essay about ecosystem and biomes

Free Ecosystem Essay Examples & Topics

An ecosystem describes a community of organisms and the physical environment that surrounds it. The organisms, in this case, are all living things (such as plants or animals). The environment refers to the characteristics of a particular area they inhabit. It includes climate, weather, soil, etc. In biology, these elements interact with one another to create an ecological system – or ecosystem.

There are two types of ecosystems on our planet:

Terrestrial ecosystems are land-based. They are defined by being predominantly surrounded by soil and earth rather than water. Some examples of such ecosystems are forests, deserts, and grasslands.

Aquatic ecosystems are entirely water-based. This type is further divided into two subsets of marine and freshwater. Lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans are all examples of these ecosystems.

Our team has collected some advice to aid you in writing your ecosystem essay. These tips will help you figure out where to start and how to format your work. We also came up with some topics for your essay about ecosystems. At the bottom of the page, you will find some samples. Feel free to study them to get an idea of what a successful paper looks like.

In this section, we have listed some topics for your ecosystem restoration essay. Finding the right idea will help you begin the research process. Furthermore, you can use our title generator that will create even more suggestions!

Here are some ideas for your essay on ecosystems:

• How to protect our ecosystems against ozone depletion?

Describe what role the ozone layer holds. How is its depletion a major factor in global warming? Examine the ecosystems that are most at risk due to this phenomenon. Discuss some of the solutions, such as The Montreal Protocol.

• Restoring ecological balance to the coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Explain what happened in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and the ecological consequences of the disaster. What was the impact of pollution on the coral reefs located in the Gulf? Describe some of the conservation opportunities and efforts, along with the improvements that are being witnessed today.

• Are there any actual benefits to World Environment Day?

Outline the history of World Environment Day and explain what it stands for. Summarize some of the most notable accomplishments, noting the role of technology and energy consumption. In your opinion, did World Environment Day bring about any real change?

• Limiting factors to sustainable farming practices in the U.S. local ecosystem.

Discuss sustainable agriculture and sustainable agriculture practices in the U.S. What are some of the factors that hinder the farming process, such as climate change adaptation? Analyze the proposed solutions for the problems you’ve listed.

• Challenges in ecosystem restoration in the face of climate change.

Introduce Rob Peters’ theory presented in Restoration & Management Notes. Evaluate the role of ecological restorationists in the battle against global warming. What are some of the biggest obstacles to these initiatives?

• Ecological principles of decomposers in forest ecosystems.

Explore the term “decomposer” and the role in the environment. How do decomposers function in forests? Analyze the value of these organisms to the ecology of the forest ecosystem.

• The importance of ecosystem biodiversity illustrated through Yellowstone National Park.

Explain the term “biodiversity” and why it is essential to ecosystems. Produce a case study of the wolf reintroduction to the Yellowstone National Park. What positive outcomes came about as a result?

• Does geography have an impact on the practices utilized in agriculture?

Discuss the link between geography and agriculture. Outline the role of developing technologies in changing the practices. Do you think agricultural standards are universal nowadays compared to how they were before?

• How to protect the world’s largest biome: exploring conservation methods for marine ecosystems.

Give a quick summary of the marine biome and its varying ecosystem. Outline the biggest threats, from pollution to overfishing. Analyze a couple of solutions and the ways ecologists propose to achieve them.

Any ecosystem essay relies on quality research. However, that is not the extent of your work. There are many more steps to nailing down your assignment. Here, we have listed what to keep in mind when writing your paper.

1. Brainstorming. You might be tempted to begin writing straight away, but that isn’t the best approach. Before anything else, sit down and pen out some ideas you already have in mind. Figuring out what you want your paper to be first will set you on the right path.

2. Select a topic. There is a large variety of options for you to choose from. Take your time to find an idea that will be both relevant and interesting. Check the notes from your brainstorming session and settle on a great title.

3. Research your idea. Once you think you have your topic, it is time to dive into it. You should make sure that there are enough resources available. So, take your time looking into ecosystem examples. Don’t forget to note down your references as you go along.

4. Plan your paper. At this point, formulating a thesis will prove efficient. You can plan your entire essay around that one statement. It will guide your writing and will become the basis for your outline.

