ECOSYSTEMS

What is an ecosystem? The self-sustaining structural and functional interaction between living and non-living components.

TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS Natural 1. Land ecosystems (grasslands, forests, desert ecosystems). 2. Aquatic ecosystems a. Lake, ponds etc. (water doesn’t move) b. River, ocean, sea, etc. (water moves) 3. Artificial 1.A crop land, garden, aquarium, park, kitchen gardens.

COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM An ecosystem consists of two main parts… Abiotic or non-living parts. 1. Water 2. Sunlight 3. Soil Biotic or living parts. 1. Plants 2. Animals

FUNCTIONS OF AN ECOSYSTEM Producers – Plants. Plants use solar energy, water, and CO2, to make their food and exhale oxygen (O2). 2. Herbivores eat plants. Carnivores eat other animals. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Energy is transferred through food to animals. 3. Decomposers – When plants and animals die, then decomposers (like certain bacteria and fungi) break them down simple materials like carbon dioxide, water and minerals which go back to air, water bodies and soil from where they were taken.

IMPORTANCE OF ECOSYSTEM No living organism can live in isolation. We cannot survive without producers in nature. All living beings depend on other living beings in the biological community. Not only they are dependent on one another, but also each of them exist in a certain proportion. This creates a complete balance in nature amongst living organisms. This is evident from the study of food chains which operate between living organisms.

Ecosystems Understanding Ecosystems for Kids Producers, Consumers, Decomposers

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