Structural & Functional Characteristics of Ecosystems

By Gemma Argent, eHow Contributor

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Structural Biology Gifted Characteristics

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An ecosystem is a term first used by a Tansley, an ecologist from Britain, to mean all of the organisms in a particular environment and how they interact. Examples of ecosystems are forests, lakes, or deserts. But an ecosystem is not truly complete without considering the non-biological, or abiotic, components as well. The structure and function of an ecosystem depends on all of these factors incorporated together.

Structure-Natural ecosystems
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The natural characteristics of ecosystems include the natural ecosystem. This is an ecosystem that is found in nature, where there is no interaction with humans. It is a system where everything is in balance and if one component is removed, the system will fall apart. Natural ecosystems are defined by their habitat. The two major categories are terrestrial and aquatic. Deserts, forests, meadows, prairies and jungles are terrestrial ecosystems, while aquatic ecosystems include all marine and freshwater systems.

Structure-Artificial ecosystems
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Another structural type of ecosystem is an artificial system. These ecosystems are constructed in some fashion by humans. For example, a constructed wetland is where the ponds are built, wetland and land plants are physically placed and fish are released into the ponds. To keep the constructed wetland in balance, human intervention is needed to maintain the ecosystem. Ponds must be kept filled so plants and fish will thrive, invading weeds must be controlled and predators need to be controlled. Left to its own devices, a constructed wetland would eventually revert to a wild state, since it was not a natural ecosystem. Other artificial ecosystems are orchards, large or small gardens and farms.

Function
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The functional characteristics of an ecosystem are dependent on how all of the organisms interact and influence one another, how the energy of the ecosystem operates. The energy is simply the way the predator-prey relationship and the plants transfer energy; calories are burned consuming prey, thereby transferring the energy of

the prey to the predator and as plants die and decompose, their energy is transferred to the soil where it is taken up again by other plants. The function of an ecosystem can only be considered as a whole, not piecemeal, as every part of the ecosystem has a functional effect on another.

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Structure of an Ecosystem An ecosystem is the basic functional unit in ecology, as it includes both organisms and their abiotic environment. No organism can exist without the environment. Ecosystem represents the highest level of ecological integration which is energy based. A pond, a lake, a coral reef, part of any field and a laboratory culture can be some of the examples of ecosystems. Thus an ecosystem is defined as a specific unit of all the organisms occupying a given area which interacts with the physical environment producing distinct trophic structure, biotic diversity and material cycling. The term ecosystem was first proposed by the British ecologist A.G. Tansley. Most of earths surface is oceanic, and the deepest part of these oceans is deeper than the highest peaks of the mountains. The marine environment is extensive and complex, containing a vast array of communities and is divided into two major provinces-estuaries and deep ocean. Oceans are the ultimate sinks for all water soluble minerals, and are saline. Apart from these, mangroves also form part of the marine ecosystem which is a rich source of biotic and abiotic elements. There are two basic processes in an ecosystem. One Quality Microbiology Lab Equipments from India of the processes involves a cycle of exchange of materials between living things and the environment. The plants synthesis complex organicAll Kinds of Laboratory Equipments, materials from the raw materials. The organicLaboratory Plasticwares, Laboratory matter ultimately releases the raw material whichGlasswares, Cleanroom Equipments, are returned to the environment. This mechanism isDehydrated Culture Medias, Bio called cycling of materials. The other basicChemcials, Microscopes, Electrophoresis requirement of an ecosystem is the constant inputEquipments, pH Meters, TDS Meters, of energy. The ultimate source of energy is the sunPrecision and Analytical Balances, whose solar energy is captured by green plants.Biovisual Charts & Models, School and Other organisms derive their nutrition and energyCollege Physics & Chemistry Equipments from the plants. The energy taken by theseand etc.. organisms is passed on to other organisms. www.multilab.biz www.multilab.in In this way energy flow The major aspects involves: is of transferred an from one organism to of ecosystem are its structure another. and This is called energy. Structure

function.

1. composition of biological community including species, numbers, biomass, life history and distribution in space, etc.

2.

quantity

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distribution

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non-living

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nutrients,

water,

etc.

3. range, or gradient of conditions of existence, such as temperature, light, etc. Functions of an ecosystem involves: 1. rates of biological energy flow, i.e. the production and respiration rates of the community. Quality Microbiology Lab Equipments from India 2. rates of materials or nutrient cycles.

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3. biological or ecological regulation including both regulation of organisms by environment and regulation of environment by the organisms. Thus in any ecosystem, structure and function are studied together. Odum (1959) classified the abiotic components of an ecosystem into three parts: i. inorganic nutrients like C, N, H, etc.

ii. organic compounds constituting the organism. iii. climatic factors

The term abiotic means without life or nonliving. Many substances such as water, oxygen, sodium chloride, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are abiotic when they are physically outside living organisms, such as in air or water, but once within living organisms they become part of the biotic world. Many elements may be tightly bound in inorganic compounds as silicon in sandstone or aluminum in feldspar, and are unavailable to living organisms, Elements such as oxygen which are normally very active in biological processes may be in an abiotic form readily available to living organisms such as free O2, CO2, etc., or they may be in an inaccessible form as silicon dioxide in quartz, a major component of granite. One of the most important aspects of an ecosystem is the rate of release of nutrients from solids, as this regulates the rate of function of the entire system. The abiotic components can be 1. Climatic regime-includes temperature, light directly influence the organisms classified into three groups: and other physical factors which in a given area.

2. Nutrients (material cycling)-includes inorganic substances (C, CO2, H2O, H2, P, etc.) and organic substances 3. Energy circuits-includes grazing circuits and organic detritus circuits.

The amount of abiotic materials present in any ecosystem is called standing state. Types of Ecosystems

Natural Ecosystems These operate by themselves under natural conditions without any major interference by man. Based upon the particular kind of habitat, these are further divided as: 1. 2. Terrestrial, Aquatic which e.g. is forest, further grassland, distinguished desert as:

a. freshwater which may be Iotic (spring, stream or river) or lentic (lake, pond, pools, ditch, swamp, etc.) b. Marine, e.g. sea or ocean (deep bodies) and estuary (shallow bodies). Artificial Ecosystems They are also called man-made or man-engineered ecosystems. They are maintained artificially by man where, by addition of energy and planned manipulation, natural balance is distrurbed regularly, e.g. croplands such as sugarcane, maize, wheat, rice-fields; orchards, gardens, villages, cities, dams, aquarium and manned spaceship.