5. Make an outline. Most essays have the same basic formula. Start with the introduction, where you list the necessary information and clear up definitions. Provide evidence for your claims in the body paragraphs. Finish it out with a strong conclusion that summarizes your findings.

6. Write, edit, and proofread. Now that you have your title, thesis, and plan, writing will be a breeze. Take your time and make sure to leave room for editing. Read your essay over at least once before you submit it.

We hope that this article will be helpful in your studies and we wish you luck in your work. You can now proceed to look through our collection of ecosystem essay examples – use our summarizer to save your time.

Thank you for reading!

130 Best Essay Examples on Ecosystem

Wildlife tourism essay, tropical rain forest.

• Words: 1117

Desert Ecosystem

The impact of logging and deforestations on an ecosystem.

• Words: 2755

Grassland Ecosystem and the Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

Effects of abiotic and biotic factors on a deer’s population, the impact of tourism on the ecosystem.

• Words: 1676

Habitat Destruction and Biodiversity Extinctions

• Words: 5144
• Words: 1028

The Implications of Global Loss of Mangrove Ecosystems?

• Words: 5155

Effects of Forest Fires on Ecosystem

• Words: 1672

Consumerism Positive and Negative Aspect

• Words: 1084

Endangered Species: Modern Environmental Problem

• Words: 2487

Organisms in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments

Beach zonation and tarpon springs’ man-made beaches, why forest sustainability and accountability of its use is challenging.

• Words: 2820

Conserving Biodiversity: The Loggerhead Turtle

• Words: 2556

How to Treat Wastewater

• Words: 1577

Agriculture Versus Forestry

The tundra biome and its keystone species, the manas wildlife sanctuary.

• Words: 1839

Water Resources: History and Potential Impacts

• Words: 1245

The Biome and Ecosystem Concepts and Importance

The importance of biodiversity in ecosystem.

• Words: 1367

Balanced Ecosystem: Acute Risks, Morbidity & Mortality

Zoos for conservation of endangered species, ecocriticism concepts: interaction between man and the natural habitat.

• Words: 2044

Level Of Species Diversity In Two Habitat Areas

• Words: 1147

Tourism and Ecosystem

• Words: 1659

The Desert Ecosystem’s Complex Interrelationships

Working for the environment.

• Words: 1161

The Problem of Drought on Earth

Human impact on the environment.

• Words: 1803

Moral Obligations in Environment

• Words: 1099

Journal Entries on Environmental Studies

• Words: 1440

Winter Ecology: A Look Under the Ice

Balanced ecosystem in connection to art and science, the dynamics of ecosystem, ecological processes in five various ecosystems.

• Words: 2941

Over-Exploitation and Deforestation Effects

• Words: 2474

Climate Change’s Negative Impact on Biodiversity

• Words: 1154

Ecological Imperialism

Concept of the terrestrial ecology, ecosystem services and their main types, cashion water quality: spatial distribution of water pollution incidents, fisheries and sharks in trinidad and tobago.

• Words: 1464

Coral Reef and Biodiversity in Ecosystems

• Words: 2000

How to Avoid the “Tragedy of the Commons”

Deforestation processes, areas and species affected, the deforestation issue and future directions, logging impact: last yoik in saami forests, soil erosion and land degradation, biomes and ecosystems: aquatic & coral reefs, three sisters springs natural resource in florida, the importance of the ecosystems of the continental shelves, environmental feedback loop and ecological systems, the london underground mosquitos, the impact of invasive species in missouri, biodiversity and the health of ecosystems, what is your ecological footprint.

• Words: 1221

Ecological System of Plankton and Jellyfish

Plastic ocean and its effect on the ecosystem.

• Words: 1348

Biomes of the Earth and Their Characteristics

• Words: 1041

Invasive Processes’ Impact on Ecosystem’s Biodiversity

Salt and drinking water shortage.

• Words: 1310

Camel Grazing, Species Diversity and Community Structure in the Deserts of the UAE

• Words: 3068

Aspects of Ecosystems

Language without numbers: relationships among ecosystem services, the conservation status of the great lakes coastal wetlands habitat.

• Words: 2532

Two Insects Threatens Louisiana Citrus

The issue of small populations, wolves and deforestation: thinking like a mountain.

