Components of Ecosystem
An ecosystem consist of two major components namely , abiotic components and biotic components. Both these components are equally important for the proper functioning of the ecosystem.
a. Abiotic components of Ecosystem
The following are the major abiotic components of an ecosystem
1.Light 2. Water 3. Temperature 4. Atmosphere 5. Fire 6. Soil 7. Inorganic material 8. Gravity
1.light
Light influences the growth and distribution of living organisms. Plants utilize sunlight during photosynthesis and prepare food. Light intensity, light quality, light quantity and light duration affect life of animals and plants in one way or the other. For example the plant growing under insufficient light do not develop chlorophyll and they high intensity of light destroys chlorophyll.
Rainforests are home to rich biodiversity present on
2.water
Water is a vital component of life. Water covers more than 70 percent of the surface of earth and acts as a universal solvent. It dissolves minerals in the soil , which are then taken by plants. Water is one of the raw materials of photosynthesis. In deserts environment water is scarce and therfore have few species , while ran-forests have plenty of rainfall throughout the year so it has numerous species and are full of life. The amount of water is kept constant through the water cycle.
3 . Temperature
Temperature plays an important role in the distribution of plants and animals. The range of temperature for the activity of life lies between 10C to 45C. Cells may rupture if water in them freezes at the temperature below 0C. The protoplasm , enzymes and protein may denature at temperature above 45C.
At optimum temperature, the activities of the organisms are at the maximum. Ceratin animals migrate to places of optimum temperature, such movement is called thermal migration.
4 . Atmosphere and wind
Atmosphere is the gaseous reservoir, which surrounds the earth. It contains nitrogen (78 percent) oxygen (21 percent) and carbon dioxide ( 0.04 percent). The green plant fix nitrogen in the from of nitrates. This nitrogen is used for building proteins. Oxygen is required for respiration of organisms. Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis. Humidity (the amount of water vapour in air ) is also an important factor in controlling the rate of evaporation and transpiration. It also affects the behaviours of animals e.g desert animals come out of their hideouts only at the time when moisture in the air is maximum.
Atmosphere in motion is called wind which is an important abiotic factor. Strong wind can damage buds on the windward side and produce flag from trees. Strong winds cause soil erosion , uproot tress and break the branches. Wind is also responsible for pollination and dispersal of seeds and fruits.
Flag from trees result from unidirectional movement of wind in a region.
5.fire
Fire is an important abiotic factor which can bring out sudden changes in the ecosystem. Human and lightening are the causes of fire. Primarily it destroys an ecosystem by destroying primary producers and by driving out consumers from the ecosystem. Ut also adversely affects the fertility of soil by destroying organic matter in the soil , which results in erosion and leaching of soil. Fire changes the dead and dry organic matter into soluble ash and releases many important nutrients for recycling, which help in new growth of plant. Fire improve the growth of grasses.
6. Soil
Soil is the upper layer of the earth crust. Plants are anchored in the soil and it is a source of water and nutrients for them. Soil consists of two layers namely topsoil and subsoil. Topsoil is the surface soil consisting of particles of different sizes of soil. The roots of plants and other living things use the topsoil. It is 20 to 30cm thick and dark brown in colour as it contains humus. Subsoil lies below the topsoil. It is a thicker zone and is lighter brown in colour and mostly composed of large rock particles , stones and water. The best soil which is good for agricultural is called loam which contains approximately equal proporation of different soil particles.
7. Inorganic Nutrients
Organisms depend on Inorganic Nutrients for maintenance and sustenance of body function. These include carbon dioxide , oxygen, compound of calcium , nitrogen, phosphorus etc. A small portion of these in solution from is readily available to the organisms. The much larger proportion of these is held in the reserve from. The rate of release of these substance is one of the most important processes, which regulate the function in a ecosystem.
8. Gravity
Gravity is a constant abiotic factor, which acts an external stimulus on the growth of the roots of plant. Roots grow towards gravity to get nutrients. Brids show a lot of adaptation to overcome the problem of the gravitional pull e.g they posses wings and light bones. Xylem cells also show adaptations for the transport of water to the upper parts of the plant.
