone, grass, water, ant, soil, cat, fern, air, lion. **Ecosystem**: The world around us is made up of living and non-living factors. Living things are called biotic factors while non-living things are called abiotic factors. There is a continuous interaction between living and non-living factors. Living organisms and their habitat environment are correlated with each other. The structure which is formed due to these reciprocal relationships is called an ecosystem. Biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions form an ecosystem. | | Ecosystem | | :------------- | :------------------------------------ | | Abiotic Factors | Biotic Factors | | Physical | Autotrophic | | Chemical | Heterotrophic | | Producers | Consumers | | | Decomposers | | Plants | Animals | | | Microbes | | | | | Air, water | Inorganic substances | | Vapour | Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium | | Minerals, soil | Iron, potassium, sodium | | Sunlight | | | | Organic substances | | | Proteins, Carbohydrates | | | Lipids | | | Primary consumers | | | Ex. Goat, cow, deer, etc. | | | Secondary consumers | | | Ex. Lion, Tiger, Fox | | | Tertiary consumers | | | Ex. Eagle, Vulture, Hyena | #### 18.1 Components of Ecosystem **Did you know?** The organic substances (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) from dead bodies of plants and animals are converted into inorganic substances (hydrogen, oxygen, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, etc.) by microorganisms. Therefore, microbes are said to be 'Decomposers'. **Structure of an ecosystem:** Living organisms need different types of abiotic factors and they have different capacities to adapt with those abiotic factors. Some microbes need oxygen, while others don't. Some plants need more sunlight, while others grow well in shade. Each and every abiotic factor (air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature, humidity) affects the biotic factors in the ecosystem. The abiotic factors in an ecosystem decide which biotic factors will survive in it and what will be their number. The proportion of abiotic factors in an ecosystem is always changing as biotic factors use or excrete abiotic factors. Every biotic factor affects abiotic factors as well as other biotic factors around it. It's a reciprocal relationship. Every living organism in an ecosystem plays a particular role while living, moving in that ecosystem. The position of any living organism in context to other living organisms and the role it is playing is called 'Niche'. Eg. A sunflower plant in a garden evolves oxygen in the air and provides food and shelter for insects like ants, honey-bees etc. **Diagram**: * **Abiotic Factors**: Nutrients, solar energy, CO₂, nitrogen, water, minerals, etc. with an arrow pointing to Plants. * Plants undergo Photosynthesis and Food production. * **Biotic Factors (Plants/Producers)**: Plants produce and an arrow points to Animals. * Animals consume food from plants. * **Animals** An arrow points to Microbes. * **Microbes (Decomposers)**: Decomposition of dead bodies releases Minerals. * **Microbes (Decomposers)** An arrow points to Biotic factors (primary, secondary, tertiary consumers) #### 18.2 Interactions among factors of an ecosystem 1. What is the role of microbes in the above interaction? 2. How do producers obtain abiotic factors? 3. From where do the consumers get their food? Most of the ecosystems are complex and there is tremendous quantitative and qualitative variety of species in them. In ecosystems of a tropical country like India, few species of living organisms are found everywhere in a large number. Remaining species of plants and animals are found in a small number. Some species are very few in number. Variety of ecosystems is found on earth. Each place has a different ecosystem, e.g. forest, pond, ocean, river, etc. Types of ecosystems are formed according to size, place, climate, types of plants, and animals. Many types of ecosystems are found in biosphere. Their specific functions continue according to their environment. Though these ecosystems look independent and different they are linked to each other directly or indirectly. Therefore we can not separate these small ecosystems from each other, but can classify them according to their functions. * **Looking back** New words are created with the development in science. Same is the case with the word ecosystem. "How can we describe the interrelationship between physical and biological factors in one word?" In 1930, this question was asked of a scientist Ray Claffam. 'Ecosystem' was his answer. His colleague A.G. Tansle used this word in 1935. 