• Words: 1045

Primary Production in the Pond Ecosystems

Safety, health and environmental issues in liquefying methane from algerian natural gas.

• Words: 1556

Ecosystem: Consumer Energy Use

Restoring the everglades wetlands: biodiversity.

• Words: 1226

Development in Ecosystems: Species Coexisting in a Symbiotic Relation

Water consumption by individuals and households, new jersey forrest community analysis.

• Words: 1087

The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit Project

• Words: 1490

Environmental Species and Ecosystems

• Words: 2358

Biodiversity: Importance and Benefits

• Words: 1319

Hydrosphere: Coral Reefs and Their Protection

• Words: 1443

Ecological Processes: What Is Dynamic in Ecosystem?

W national park of niger: life science.

• Words: 1335

US Government and Environmental Concerns

• Words: 1561

Spruce Bark Beetles: Dangers and Ways to Control

• Words: 1426

Marine Biology: Polar Oceans as an Eco System

• Words: 2376

Urban Ecosystems and the North American Carbon Cycle

Senegal river delta: an endangered ecosystem, loss of biodiversity in the amazon ecosystem.

• Words: 1682

Paperless Billing System Public Project

Ecosystem and its energy sources, a study in an urban park: understanding ecosystem dynamics.

• Words: 1356

Rainforest Ecosystem Services in Indonesia

• Words: 1130

Defining and Measuring Biodiversity

Benthic macro-invertebrates diversity.

• Words: 1658

Biodiversity, Its Importance and Benefits

Wolf population’s restoration in adirondack park, european rabbit in the australian ecosystem.

• Words: 1200

Invasive Species, Their Features, Origin, Relocation

• Words: 1128

Gardens and Traditions in Islamic Countries

Ecocide, human social evolution, and globalization.

• Words: 2262

Invasive Species’ Negative Impact in Spain

• Words: 1108

Pollution and Human Health

Afforestation in hong kong, comparing historical and present landscapes in the east cascades of the washington state.

• Words: 1242

Business Ecosystem as a Strategy

Overlay and viewshed in landscape ecology: articles analysis and evaluation, the climate change and the asset-based community development.

• Words: 2813

Eco-Tourism and Eco-Cities

The possibility of ecologically sustainable forestry.

• Words: 1386

Applying Ecological Theory: Agricultural Degradation of Tropical Forest Ecosystems & Restoration of Exhausted Agricultural Land

• Words: 3037

Ecological Effects of the Release of Genetically Engineered Organisms

• Words: 2475

Measurement of Biodiversity

Reducing standby energy wastage in canada, the particular features of the ecosystem in the fitzroy gardens.

• Words: 1118

Endangered Species Issue in the United States

Environmental issue raised in the “weather extremes leave parts of u.s. grid buckling”, ecological studies in los alamos national laboratory.

• Words: 1657

Pardon Our Interruption

As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. There are a few reasons this might happen:

• You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser.
• You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed.
• You've disabled cookies in your web browser.
• A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. Additional information is available in this support article .

To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page.

Sciencing_Icons_Science SCIENCE

Sciencing_icons_biology biology, sciencing_icons_cells cells, sciencing_icons_molecular molecular, sciencing_icons_microorganisms microorganisms, sciencing_icons_genetics genetics, sciencing_icons_human body human body, sciencing_icons_ecology ecology, sciencing_icons_chemistry chemistry, sciencing_icons_atomic & molecular structure atomic & molecular structure, sciencing_icons_bonds bonds, sciencing_icons_reactions reactions, sciencing_icons_stoichiometry stoichiometry, sciencing_icons_solutions solutions, sciencing_icons_acids & bases acids & bases, sciencing_icons_thermodynamics thermodynamics, sciencing_icons_organic chemistry organic chemistry, sciencing_icons_physics physics, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-physics fundamentals, sciencing_icons_electronics electronics, sciencing_icons_waves waves, sciencing_icons_energy energy, sciencing_icons_fluid fluid, sciencing_icons_astronomy astronomy, sciencing_icons_geology geology, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geology fundamentals, sciencing_icons_minerals & rocks minerals & rocks, sciencing_icons_earth scructure earth structure, sciencing_icons_fossils fossils, sciencing_icons_natural disasters natural disasters, sciencing_icons_nature nature, sciencing_icons_ecosystems ecosystems, sciencing_icons_environment environment, sciencing_icons_insects insects, sciencing_icons_plants & mushrooms plants & mushrooms, sciencing_icons_animals animals, sciencing_icons_math math, sciencing_icons_arithmetic arithmetic, sciencing_icons_addition & subtraction addition & subtraction, sciencing_icons_multiplication & division multiplication & division, sciencing_icons_decimals decimals, sciencing_icons_fractions fractions, sciencing_icons_conversions conversions, sciencing_icons_algebra algebra, sciencing_icons_working with units working with units, sciencing_icons_equations & expressions equations & expressions, sciencing_icons_ratios & proportions ratios & proportions, sciencing_icons_inequalities inequalities, sciencing_icons_exponents & logarithms exponents & logarithms, sciencing_icons_factorization factorization, sciencing_icons_functions functions, sciencing_icons_linear equations linear equations, sciencing_icons_graphs graphs, sciencing_icons_quadratics quadratics, sciencing_icons_polynomials polynomials, sciencing_icons_geometry geometry, sciencing_icons_fundamentals-geometry fundamentals, sciencing_icons_cartesian cartesian, sciencing_icons_circles circles, sciencing_icons_solids solids, sciencing_icons_trigonometry trigonometry, sciencing_icons_probability-statistics probability & statistics, sciencing_icons_mean-median-mode mean/median/mode, sciencing_icons_independent-dependent variables independent/dependent variables, sciencing_icons_deviation deviation, sciencing_icons_correlation correlation, sciencing_icons_sampling sampling, sciencing_icons_distributions distributions, sciencing_icons_probability probability, sciencing_icons_calculus calculus, sciencing_icons_differentiation-integration differentiation/integration, sciencing_icons_application application, sciencing_icons_projects projects, sciencing_icons_news news.

• Share Tweet Email Print
• Home ⋅
• Science ⋅
• Nature ⋅

The Differences Between Biomes & Ecosystems

Is an Ecosystem Bigger or Smaller Than a Biome?

The difference between biome and ecosystem has to do with their root definitions and what they describe. A biome is a large region of the world that has similar plants, animals and other organisms that are adapted to the terrain and weather of that region. An ecosystem is the interaction of plants and animals with nonliving things and each other. Each organism has a role to play within the ecosystem.

Ecosystem and Biome Definition

According to National Geographic, the biome definition is an area on the planet that is classified by the animals and plants in that area.

An ecosystem, on the other hand, is defined as a biological community of interactions between all living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things in a particular area.

The difference between biome and ecosystem lies with their definitions. A biome is simply a classification of an area based on the things within it. The species that live there are determined by temperature, geographic location, climate and more. An ecosystem, on the other hand, refers to the actual interactions, relationships, communities and populations of organisms and nonliving things within biomes.

You can think of a biome as a broad classification of an area while an ecosystem refers to interactions and specifics within that general classification. You can actually have multiple ecosystems within a single biome. For example, one type of biome is a marine biome. Within that biome you can have many ecosystems like a coral reef, the intertidal zone, a kelp forest and the open ocean.

Biomes of the World

All of the biomes of the world fall into this list:

• Aquatic biomes
• Alpine and Arctic tundra biomes
• Rainforest biomes
• Temperate forest biomes
• Desert biomes
• Grassland biomes

Biomes can border each other and are usually determined by geological terrain and weather. Species that live in these border areas can cross between two biomes and can have a dual role to play in each biome. Several ecosystems, which are smaller than biomes, can exist within a biome and many species can exist within different ecosystems. Biomes occur naturally but artificial biomes can be created by humans.

Within ecosystems, habitats exist that vary in size. Habitats are defined as the areas populations of organisms live in. A population is a group of organisms that live in the same place at the same time. Different populations interact, and when they interact, they are considered a community.

Ecosystems are defined as when these communities interact with their nonliving environment. The habitat provides food, water and shelter for the organisms that live within it and when those supplies become diminished, the organisms will move to another habitat.

