4. ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY
Ecosystems comprise communities of organisms and their environment, interacting for sustainable development. The chapter discusses the structure, functions, and components of ecosystems, including biotic and abiotic factors, energy flow models, and ecological succession leading to stable communities. It highlights critical interdependencies in food chains and webs, detailing their roles in maintaining ecological balance.
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Sections
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What we have learnt
- An ecosystem consists of both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components.
- The flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional and begins with producers, moving through various consumer levels.
- Ecological succession involves predictable changes in communities leading to a climax community.
Key Concepts
- -- Ecosystem
- A self-sustained community of organisms interacting with their environment.
- -- Biotic Components
- Living components in an ecosystem categorized as producers, consumers, and decomposers.
- -- Abiotic Components
- Non-living chemical and physical factors affecting living organisms.
- -- Energy Flow
- The transfer of energy from producers to consumers in a unidirectional manner.
- -- Ecological Succession
- The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.
- -- Food Chain
- A linear sequence showing how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another.
- -- Food Web
- A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.
- -- Ecological Pyramid
- Graphical representation of the trophic levels in an ecosystem.
Additional Learning Materials
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