Table of Contents
What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a community of different organisms and their physical environment. The term can refer to different scales, from a single puddle to an entire rainforest. The organisms in an ecosystem interact with one another and with their environment to create a self-sustaining system.
An ecosystem can be big or small in size but they maintain specific and limited species. For example, an aquatic ecosystem is dominated by aquatic species like fish, sharks, snails etcIn an ecosystem, living components are also known as biotic components and non – living components also known as abiotic components form a pattern and are interconnected through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
The abiotic components of an ecosystem includes water, air, sunlight, soil, rocks and minerals.
The biotic components of an ecosystem includes the producers, consumers and decomposers. The producers are the green plants that use sunlight, water and minerals to produce their own food from carbon dioxide and water. The consumers are the animals that eat the producers or other animals. The decomposers are the bacteria and fungi that break down the dead plants and animals into simple molecules which can be used by the producers.
The interactions between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem creates a complex web of relationships. The interactions between the components determine the structure of the ecosystem and how it functions. The structure of the ecosystem determines the types of species that can survive in that ecosystem and the flow of energy and nutrients. The function of the ecosystem determines how the components interact and how the ecosystem services are delivered.
Every organism present in an ecosystem is dependent on one or the other element in an ecosystem, for example, humans living in a terrestrial ecosystem are dependent on plants for food, soil for agriculture and nutrients, sunlight and oxygen from the atmosphere. This way all the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem are interconnected. They are so well connected that if one part or element of the ecosystem is disturbed, it changes and affects the rest of the elements of the ecosystem.
A good example of how an ecosystem is interconnected is the story of the destruction of the rainforest. The rainforest is a complex ecosystem that is home to a variety of plants and animals. The rainforest is also responsible for producing a large amount of the world’s oxygen. Humans have been destroying the rainforest at an alarming rate. This destruction has caused a decrease in the amount of oxygen that the rainforest produces. It has also caused a decline in the number of plants and animals that live in the rainforest.
Difference Between Ecosystem and Biome
The terms ecosystem and biome are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two. An ecosystem is a community of different species of living organisms and their physical environment. A biome, on the other hand, is a large ecosystem that is characterized by the type of plants that grow in it.
The different types of biomes are determined by the climate and the types of plants that grow in them. For example, a desert biome is characterized by hot, dry conditions and the plants that grow there are typically cacti and other drought-tolerant plants. A rainforest biome is characterized by high humidity and rainfall and the plants that grow there are typically trees that can withstand high levels of moisture.
The different types of ecosystems are determined by the type of soil and the amount of sunlight that is available. For example, a grassland ecosystem is typically characterized by rolling hills and short grasses, while a rainforest ecosystem is typically characterized by tall trees and a thick understory.
The difference between an ecosystem and a biome is important to understand because it can help us to better understand the impact that humans are having on the environment. For example, if we are looking to preserve a particular type of biome, we need to be aware of the different factors that are necessary for that biome to thrive.