Ecosystem vs Biome Destruction

Destruction and change of our world doesn't care whether it affects an ecosystem vs biome. In fact, when there is a depletion of resources, climate change or other damage, both biomes and the ecosystems that exist in it can be damaged or completely destroyed. The depletion in one biome can affect another biome and then affect all ecosystems within those biomes.

For example, in the forest biome, deforestation not only destroys the ecosystem and habitats within the forest biome, but the lack of trees can affect neighboring biomes. Trees redirect and shield wind and weather. Without trees erosion takes place and weather changes occur, which can affect climate in other biomes and ecosystems.

Organisms in those ecosystems can lose resources. They'll then have to find different habitats or increase competition for the remaining resources. If they can exist in another biome, organisms will invade the new biome creating new ecosystems or destroying existing ones.

Organisms Sharing Two Biomes or Ecosystems

Sometimes organisms share two or more biomes or ecosystems. For example, when the desert biome meets the ocean biome, predators from the desert, like foxes or coyotes, will sometimes prey on fish or other sea life in the ocean biome. Though the mammals do not live within the ocean biome, they reduce the population of that biome, which could affect the relationships between the organisms that live in the ocean biome.

A sharp increase in land mammals that prey in the ocean biomes could destroy the balance and, in the end, destroy entire populations. The resource would be depleted and the land mammals would move to another habitat where they could survive, which would also cause the food chain/web to shift in those areas.

Related Articles

What is the ability of an organism to withstand changes..., definition of a land ecosystem, the gorilla's ecosystem, four types of biodiversity, animals of the ecosystem, the 2 main components of an ecosystem, the disadvantages of deforestation, the role of a consumer in an ecosystem, animals in a temperate climate, what are the impacts of humans on grassland biomes, what is the prey in an ecosystem, how unfavorable abiotic and biotic factors affect a..., the kinds of human activities that have destroyed ecosystems, how to make biomass pyramids, what are the causes of the destruction of ecosystem.

• University of California: The World's Biomes
• The Encyclopedia of the Earth: Ecosystems - Dr Erle Ellis
• National Geographic: Biome

About the Author

Don Rainwater has been a professional writer since 2005. Rainwater has published books including "The Jack Russell Terrier: Canine Companion or Demon Dog" and "How To Manage A Behavior Classroom." He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Arts degree in special education and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Phoenix.

Find Your Next Great Science Fair Project! GO

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center
• Introduction

Energy flow

• Trophic levels
• Nutrient cycling

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Biology LibreTexts - Ecosystem
• National Geographic - Ecosystem
• University of Michigan - Global Change - The Ecosystem and how it relates to Sustainability
• Khan Academy - What is an ecosystem?
• National Center for Biotechnology Information - Ecology and Ecosystems
• The Canadian Encyclopedia - Ecosystem
• NASA - Terra - Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems
• ecosystem - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• ecosystem - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

• What defines an ecosystem and its main parts?
• How do energy and nutrients move within an ecosystem?
• What is the role of plants that make their own food in an ecosystem?
• How do animals and other organisms that can't make their own food contribute to energy and nutrient cycling?
• What are the main elements needed for life in an ecosystem?
• How do nutrient cycles work within different parts of the environment?

Recent News

ecosystem , the complex of living organisms , their physical environment , and all their interrelationships in a particular unit of space .

A brief treatment of ecosystems follows. For full treatment, see biosphere .

An ecosystem can be categorized into its abiotic constituents , including minerals , climate , soil , water , sunlight , and all other nonliving elements, and its biotic constituents, consisting of all its living members. Linking these constituents together are two major forces: the flow of energy through the ecosystem and the cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem. Ecosystems vary in size: some are small enough to be contained within single water droplets while others are large enough to encompass entire landscapes and regions ( see biome ).

(Read E.O. Wilson’s Britannica essay on mass extinction.)

The fundamental source of energy in almost all ecosystems is radiant energy from the Sun . The energy of sunlight is used by the ecosystem’s autotrophic , or self-sustaining, organisms (that is, those that can make their own food ). Consisting largely of green vegetation, these organisms are capable of photosynthesis —i.e., they can use the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into simple, energy-rich carbohydrates . The autotrophs use the energy stored within the simple carbohydrates to produce the more complex organic compounds , such as proteins , lipids , and starches , that maintain the organisms’ life processes. The autotrophic segment of the ecosystem is commonly referred to as the producer level.

