Natural ecosystems are those that are existing in nature; they are further classified into terrestrial
and aquatic. Terrestrial includes hot desert, grass land, tropical and temperate rainforest and
aquatic includes ponds, river, streams, lakes, estuaries, oceans, mangroves, swamps and bays etc.
However these two ecosystems are self regulating, open system with a free exchange of inputs and
outputs with other systems. Artificial ecosystems are simple, human-made, unstable and subjected
to human intervention and manipulation. Usually it is formed by clearing a part of the forest or
grassland e.g. crop field, agricultural land. Structure and Function of an ecosystem An ecosystem has
two components the biotic components consisting of living things, and the abiotic portion, consisting
of elements that are not alive. The non living constituents are said to include the following category,
habitat, gases, solar radiation, temperature, moisture and inorganic and organic nutrients. The living
organisms may be sub divided into producers, consumers and decomposers. Abiotic Components
include basic inorganic and organic components of the environment or habitat of the organism. The
inorganic components of an ecosystem are carbon dioxide, water nitrogen, calcium phosphate all of
which are involved in matter cycle (biogeochemical cycles). The organic components of an
ecosystem are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids, all of which are synthesized by the
biota (flora and fauna) of an ecosystem and are reached to ecosystem as their wastes, dead remains
etc. the climate 'microclimate' temperature, light soil etc. are abiotic components of the ecosystems.
Ecosystem function is the capacity of natural processes and components to provide goods and
services that satisfy human needs, either directly or indirectly. Ecosystem functions are subset of
ecological processes and ecosystem structures. Each function is the result of the natural processes of
the total ecological sub-system of which it is a part. Natural processes, in turn, are the result of
complex interactions between biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (chemical and physical)
components of ecosystems through the universal driving forces of matter and energy. (1) Regulatory
functions: this group of functions relates to the capacity of natural and semi- natural ecosystems to
regulate essential ecological processes and life support systems through bio-geochemical cycles and
other biospheric processes. In addition to maintaining the ecosystem (and biosphere health), these
regulatory functions provide many services that have direct and indirect benefits to humans (i.e.,
clean air, water and soil, and biological control services). (2) Habitat functions: natural ecosystems
provide refuge and a reproduction habitat to wild plants and animals and thereby contribute to the
(in situ) conservation of biological and genetic diversity and the evolutionary process. (3) Production
functions: Photosynthesis and nutrient uptake by autotrophs converts energy, carbon dioxide, water
and nutrients into a wide variety of carbohydrate structures which are then used by secondary
producers to create an even larger variety of living biomass. This broad diversity in carbohydrate
structures provides many ecosystem goods for human consumption, ranging from food and raw
materials to energy resources and genetic material. 4) Information functions: Since most of human
evolution took place within the context of an undomesticated habitat, natural ecosystems
contribute to the maintenance of human health by providing opportunities for reflection, spiritual
enrichment, cognitive development, recreation and aesthetic experience. Complete ecosystem
consists of four basic components such as producers, consumers, decomposers and abiotic
components e.g. Pond. If anyone of these four components are lacking, then it is grouped under
incomplete ecosystem e.g. : The productivity of an ecosystem is the rate at which solar energy is
fixed by the vegetation of the ecosystem; it is further classified into primary productivity, secondary
productivity and net productivity
This page editing tutorial and tips and tricks and always your favourite editing tutorial
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon