The structure of an ecosystem.

The structure of an ecosystem.What is the biosphere and the ecosphere?Biosphere - EcosphereBiosphere: is the life zone of the Earth. It incluides all living things and organic matter. Biosphere is the living component or the ecosphere.Ecosphere incluides the large-scale ecosystems of the woorld.

ECOSYSTEM refers to the organisms which live in a particular area, the relationships between them and the phisycal environment. Biomes - ecosystemsBiomes are the large-scale ecosystems of the world. An ecosystem can be as small as a puddle or as large as an ocean.

ComponentsEcosystems have two components:Biocenosis: the set of lliving beings in the ecosystem: animals, plants, fungi, and all types of microorganisms. Biotic factors are the effects which other organism have on a living being in its environment.

Ecosystem: biocenosis + biotope

Components2.- Biotope: is the inorganic part of the ecosystem, the physical environment. Abiotic factors are the physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem which affect living organisms. It incluides: temperature, humidity, soil, energy, pollution

How do living things obtain food?Living organisms can be clasyfied according to the way they obtain food. It determines their trophic level, that is their place in a food chain.

Producers:They are the living beings which make their own organic matter from carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts (inorganic matter).They use the energy of the Sun during photosynthesis.This is autotrophic nutrition.Plants, algae and some bacteria.Producers

Consumers:They are living beings that cannot produce their own organic matter. They feed on organic matter produced by other living beings.This is heterotrophic nutrition.Primary consumers: Feed on producers: Herbivores.Secondary consumers: carnivoresTertiary consumers: feed on primary and secondary consumers and producers.OmnivoresDecomposers: They decompose organic matter into inorganic matter.Consumers

Consumers

Consumers

Habitat and nicheHabitat is the physical place where a species lives.An ecological niche is the way a species relates to the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

Giraffes and zebras live in the same habitat, but they occupy different ecological niches. Habitat and niche

Trophic dynamics Is the system which describes the position of a living being in a food chain. It is the system that explain what an organism eats or is eaten by.It is represented by a food web.Food web:

Food web

Energy and matter in an ecosystemMatter is always recycled. From inorganic matter to organic matter (plants) and from organic matter to inorganic matter (decomposers).But energy cant be recycled. Energy flows from one step of the food chain to another, but most of it is lost as heat.Matter is a closed cycle.Energy has a one-way flow.

Trophic pyramids:It is a graphic representation or a particular characteristic at each trophic level. Types: Number pyramid. It represents the number of individuals at each trophic level.Biomass pyramid: the amount of organic matter which forms a trophic level. Energy pyramid: it represents the energy stored at each trophic level at a certain time.Biotic relations:The interactions among the living beings in an environment.There are two types:InterspecificIntraspecificInterspecific:Interactions among organisms of different species.Mutualism. Two organisms for mutual benefit. (Bees and flowers)Commensalism: One benefits and the other is not affected. (Beetles and mammal excrements)Inquilinism: One organism uses other for housing (crabs and shells)Parasitism: A parasite lives at the expense of a host and harms it. (Cochineals on plants)Depredation: A predator kills and eats a prey.Mutualism

Commensalism

Inquilinism

Parasitism

Depredation

Intraspecific relationsInteractions among organisms of the same species.Gregarious: Groups of individuals that live together for some time to provid mutual help. (migrating birds) Colonial: Related individuals live together. CoralSocial: Groups of individuals organized in a hierarchy. (Ants)Familial: Groups of related individuals which live together to procreate and protect the young.Gregarious

Colonial

Social

Familial

Examples of abiotic factors:Temperature LightHumidityPressureSalinityOxygenWaterSoil

Climate zonesLevels of plants in a forestOr levels at the seaIt depends on the proximity to the seaImportant in aquatic ecosystemsImportant in terrestrial eco.