Organic matter generated by autotrophs directly or indirectly sustains heterotrophic organisms. Heterotrophs are the consumers of the ecosystem; they cannot make their own food. They use, rearrange, and ultimately decompose the complex organic materials built up by the autotrophs. All animals and fungi are heterotrophs, as are most bacteria and many other microorganisms.

Geography Notes

Essay on ecosystem: top 7 essays on ecosystem | geography.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Here is a compilation of essays on ‘Ecosystem’ for class 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Ecosystem’ especially written for school and college students.

Essay on Ecosystem

Essay Contents:

• Essay o the Functioning of Ecosystems

Essay # 1. Meaning of Ecosystem :

The term ‘ecosystem’ was first used by A.G. Tansley in 1935 who defined ecosystem as ‘a particu­lar category of physical systems, consisting of organ­isms and inorganic components in a relatively stable equilibrium, open and of various sizes and kinds’.

According to Tansley the ecosystem is comprised of two major parts viz., biome (the whole complex of plants and animals of a particular spatial unit) and habitat (physical environment) and thus ‘all parts of such an ecosystem-organic and inorganic, biome and habitat-may be regarded as interacting factors which, in a mature ecosystem, are in approximate equilib­rium, it is through their interactions that the whole system is maintained’. F.R. Fosberg (1963) has defined ecosystem as ‘a function­ing, interacting system composed of one or more living organisms and their effective environment, both physical and biological’.

According to R.L. Linderman (1942) the term ecosystem applies to ‘any system composed of physical-chemical-biological processes, within a space-time unit of any magnitude’. In E.P. Odum’s view (1971)’living organisms and their non-living (aboitic) environment are inseparably interrelated and interact upon each other.

Any unit that includes all of the organisms (i.e., the community) in a given area interacting with the physical environment so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined trophic struc­ture, biotic diversity and material cycle (i.e., exchange of materials between living and non-living parts) within the system is an ecological system or ecosystem’.

According to A.N. Strahler and A.H. Strahler (1976). “The total assemblage of components interacting with a group of organisms is known as ecological system or more simply, an ecosystem. Ecosystems have inputs of matter and energy, used to build biological structure (the biomass), to produce and to maintain necessary internal energy levels. Matter and energy are also exported from an ecosystem. An ecosystem tends to achieve a balance of the various processes and activi­ties within it”.

Based on the contents of above definitions of ecosystem provided by various scientists it may be pointed out that ‘ecosystems are, therefore, unities of organisms connected to one another and to their envi­ronment’ and the ecosystem is, thus, the sum of all natural organisms and substances within an area, and it can be viewed as a basic example of an open system in physical geogra­phy’. Stressing the importance of ecosystem C. C. Park further says that ‘ecosystems are regarded by many ecologists to be the basic units of ecology because they are complex, interdependent and highly organized systems and because they are the basic building blocks of the biosphere’.

In a more lucid style and simple term an ecosys­tem may be defined as a fundamental functional unit occupying spatial dimension of ‘earth space ship’ characterised by total assemblage of biotic community and abiotic components and their mutual interactions within a given time unit.

Essay # 2. Concept of Ecosystem:

According to Eugene P. Odum (1983), “any unit (a bio-system) that includes all the organisms that function together (the biotic com­munity) in a given area interacting with the physical environment so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined biotic structures and cycling of materials between living and non-living parts is an ecological system or ecosystem”. Thus, ecosystem is the basic functional unit in ecology, as it includes both organisms and biotic environment, each influencing the properties of the other and both are neces­sary for the maintenance of life.

Ecosystems have both structure and function.

The structure part comprises of:

(i) The composition of all the biological com­munities,

(ii) The distribution and quantity of all the non-living materials (nutrients, water etc.) and

(iii) The conditions of existence (temperature, light etc.).

The functional part consists of:

(i) The energy flow in the community,

(ii) The nutrient cycles, and

(iii) Ecologi­cal and biological regulations (photoperiodism, nitrogen fixing organisms etc.).

