Define ecosystem. Explain the structure and function of desert ecosystem
Answers
Explanation:
Ecosystem: Definition
As already discussed in the previous article, Ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of ecology where living organisms interact with each other and also with the surrounding physical environment. In other words, it is the whole community in which plants and animals live together.
Structure of Ecosystem
Abiotic components: It is the nonliving component of the ecosystem. The abiotic components of the ecosystem include basic inorganic elements and compounds like soil, water, oxygen and a variety of organic compounds. Also some physical factors like humidity, wind and water currents, solar energy etc. are also abiotic components.
Biotic components: It is the living component of the ecosystem. In terms of nutrition, biotic components can be grouped as autotrophs and heterotrophs. Autotrophs include green plants which make their own food with the help of sunlight and other inorganic matter. Heterotrophs include non-green plants and all animals which depend on autotrophs for their food needs.
On a broader scale biotic components includes producers, consumers and decomposers
Producers- Producers are the autotrophic elements of the ecosystem. They use radiant energy of the sun during the process of photosynthesis whereby carbon dioxide is assimilated and the light energy is converted into chemical energy.
Consumers- These are the members of the ecosystem which consume the food prepared by the producers and hence are called as consumers. The following are different classes included in consumers,
Answer:
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system