ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES(ES)

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Lesson 8: Ecosystems

Structure of an Ecosystem

An ecosystem consists of two main components

1. Abiotic component includes
   
   1. Abiotic component includes
      
   2. Inorganic compounds – carbon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water and all the minerals.
      
   3. Organic compounds – Protein, carbohydrates, lipids which link the abiotic to biotic aspects
      
   4. Climatic regimes –
      
   1. Atmospheric (temperature, moisture, light, rainfall, wind)
      
   2. Edaphic (topography – pertaining to soil)
      
   
   
2. Biotic component includes
   Biological community – species like plants, animals and microbes, numbers, biomass, life cycles and distribution in space