Principles of Ecology and Ecosystem

Ecology-Practical lab 1 Principles of Ecology and Ecosystem
Principles of Ecology and Ecosystem
Ecology is the study of interactions among organism or group of organisms with

their environment. The environment consists of both biotic components (living
organisms) and abiotic components (non – living organisms).
Ecology is study of interactions between
Nonliving components:
Light
Water
Wind
Nutrients in soil
Heat
Solar radiation Atmosphere, etc.
Living organisms…
Plants Animals
Microorganisms in soil, etc.
Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of Ecology.
Ecosystem
A group of organisms interacting among themselves and with
environment is known as ecosystem. Thus an ecosystem is a community of
different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving
environment exchanging energy and matter.
Ecology is the study of ecosystems.
Example
Animals cannot synthesis their food directly but depend on the plants either
directly or indirectly.
STRUCTURE OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The term structure refers to the various components of an ecosystem.
An ecosystem has two major components
• Biotic (living) components
• Abiotic (non living) components
Biotic components
The living organisms (or) living members in an ecosystem collectively called
biotic components (or) biotic community.
Ex: Plants, Animals, Microorganisms
Classification biotic components
• Producer (Plants)
• Consumer ( Animals)
• Decomposers or reducers (Micro-organisms)
1. Producers ( Autotrophs)
Producers synthesise their food themselves through photosynthesis

Ex: All green plants, trees.
Photosynthesis
The green pigment called chlorophyll, present in the leaves of plants,
converts CO2 and H2O in the presence of sunlight into carbohydrates.
6CO2 + 6H2O ----> C6H12O6 + 6O2
This process is called photosynthesis

2. Consumers also called as Heterotrophs:
Classification of consumers
Consumers are further classified as
(i) Primary consumers or Herbivores or Plant eaters:
(ii) Examples : Insects, rat, goat, deer, cow etc.
(iii) Secondary consumers (primary carnivores) (Meat eaters):
Secondary consumers are primary carnivores, they feed on primary
consumers. They directly depend on the herbivores for their food.
Ex: Frog, cat, snakes, small birds, etc.,
(iv) Tertiary consumers (Secondary carnivores) (Meat- eaters)
Tertiary consumers are secondary carnivores, they feed on secondary

consumers. They depend on the primary carnivores for their food.
Ex: Hawk, Eagle, Tiger, Lion, etc.,
Oak tree leaves Caterpllar treecr eper Hawk
Producers Primary Secondary consumers Tertiary

consumers consumers
Omnivore: Organisms that feed both on plants and animals. Ex: Human, rat, birds.
Detritivore: They feed on dead organisms, wastes of living beings and partially decomposed matter.
Ex: Termites, earthworm, ants etc.
3. Decomposers
Decomposers attack the dead bodies of producers and consumers, and

decompose them into simpler compounds. During the decomposition
inorganic nutrients are released.
The inorganic nutrients together with other organic substances are then
utilized by the producers for the synthesis of their own food.
Abiotic (non-living) components
The non-living components (physical and chemical) of ecosystem collectively form a
community called abiotic components (or) abiotic community.
Ex: Climate, soil, water, air, energy etc.,
1. Physical components: Include the energy, climate, nutrients and living
space that the biological community needs. They are useful for the growth and
maintenance of its member.
Ex: Air, water, soil, sunlight, etc.,
2. Chemical Components: They are the sources of essential nutrients.
• Organic substances : Protein, lipids, carbohydrates, etc.,
• Inorganic substances: All micro ( Al, Co, Zu, Cu) and macro elements (C,H, O,
P, N, P, K) and few other elements.
TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM
Natural ecosystem: These operate themselves under natural conditions. Based on habitat
types, it can be further classified into three types.
Terrestrial ecosystem: This ecosystem is related to land.
Ex: Grassland ecosystem, forest ecosystem, desert ecosystem,
Aquatic ecosystem: This ecosystem is related to water. It is further sub classified into two
types based on salt content.
• Fresh water ecosystem
(a) Running water ecosystems. Ex: Rivers, Streams…

(b) Standing water ecosystems Ex: Pond, lake…
• Marine ecosystem Ex: Seas and sea shores…
Man – made (or) Artificial ecosystems: Artificial ecosystem is operated (or) maintained by
man himself. Ex: Croplands, gardens…
Presentation topics
1.Soil ecosystem
2.Mountain ecosystem
3.River ecosystem
4.Wetland (marshland) ecosystem in Iraq
5.Spring water ecosytem
6.Desert ecosytem
7.Air pollution affets on ecosytem
8.Oil pollution affets on ecosystem

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Ecology-Practical lab 1 Principles of Ecology and Ecosystem

Principles of Ecology and Ecosystem

Ecology is the study of interactions among organism or group of organisms with

• Biotic (living) components

• Abiotic (non living) components

Producers synthesise their food themselves through photosynthesis

6CO2 + 6H2O ----> C6H12O6 + 6O2

This process is called photosynthesis

Ex: Frog, cat, snakes, small birds, etc.,

(iv) Tertiary consumers (Secondary carnivores) (Meat- eaters)

Tertiary consumers are secondary carnivores, they feed on secondary

Producers Primary Secondary consumers Tertiary

Decomposers attack the dead bodies of producers and consumers, and

(a) Running water ecosystems. Ex: Rivers, Streams…

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