Tiêu đề Chapter - 5 Environment.pdf ✅

ChemContent Components of an Ecosystem An ecosystem consists of two main components: biotic components and abiotic components. Biotic Components The biotic components are the living components of an ecosystem. They constitute the food- obtaining steps or trophic levels of the ecosystem. Trophic level I (Green plants/Autotrophs) • They produce food through the process of photosynthesis. • These include trees, bushes and grasses. Trophic level II (Herbivores/ Primary consumers) • They directly eat plants or their products such as leaves, grains, etc. for food or suck plant sap from their leaves or stems. • These include animals such as deer, rabbits, rats, pigeons, parrots, grasshoppers, bees etc. Trophic level III (Carnivores/ Secondary consumers) • They capture their prey and eat it. • These include tigers, wolves, snakes, lizards, certain birds etc. Trophic level IV (Large carnivores/ Tertiary consumers) • They capture smaller carnivores and eat them. • These include peacock, eagle etc. Parasites • They live inside or on the body surface of another organism, called the host, and obtain their food or nourishment from the host. • Worms which live in the guts of animals and fleas which live on the skin of animals such as dogs are examples of parasites. Decomposers/ Microconsumers/ Detritivores • They breakdown the complex organic compounds present in these dead organisms into simpler substances. • These include certain bacteria and fungi, vultures, kites, crows, some insects etc. Abiotic Components The abiotic components are the non-living components of an ecosystem. Sunlight • The energy obtained from sunlight is essential for the production of food by photosynthesis. Air • Oxygen from the air is essential to animals for respiration. • Carbon dioxide is useful to plants for photosynthesis. Water • Water is the chief constituent of protoplasm in cells. • It is required for various biochemical reactions which occur in organisms. Temperature • Temperature affects the distribution of living organisms in the environment. • It affects the enzymatic activities in organisms. Soil • Soil provides the substratum for the growth of plants. • It contains water and mineral nutrients such as sodium and potassium required by plants. Food Chain • The sequential process of eating and being eaten is called a food chain.