CONCEPT OF ECO SYSTEM

CONCEPT OF ECO SYSTEM

Ecology (oikos =house; logos = study of) involves the study of inter-relationship of organisms with one another and with the environment.term ecology was coined by the german biologist,By Ernst Haeckel,  in 1869. The group of interbreeding indivisuals of same species residing in same geographical area is called population, while all the population of different species found in same geographical area are collectively called biotic community. In biotic community ,the organisms show interdependence and interaspecificic as well as interaspecific interaction which increase their chances of survival.but a biotic community cannot live in isolation. It always live in an environment which supplies its material and energy requirements, so the organisms and the environmental factors are locked in an inseparable relationship.

                                                               DEFINATION

Ecosystem (Gr. Eco= environment; system = interacting and inter dependendent complex)is an integrated system resulting from intraction of living and non living factors of environment. This intraction occurs by the means of food chain and biogeochemical cycles resulting in energy flow ,biotic diversity and material cycling. It is also called ecological system.

Term ecosystem was first of all coined by A.G tansley(1935) while it was called  biogeocoenosis by a Russian ecologist, Sukachev (1944).according to Odum (1963),the ecosystem is the basic functional unit of ecology.

                  TYPES OF  ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystem are of following types :

1.      Permanent an natural ecosystem : These ecosystem operates under natural conditions without the interferenceof human beings. These are two types of:

(a)   Terrestrial ecosystem operate on land e.g Grassland ecosystem ,desert ecosystem

(b)   Aquatic ecosystem  operates in water and are again of two types:

(i)                 Fresh water ecosystem operate ponds ,streams and lakes.

(ii)               Marine ecosystem operates in ocean estuaries, etc

2.      Temporary  and natural ecosystem : these ecosystem also operates under natural conditions but are short lived e.g  rain-fed small sized ponds.