Examine the function and structure of the ecosystem with reference to any water bodies.
( UPPSC / UPPCS, 2019, 15 Marks)
किसी जलासय के संदर्भ में पारितंत्र के कार्य एवं संरचना की परीक्षा कीजिये।
Keywords:
- Producer
- Primary Consumer
- Herbivore
- Secondary Consumer
- Nutrients
- Living organism
- Biotic
- Abiotic
Answer:
An ecosystem is an interacting system and functional unit of nature. It is comprised of living ( biotic) organisms interacting among themself via energy flow and also interacting with their non-living( abiotic) components via nutrient cycle in a particular area.
The ecosystem is two types:
- Terrestrial Ecosystem or land-based ecosystem such as forest
- Aquatic Ecosystem or water-based ecosystem such as
- Ponds Ecosystem
- Rivers Ecosystem
- Oceans Ecosystem
Ponds Ecosystem
Pond ecosystem is a freshwater aquatic ecosystem. Water is relatively stable for a larger period in the pond ecosystem.
Structure of Pond Ecosystems:
The structure of the pond ecosystem means a description of living(biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components.
Biotic structure of Pond ecosystem:
- Producer
- Primary Consumer or Herbivore
- Secondary Consumer or Carnivore
- Tertiary Consumer
Producer:
Herbivore or primary consumer:
Carnivore or secondary consumer:
Tertiary Consumer:
The following are the abiotic components:
- rooted plant, floating plant, and Phytoplankton are the main producers of energy and nutrients in the Pond Ecosystem.
- Apart from energy Phytoplankton also the producer of oxygen in the aquatic ecosystem.
Herbivore or primary consumer:
- Zooplanktons are a unicellular or multicellular floating animal that is a primary consumer in the pond ecosystem. These are usually not visible to human eyes but very important for other animals such as fish in the pond ecosystem.
Carnivore or secondary consumer:
- Fishes are secondary consumers in the Pond ecosystem.
Tertiary Consumer:
- Humans and some birds consume fish as food; hence they are tertiary consumers.
Abiotic components of Pond ecosystem:
The following are the abiotic components:
- Water is the main component, water can be salty or freshwater.
- Pollution
- Density of water
- Temperature of water
- Oxygen availability
- pH values of soil and water
- Nutrients
 |
| Pond Ecosystem |
The function of Pond Ecosystem:
- Recycling of nutrients
- Carbon sequencing
- Provide potable water for the surrounding
- Flood prevention
- Food for surrounding
- It is a habitat for various aquatic living organisms
- It helps in recycling of water, oxygen, nitrogen, etc.
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