'Biotic community is another name for 'Ecosystem.' * In some regions on earth, a large area has the same climate and abiotic factors, the living organisms in those areas are also similar. So, a specific ecosystem develops in a vast area. Such large ecosystems are called 'Biomes'. These biomes contain many small ecosystems. Earth itself is a vast ecosystem. Two types of biomes are found on earth: i. Land biomes ii. Aquatic biomes * **Land biomes**: The biomes which exist only on land are called land biomes. Due to unequal distribution of abiotic factors different types of ecosystems exist. Eg. Grasslands, evergreen forests, deserts, Iceland ecosystem, ecosystems in Taiga, tropical rainforests, etc. * **Grassland Ecosystem**: Grasslands develop where rainfall is not enough to grow big trees. Vast growth of grass is found in these ecosystems. Longer summer and limited rain develop dwarf plants in these areas. Animals like goat, sheep, giraffe, zebra, elephant, deer, chital, tiger, lion, etc., are found in this ecosystem. Similarly, various birds, insects, microbes are also present. #### 18.3 Grassland | | Collect information | | :-------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------- | | | What are the threats to grasslands? | | | Why did Asian Cheetah become extinct in last century? | | | Observe Asian Cheetah on the internet and describe it. | | Complete The Table is | A chart in context to grassland to be completed | | Producers | Primary consumers | Secondary consumers | Tertiary consumer | Decomposers | | :------------- | :---------------------- | :---------------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------ | | Parthenium | Cow, deer, rabbit | Snakes, Birds | Lion, Hyena, Vulture | Fusarium | | Cynodon | Leptocorsia | Jackals, Wolf | Kite | Aspergillus | | Kusali | | | | | |||||| |Producers|Primary Consumers|Secondary Consumers|Tertiary Consumers| decomposers | Dipterocarpus,Teak,Pine,Sandalwood|Ant,Grasshopper,Spider,Butterfly|Snake,Bird,Lizard,Jackal|Tiger Falcon,Cheetah| Aspergillus,Polycarpus **Did you know?** About 150 years ago, Dudhwa forest was the habitat for single horned Rhino. But in 20th century this animal became extinct due to unrelenting hunting. On 1st April 1984 this rhino was restored there. They were bred in captivity and then released in their habitat. For this 27 square km grassland and forest where round the year water sources were available were selected. Two observatories were established. These efforts are successful. | | Think about it. | | :---------- | :--------------------------------------------------- | | | Can we call a tree an independent ecosystem? | |**Complete the table** | NATIONAL PARK |SANCTUARY|STATE|| |GEER|| |DACHIGAM|| |RANTHAMBORE|| |DAJIPUR|| | KAZIRANGA || |SUNDERBAN|| |MELGHAT|| |PERIYAR|| **Evergreen forests**: It's a natural ecosystem where variety of plants, animals and biotic factors is found. #### 18.4 Forest ecosystem | PRODUCERS | PRIMARY CONSUMERS | SECONDARY CONSUMERS | TERTIARY CONSUMERS | DECOMPOSER | | :----------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :---------------------- | :--------------------- | :-------------------- | | Dipterocarpus, Teak, Pine, Sandalwood | Ant, Grasshopper, Spider, Butterfly | Snake, Bird, Lizard, Jackal | Tiger, Falcon, Cheetah | Aspergillus, Polycarpus | **Did you know?** * Many ecosystems are conserved in around 520 sanctuaries and national parks in India. * The Great Himalayan National park is the largest sanctuary where white panther, a rare species is conserved. * Elephants, wild bears, wild buffalos, deers, tigers, panthers are conserved at Kaziranga (Asam). Two thirds of the total number of single horned rhinos in the world is found at Kaziranga. * The sanctuary at Bharatpur is famous for aquatic birds. * Ranthambore sanctuary is famous for tigers. * Geer forest in Gujrat is the only habitat/shelter for the spectacular Asiatic lion. **Aquatic ecosystems**: 71% of the earth's surface is covered by water and only 29% has land on it. Therefore, a study of aquatic biomes becomes very important. According to area, aquatic biomes are widespread. Types of aquatic ecosystems are Freshwater, marine ecosystem, and creek ecosystem. #### 18.5 Aquatic ecosystem A. Fresh Water Ecosystem: Ponds, lakes, and rivers are included in aquatic ecosystems. The transition of energy in these ecosystems is through water currents and river. Decomposers are at the bottom of water reservoirs. They decompose dead bodies of plants and animals convert into abiotic factors. Observe such ecosystems around you and complete the following chart. | Producers | Primary Consumes | Secondary Consumes | Tertiary Consumes | Decomposers | | :----------------------------------- | :------------------------------- | :----------------------------- | :--------------------------- | :----------------- | | Aquatic plants, Ulotrix, Hydrilla, Azolla, Nitella, Typha, Pistia, Eichhornia | Aquatic insects, Snails, Annelids | Small fishes, Frogs | Large fishes, Herons, Crocodiles | Bacteria, fungi | **Discuss**: Are the local ecosystems like river, ponds, lakes safe? B. Marine Ecosystems: Marine plants grow in these ecosystems. Shallow water contains small fishes, prawns feeding on algae. The central part of sea has less number of aquatic living organisms. Large fishes are secondary consumers. Ocean has a large amount of nutrients. The bottom of oceans has more number of decomposers. Dead bodies of plants and animals, waste materials are decomposed by bacteria. * Internet my friend 1. Collect the information about mishaps in aquatic ecosystems occurred due to human interference? 