ADVERTISEMENTS: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Essay # 3. Types of Ecosystem :

Ecosystems may be identified and classified on various bases, with different purposes and objectives as outlined below:

(1) On The Basis of Habitats :

The habitats ex­hibit physical environmental conditions of a particular spatial unit of the biosphere. These physical conditions determine the nature and characteristics of biotic communities and therefore there are spatial variations in the biotic communities.

Based on this premise the world ecosystems are divided into two major categories viz.:

(A) Terrestrial ecosystems, and

(B) Aquatic ecosystems.

There are further variations in the terrestrial ecosystems in terms of physical conditions and their responses to biotic communities.

Therefore, the terrestrial ecosys­tems are further divided into sub-categories of:

(i) Upland or mountain ecosystems,

(ii) Lowland ecosystems,

(iii) Warm desert ecosystems, and

(iv) Cold desert ecosys­tems.

These sub-ecosystems may be further divided into descending orders depending on specific purposes and objectives of studies.

(B) The aquatic ecosystems are subdivided into two broad categories:

(i) freshwater (on continents) ecosystems and

(ii) marine ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems (Bi) are further divided into (Bia) river ecosystems, (Bib) marsh and bog ecosystems while (Bii) marine ecosystems are divided into (Biia) open ocean ecosystems, (Biib) coastal estuarine ecosys­tem, (Biic) coral reef ecosystem, or can be alternatively divided into (Biia) ocean surface ecosystems, (Biib) ocean bottom ecosystems.

(2) On the basis of spatial scales:

Ecosystems are divided into different types of various orders on the basis of spatial dimensions required for specific pur­poses.

The largest ecosystem is the whole biosphere which is subdivided into two major types:

(A) Continen­tal ecosystems, and

(B) Oceanic or marine ecosystems.

The spatial scales may be brought down from a conti­nent to a single biotic life (plant or animal).

(3) On The Basis of Uses:

E.P. Odum (1959) has divided the world ecosystems on the basis of use of harvest methods and net primary production into two broad categories viz.:

(A) cultivated ecosystems and

(B) non-cultivated or natural ecosystems.

Cultivated eco­systems may be further subdivided into several catego­ries on the basis of cultivation of dominant crops e.g., wheat field ecosystem, rice field ecosystem, sugarcane field ecosystem, fodder field ecosystem etc. Similarly, non-cultivated ecosystems can be subdivided into forest ecosystem, tall grass ecosystem, short grass ecosystem, desert ecosystem, see-weeds ecosystem etc.

Essay # 4. Structure of Ecosystem :

Interaction of biotic and abiotic components results in physical structure that is the characteristic of each type of ecosystem.

The two important structural features of an ecosystem are:

(i) Species composition:

It is the identification and enumeration of plant and animal species of an ecosystem.

(ii) Stratification:

It is the vertical distribution of different species occupying different levels in ecosystem, e.g., trees occupy top vertical strata or layer of the forest, shrubs occupies the second and herbs and grasses occupy the bottom layers.

Essay # 5. Components of Ecosystem :

Ecosystem has two major components (Table 4.1):

I. Abiotic Component :

The abiotic components of an ecosystem comprises of all the non-living factors. It includes light; temperature; climate; pressure; all the inorganic substances (Phosphorus, Sulfur, Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen etc.) present in water, soil and air involved in mate­rial cycles; organic compounds (proteins, car­bohydrates, lipids etc.) that link the abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem.

II. Biotic Component :

The biotic factors include the living organisms of the environment. They form the trophic structure (trophe, nourishment) of any ecosystem, where living organisms are dis­tinguished on the basis of their nutritional relationships. From this standpoint, an ecosystem is two-layered:

(a) Autotrophic (self-nourishing) compo­nent:

This is the upper stratum and is often referred to as the “green belt”. It comprises of the chlorophyll-containing plants, photosynthetic bacteria, chemosynthetic microbes, etc. They use simple inorganic substances along with the fixation of light energy, for the buildup of complex organic substances and are thus known as producers.

(b) Heterotrophic (other-nourishing) com­ponent:

This is the lower stratum or ‘brown belt” of soils and sediments, decaying matter, roots etc. Here utilisation, rearrangement and decomposition of complex materials are the main features. As these organisms eat or con­sume other organisms, they are known as consumers.

