Ecosystem
An
ecosystem is a fundamental
functional unit of ecological study. An ecosystem is a system – ecological
system – in which organisms interact with each other and with their environment
in a given and unit-time. In other words an ecosystem is a biotic community
together with its physical environment considered as an integrated unit.
Implied within this definition is the concept of a structural and functional
unit, unified through life processes.
An
ecosystem is broadly composed of two
components:
(1)
Biome – All the plants, animal
and microorganisms, in fact all the living
beings in a given spatial unit. These are biotic elements.
(2)
Habitat – The Physical environment i.e. a biotic
elements such as air, water and land.
Both
these components are integrated by the continuous flow of energy and matter between
them. We can call Energy as the third component of the ecosystem.
In
other words each organism (including humans) is affected by and interacts with
its environment. That environment is formed from a combination of interactive
nonliving and living elements. When we consider both forms of elements and
their interactions as a single entity we have an ecosystem at same level of
organization.
