Components of the ecosystem

Component

         Any part of the environment is called component.

Parts

         There are two basic parts of the ecosystem components;

1.   Biotic components

2.   Abiotic components

1. Abiotic components;

             It includes non-living factors present in the ecosystem. E.g. light, air, water, soil.

2. Biotic components

          Living parts of the ecosystem are called biotic factors. E.g. human being, birds, animals.

Biotic components are further classified as

A. Producers

B. Consumers

C. Decomposers

A. Producers

·       Producers are autotrophs present in the ecosystem.

·       It includes the plants, algae, photosynthetic bacteria.

·       These organisms have ability to synthesize complex organic compounds (food) from inorganic raw material.

B. Consumers

·       Consumers are the heterotrophic.

·       They can’t synthesize their own food and depends on producers.

·       It includes all animals, fungi, protozoans and many of the bacteria.

·       Animals are the major consumers of the ecosystem.

·       They are further classified as

a)   Herbivorous

b)   Carnivorous

      a. Herbivorous

·       They feed on plants.

·       E.g. cattle, deer, rabbit, grasshopper etc.

·       They are the Primary consumers.

b. Carnivorous

·       They feed on other animals.

·       They are the primary consumers (SECONDARY CONSUMERS) feed on the herbivorous.

·       Frog, fox, predatory birds, many fishes, snakes etc.

·       Secondary carnivorous (Tertiary consumers) feed on primary carnivorous.

·       Wolf and owl etc.

·       Tertiary carnivorous E.g. lion, tiger feed on secondary carnivorous.

C. Decomposers:

·       They breakdown the complex organic matter (of plants and animals) into simplest compounds.

·       They secret digestive enzymes into dead material and digest them.

·       After digestion, they absorb it for their own use. Remaining substance added to environment.

·       Many types of bacteria and fungi are the decomposers.