Birds wings and light bones
a. Abiotic components of Ecosystem
The following are the major abiotic components of an ecosystem
1.Light 2. Water 3. Temperature 4. Atmosphere 5. Fire 6. Soil 7. Inorganic material 8. Gravity
1.light
Light influences the growth and distribution of living organisms. Plants utilize sunlight during photosynthesis and prepare food. Light intensity, light quality, light quantity and light duration affect life of animals and plants in one way or the other. For example the plant growing under insufficient light do not develop chlorophyll and they high intensity of light destroys chlorophyll.
Rainforests are home to rich biodiversity present on
2.water
Water is a vital component of life. Water covers more than 70 percent of the surface of earth and acts as a universal solvent. It dissolves minerals in the soil , which are then taken by plants. Water is one of the raw materials of photosynthesis. In deserts environment water is scarce and therfore have few species , while ran-forests have plenty of rainfall throughout the year so it has numerous species and are full of life. The amount of water is kept constant through the water cycle.
3 . Temperature
Temperature plays an important role in the distribution of plants and animals. The range of temperature for the activity of life lies between 10C to 45C. Cells may rupture if water in them freezes at the temperature below 0C. The protoplasm , enzymes and protein may denature at temperature above 45C.
At optimum temperature, the activities of the organisms are at the maximum. Ceratin animals migrate to places of optimum temperature, such movement is called thermal migration.
4 . Atmosphere and wind
Atmosphere is the gaseous reservoir, which surrounds the earth. It contains nitrogen (78 percent) oxygen (21 percent) and carbon dioxide ( 0.04 percent). The green plant fix nitrogen in the from of nitrates. This nitrogen is used for building proteins. Oxygen is required for respiration of organisms. Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis. Humidity (the amount of water vapour in air ) is also an important factor in controlling the rate of evaporation and transpiration. It also affects the behaviours of animals e.g desert animals come out of their hideouts only at the time when moisture in the air is maximum.
Atmosphere in motion is called wind which is an important abiotic factor. Strong wind can damage buds on the windward side and produce flag from trees. Strong winds cause soil erosion , uproot tress and break the branches. Wind is also responsible for pollination and dispersal of seeds and fruits.
Flag from trees result from unidirectional movement of wind in a region.
5.fire
Fire is an important abiotic factor which can bring out sudden changes in the ecosystem. Human and lightening are the causes of fire. Primarily it destroys an ecosystem by destroying primary producers and by driving out consumers from the ecosystem. Ut also adversely affects the fertility of soil by destroying organic matter in the soil , which results in erosion and leaching of soil. Fire changes the dead and dry organic matter into soluble ash and releases many important nutrients for recycling, which help in new growth of plant. Fire improve the growth of grasses.
6. Soil
Soil is the upper layer of the earth crust. Plants are anchored in the soil and it is a source of water and nutrients for them. Soil consists of two layers namely topsoil and subsoil. Topsoil is the surface soil consisting of particles of different sizes of soil. The roots of plants and other living things use the topsoil. It is 20 to 30cm thick and dark brown in colour as it contains humus. Subsoil lies below the topsoil. It is a thicker zone and is lighter brown in colour and mostly composed of large rock particles , stones and water. The best soil which is good for agricultural is called loam which contains approximately equal proporation of different soil particles.
7. Inorganic Nutrients
Organisms depend on Inorganic Nutrients for maintenance and sustenance of body function. These include carbon dioxide , oxygen, compound of calcium , nitrogen, phosphorus etc. A small portion of these in solution from is readily available to the organisms. The much larger proportion of these is held in the reserve from. The rate of release of these substance is one of the most important processes, which regulate the function in a ecosystem.
8. Gravity
Gravity is a constant abiotic factor, which acts an external stimulus on the growth of the roots of plant. Roots grow towards gravity to get nutrients. Brids show a lot of adaptation to overcome the problem of the gravitional pull e.g they posses wings and light bones. Xylem cells also show adaptations for the transport of water to the upper parts of the plant.
Birds wings and light bones
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