2. How is Creek different from Sea? * **Think About it** Today Divija visited a hill. Honey-bees were hovering on flowers . One of them stung Divija 's hand. Divija was hurt due to that sting and said with anger that all the honey-bees from the whole world must get destroyed.Afterwords, she thought what will happen if all honey-bees are destroyed? We won't get honey, nothing more. What would be your explanation to Divija? * Diminishment of ecosystem due to human interference: Many human activities have side effects on functions of ecosystems and cause their diminishment. Eg. mining and excessive cutting of trees changes the use of land, so interactions between biotic and abiotic factors are also affected, * Different human activities have different effects on ecosystems, They can be transformation of an ecosystem from one to another or extinction of a species. * Human activities responsible for diminishment of ecosystems \_Increasing use of resources due to increased population: Humans are the consumers in an ecosystem. Ecosystems can provide basic needs in normal conditions, but due to increased population ,man kept on snatching natural resonrces on large scale . Changing life style demands 'more'than 'necessary'. That has increased stress on the ecosystems and has generated vast amount of wastes : * Urbanization; Due to continous process of urbanization. More and more agricultural lands, marshlands, wetlands forests and grasslands are being destroyed for buildings and other basic facilities around. As a result of this human interference ,ecosystems either change or get completely destroyed . * Industrialization and traffic: Raw materials required for industrializarion are obtained by destroying forests. This result in destruction of forests. * To provide the ameneties for increased traffic, Many times roads and railways are built through forests and wetlands. * Tourism: People visit scenic places mainly for nature watch, entertainment and visit ro sacred places. A lot of ameneties are created for these tourists. This causes destruction of local ecosytems due to increased stress. *Visit any tourist centre nearby. Collect information about effect of tourism on the Ecosystem there.| * Large Dams: Dams cover vast lands. So the forests or grassland in that area get converted into aquatic ecosystems. Dams also lessen the water current in lower area . Therfore the previous ecosystems in that running water get destroyed. 1. Which biotic factors get affected due to a dam? 2. What will be the effects on biotic factors in the running water of river? Wars: Differences and competition over land, water, mineral resources, economic, and political reasons lead to war amoung human races. Heavy bombing and mine explosions are done in wars. These are nit only life threating but also change or destory the natural ecosystem. Therefore, natural disasters(earthquake, volcano, floods, droughts) and human interfaces result in changes destruction of Ecosystems Exercises 1. Complete the following by using the correct option. a. Air,water,minerals,soil are \_\_\_\_\_ factors of an ecosystem. * (physical,organic,inorganic) b. River,ponds,ocean are\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ecosystems. * (land, aquatic, synthetic) c. Man is\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_in an ecosystem. * (producer, consumer, decomposer) 2. Match the following. | Producers | Ecosystem | | :---------- | :-------- | | a.Cactus | 1.Forest | | b.Aquatic plants | 2.Creek | | c.Mangroves | 3.Aquatic | | d.Pine | 4.Desert | 3. Give my information. *.a* Ecosystem b.Biome c.Food web 4. Give Scientific reasons. a. Plants in an ecosystem are called consumers. b. Large Dams destroy ecosystems. c. Rhinos were restored in Dudhwa forest. 5. Answer the following. a. What are the effects of increased population on ecosystems? b. How is urbanization responsible for destruction of ecosystems <!-- --> 1. Visit an Ecosystem nearby . List the Biotic/Abiotic actors in it . Show with picture or sketches how are Depend on eachother? 2. With help of internet find out the loss of Ecosystem due to Wars or atimic exoplosions .Describe it in your words? I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.