images of ecosystems

Types of Ecosystem - There are two types of ecosystems..

An ecosystem can be defined as 'a structural and functional unit of biosphere or segment of nature consisting of community of living beings and the physical environment, both interacting and exchanging materials between them'. E. P. Odum, an American ecologist, defined ecology as, 'the st..

Components of the Ecosystem - The environment in which the man and other organisms live is called the biosphere. The biosphere is made up of different regions that have different types of flora (plants) and fauna (animals). The types of organisms in an area are determined by various facto..

Functions of Ecosystem - In an ecosystem there are two processes proceeding simultaneously: 1 ) Energy flow and 2 ) Biogeochemical cycle The energy flow is in a single direction and is non-cyclic where as Biogeochemical flow is cyclic (Any mineral cycl..

Diversity at the level of community and ecosystem exists along 3 levels. It could be within-community diversity (alpha diversity), between-communities diversity (beta diversity) or diversity of the habitats over the total landscape or geographical area (gamma diversity). Biogeographical r..

Pyramid of Biomass - "Pyramid of biomass is the graphic representation of biomass present per unit area of different trophic levels, with producers at the base and top carnivores at the tip". The total amount of living or organic matter in an ecosystem at any time is called 'Biomass'. In ..

Pyramid of Numbers - "Pyramid of numbers is the graphic representation of number of individuals per unit area of various trophic levels stepwise with producers forming the base and top carnivores the tip..

Food Web - In nature, food chain relationships are not isolated. They are very complex, as one organism may form the food source of many organisms. Thus, instead of a simple linear food chain, there is a web like structure formed by these interlinked food chains. Such interconnected matrix of food ..

Energy Flow - Energy is the capacity to do work. Solar energy is transformed into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis, and is stored in plant tissue and then transformed into mechanical and heat forms during metabolic activities. The energy, in the biological world, flows from the sun ..

Thunderstorms and lightning are the common photochemical and electrochemical reactions in nature, which convert atmospheric gaseous nitrogen to oxides of nitrogen. They get dissolved in water forming nitrous acid and nitric acid, which inturn combine with other salts to produce 'nitrates'. An aver..