ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Ecosystem - I
The Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a part of the natural environment consisting of a community of living
organisms and the physical environment, both constantly exchanging materials and
energy between them. These living and nonliving elements are connected within an
ecosystem by nutrient cycles and energy flows. Sir Arthur Tansley coined the term
"ecosystem" in 1935.

An ecosystem is referred to as "natural" when it is relatively undisturbed by human

activities, or "modified" when it is changed to other types of uses, such as farmland or
urban areas. If natural ecosystems are overused or misused, their biodiversity
productivity eventually decreases and they are then said to be degraded.

Ecology?
Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the interactions among organisms and their
environment.

Sir Arthur Tansley

Difference between an Ecosystem and an Environment?

The term “Environment” refers to the

surroundings, where living organisms live.

The term “Ecosystem” refers to all of the

plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and other
organisms that live in the same area. All of
these distinct species share highly
interconnected lives and function as one unit in
many ways.
Types of Ecosystems Natural
Ecosystem

Ecosystems can generally be classified into

two classes, such as natural and artificial Aquatic Terrestrial
ecosystems.

A natural ecosystem is an ecosystem that

occurs as it would without the influence of 1.Marine 2.Freshwater 3.Grassland 4.Forest 5.Desert 6.Cropland
human beings. Natural ecosystems can be
divided into aquatic ecosystems and
terrestrial ecosystems. Aquatic ecosystems
River
are lakes, rivers, oceans, etc., and terrestrial
ecosystems are forests, grasslands, deserts,
etc.
Lake

Wetland

Six Major Ecosystems of the World

Aquatic Ecosystem Natural
Ecosystem

Aquatic ecosystems can be broadly classified into marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems.
Aquatic
Freshwater Ecosystem

Freshwater ecosystems are a subset of aquatic ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems have a low salt
content and provide human beings with a wealth of natural resources. Many animals live in Marine Freshwater
freshwater ecosystems. The freshwater ecosystem is very important for people as it provides them
with water for drinking, food production, power generation, manufacturing, and sanitation. Fresh
water is found in glaciers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams, wetlands and even River
groundwater. Even though our planet is 70% water, only a small percentage of that is fresh water.
The rest is salt water which cannot be used. The 2.5% of fresh water exists mostly as ice or
permanent snow cover. Lake

■ Lentic: slow moving water, including pools, ponds, and lakes. Wetland
■ Lotic: faster moving water, for example streams and rivers.
■ Wetlands: areas where the soil is submerged for at least part of the time.
Aquatic Ecosystems of the World
Aquatic Ecosystem
Marine Ecosystem

Marine ecosystems are the largest of Earth's aquatic ecosystems and are distinguished by waters
that have a high salt content. These systems contrast with freshwater ecosystems, which have a
lower salt content. Marine waters cover more than 70% of the surface of the Earth and account for
more than 97% of the Earth's water supply and 90% of the habitable space on Earth. Marine
ecosystems include nearshore systems, such as salt marshes, lagoons, mangroves, rocky intertidal
systems, and coral reefs. They also extend outwards from the coast to include offshore systems
such as the surface ocean, the deep sea, oceanic hydrothermal vents, and the sea floor.

● Salt marshes are a transition from the ocean to the land, where fresh and saltwater mix.

● Intertidal zones are the areas that are visible and exposed to air during low tide and covered
up by saltwater during high tide.
● Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in low-oxygen soil near coastlines in tropical or
subtropical latitudes.

● Lagoons are areas that are separated from larger water by natural barriers such as coral reefs
or sandbars.

● Coral reefs are one of the most well-known marine ecosystems in the world, with the largest
being the Great Barrier Reef.
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Terrestrial ecosystems are those ecosystems that exist on land. Water may be
present in a terrestrial ecosystem, but these ecosystems are primarily situated on
land. These ecosystems are of different types, such as forest ecosystems, desert Natural
ecosystems, grassland ecosystems, and mountain ecosystems. Because the Ecosystem
atmosphere is more transparent on land than it is in water, there is more light
available in terrestrial environments than in aquatic habitats. In terrestrial
ecosystems, variations in temperature and light reflect quite distinct vegetation Terrestrial
and fauna.

These have been gradually transformed over several thousand years into
agricultural and pastoral zones where the land is heavily utilised. They have
Grassland Forest Desert Mountain
recently been rapidly developed into either urban and industrial centres or heavily
irrigated agricultural landscapes. Despite the fact that this has contributed to an
increase in food production and the supply of the raw materials for the
"consumer" items we use, the overuse and abuse of land and natural ecosystems Terrestrial Ecosystems of the World
has seriously degraded our environment.
Terrestrial Ecosystem

Grasslands are found where there is not enough regular rainfall to support the growth of a
forest, but not so little that a desert forms. Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is
dominated by grasses. Except for Antarctica, all continents have natural grasslands.

A forest is a large area of land that’s covered in trees and consists of plants, animals, and
microbes.

A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently,
living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the
unprotected surface of the ground to the processes of erosion.

Mountain ecosystems are characterised by harsh environmental conditions. These include

frequently persistent snow cover, brief growing seasons, and topographic disturbances like
landslides, rockfall, or avalanches.
Artificial Ecosystem
Artificial ecosystems are natural regions affected by man’s interference. They are artificial lakes,
aquariums, crop land, dams, cities, etc.

Urban areas are human-created ecosystems with a mix of built structures and modified landscapes.
They often have unique ecological dynamics, hosting a variety of plants and animals adapted to urban
environments.

Agricultural lands are human-managed ecosystems used for crop cultivation and livestock rearing.
They range from large-scale monoculture farms to small-scale subsistence agriculture, impacting
biodiversity and ecological processes.
There are several differences between natural and artificial ecosystems,

NATURAL ECOSYSTEM ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEM

Consists of many species of plants and animals Species diversity is low

Genetic diversity is very high Genetic diversity is very low

Food chains are long and complex Food chains are simple and often incomplete as other
species are killed as pests or weeds

Natural nutrient cycling Incomplete nutrient cycling

Naturally sustainable Unsustainable as most fertilizers are made from

non-renewable fossil fuels, and they add to water
pollution, and other ecological degradation

These are just a few examples of the diverse ecosystems found on Earth. Each ecosystem has its own
unique characteristics, species interactions, and ecological processes. Understanding and conserving these
ecosystems is crucial for maintaining biodiversity, supporting sustainable resource use, and ensuring the
well-being of both humans and the planet.
Question
Part A

1. Define ecosystem and ecology?

2. Write a short note on freshwater ecosystem.
3. Write a short note on marine ecosystem.
4. What is natural ecosystem?
5. What is artificial ecosystem?

Part B

1. Define ecosystem. List two examples.

2. What is the difference between environment and ecosystem?
3. Write a short essay on aquatic ecosystem.
4. Write a short essay on terrestrial ecosystem.
5. What are the different types of terrestrial ecosystems?
6. What is the difference between natural and artificial ecosystems?

Part C

1. Write an essay on the different types of ecosystem.

2. What is the biggest threat to our aquatic ecosystem? How can aquatic ecosystems be conserved?