2.2 Ecosystem components and functions

Ecosystems are complex webs of living and non-living elements that interact in fascinating ways. From the tiniest bacteria to the mightiest trees, every component plays a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of life on Earth.

Understanding how energy flows through food webs and how different species interact is key to grasping ecosystem dynamics. These interactions, along with vital processes like decomposition and pollination, provide essential services that sustain life and shape our world.

Ecosystem Components

Living and Non-Living Elements

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• Biotic factors consist of all living organisms in an ecosystem (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria)
• Abiotic factors encompass non-living elements that influence the environment (sunlight, temperature, water, soil, air)
  • These physical and chemical components shape the conditions for life in an ecosystem
• Habitat refers to the natural home or environment of an organism where it finds shelter, food, and suitable living conditions
  • Habitats can be terrestrial (forests, grasslands), aquatic (oceans, lakes), or even within other organisms (gut bacteria)
• Ecological niches describe the specific role and position an organism occupies within its ecosystem
  • Niches involve an organism's interactions with biotic and abiotic factors (food sources, predators, temperature tolerance)
  • Species can share habitats but occupy different niches (birds feeding on seeds vs. insects in the same forest)

Ecosystem Interactions

Energy Flow and Relationships

• Food webs illustrate the complex feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms in an ecosystem
  • Energy is transferred from producers (plants) to consumers (herbivores, carnivores) and decomposers
  • Food webs consist of interconnected food chains (plant -> herbivore -> carnivore)
• Trophic levels represent the position an organism occupies in a food chain based on its feeding habits
  • Producers (autotrophs) make up the first trophic level, followed by primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers
  • Energy decreases as it moves up trophic levels due to heat loss and energy used for life processes
• Symbiosis describes close and long-term interactions between different species
  • Mutualism benefits both species (bees pollinating flowers while gathering nectar)
  • Commensalism benefits one species without significantly affecting the other (barnacles attaching to whales)
  • Parasitism benefits one species at the expense of the other (ticks feeding on mammal blood)

Ecosystem Services

Benefits Provided by Ecosystems

• Decomposition is the breakdown of dead organic matter into simpler compounds by decomposers (fungi, bacteria)
  • Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem, making them available for uptake by plants
  • Decomposition prevents dead matter from accumulating and maintains nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen)
• Soil formation involves the gradual process of creating soil from weathered rock and organic matter
  • Soil provides a substrate for plant growth, retains moisture, and houses diverse organisms
  • Factors influencing soil formation include climate, topography, parent material, time, and biological activity
• Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the male part of a plant to the female part, enabling fertilization and seed production
  • Animals such as bees, butterflies, and birds act as pollinators by visiting flowers for nectar or pollen
  • Pollination is crucial for the reproduction of flowering plants and the production of fruits and seeds (apples, almonds)