Introduction to Ecosystem

The delicate and dynamic relation between living and non-living world is called ecosystem.

Components of ecosystem

Ecosystem contains two distinct components which are:

1. Abiotic component: All the non living things of an ecosystem are called abiotic components. They are also called physical components. E.g. air, water etc.
2. Biotic factor: All the living things in the ecosystem are called biotic factors. E.g. Plants insets

Description of Abiotic components:

1. Air: Air is an important abiotic componenttosupportlife of living things. Following points explain its importance in living world.
   1. Oxygen is required for respiration.
   2. Carbondioxide is required for photosynthesis.
   3. Nitrogen is needed for production of proteins.
2. Water: Water is the important component of the cytoplasm. So water alsoplaysgreat role to support the life on earth. Following points explain the importance of water in living world.
   1. About 70% of total weight of an organism is water.
   2. In aquatic habitat water provides essential oxygen.
   3. Water is essential for metabolism.
3. Soil:
   1. Soil provides protection to the animals.
   2. Soil provides mineral and water to the plants for photosynthesis.
4. Solar energy:
   1. Light energy from the sun provides necessary energy to derive photosynthesis.
   2. Light provides sensation of visions to the animals.
   3. Light plays important role to maintain biodiversity in earth.
5. Biogeneric salt:
   1. Micronutrients (needed in less quantity) like Na, K, I etc. are needed for normal growth of the body.
   2. Meganutrients (needed in large quantities) like carbohydrates; vitamins etc. are also required for proper function of living body.

Description of Biotic factors

1. Producers: Those organisms that can produce their own food with the help of minerals water and CO2 with light by photosynthesis are called producers. They are also called autotrophs. E.g. plants
2. Consumers: Those organisms that depend on producers for their food are called consumers. They are also called heterotrophs. They lack chlorophyll so they can't produce their own food. There are three types of consumers:
3. Primary consumers: Those living organisms that feed on producers are called primary consumers. They are herbivorous animals. E.g. cow deer
4. Decomposers: Themicro organisms which can convert complex organic materials into simple organic compounds by decaying are called decomposers. E.g. bacteria, fungi etc.