The consumers are categorized into:

(i) Macro-consumers:

Macro-consumers or phagotrophs (phago, to eat) are chiefly ani­mals that consume other organisms or partic­ulate organic matter. These organisms are further divided into primary, secondary and tertiary consumers. Herbivores that depend upon plant food are known as primary con­sumers. Secondary and tertiary consumers, when present, are either carnivores or omnivores.

(ii) Micro-consumers:

Micro-consumers or saprotrophs (sapro, to decompose) or decomposers or osmotrophs (osmo, to pass through a membrane) are chiefly bacteria and fungi, that obtain their food (energy) either by break-down of dead tissues or by absorbing dissolved organic matter extruded by or extracted from plants or other orga­nisms.

The saprotrophs by their decomposing activity:

1. Release inorganic nutrients that can be used by the producers.

2. Provide food for the macro-consu­mers.

3. Excrete hormone-like substances that inhibit or stimulate other biotic components of the ecosystem.

Essay # 6. Properties of Ecosystem :

The following are the basic properties of an ecosystem:

(i) Ecosystem of any given space-time-unit rep­resents the sum of all living organisms and physical environment.

(ii) It is composed of three basic components viz., energy, biotic (biome) and abiotic (habitat) com­ponents.

(iii) It occupies certain well defined area on the earth-space ship (spatial dimension).

(iv) It is viewed in terms of time-unit (temporal dimension).

(v) There are complex sets of interactions be­tween biotic and abiotic components (including en­ergy component) on the one hand and between and among the organisms on the other hand.

(vi) It is an open system which is charaterised by continuous input and output of matter and energy.

(vii) It tends to be in relatively stable equilib­rium unless there is disturbance in one or more control­ling factors (limiting factors).

(viii) It is powered by energy of various sorts but the solar energy is the most significant.

(ix) It is a functional unit wherein the biotic components (plants, animals including man and mi­cro-organisms) and abiotic (physical environment) components (including energy component) are inti­mately related to each other through a series of large- scale cyclic mechanisms viz. energy flow, water cycle, biogeochemical cycle, mineral cycle, sediment cycle etc.

(x) Ecosystem has its own productivity which is the process of building organic matter based on the availability and amount of energy passing through the ecosystem. The productivity refers to the rate of growth of organic matter in an areal unit per time-unit.

(xi) Ecosystem has scale dimension i.e., it varies in spatial coverage. It may be as small as a cowshed, a tree or even a part of a tree having certain micro­organisms. The largest unit is the whole biosphere. Thus, the ecosystems may be divided into several orders on the basis of spatial dimension. It is clear that ‘the ecosystem is a convenient scale at which to con­sider plants and animals and their interaction because it is more localised and thus more specific than the biosphere in its entirety, and it includes a sufficient wide range of individual organisms to make regional generalizations feasible and valuable’.

(xii) There are different sequences of ecosystem development. The sequence of ecosystem develop­ment in terms of a particular suite of physical and chemical conditions is called as ‘sere’. A ‘sere’ repre­sents the development of a series of sequential successions starting from primary succession and cul­minating into the last succession in a sere as ‘climax’ or ‘climatic climax’ which is the most stable situation of an ecosystem. Thus, the study of ecosystem devel­opment may help in environmental planning from ecological point of view.

(xiii) Ecosystems are natural resource systems.

(xiv) Ecosystem concept is monistic in that envi­ronment (abiotic component), man, animals, plants and micro-organisms (biotic component) are put together in a single formwork so that it becomes easy to study the patterns of interactions among these components.

(xv) It is structured and well organised system.

(xvi) Ecosystem, for convenience, may be stud­ied as a ‘black box model’ by concentrating on the study of input variables and related output variables while the internal variables may be-ignored to reduce the complexity.

Essay # 7. Functioning of Ecosystems :

The functioning of an ecosystem depends on the pattern of energy flow because all aspects of living components of an ecosystem depend on energy flow which also helps in the distribution and circulation of organic and inorganic matter within the ecosystem. While the energy flow follows unidirectional path, the circulation of matter follows cyclic paths.

Here, only a brief discussion is presented so as to have a general idea of the functioning of ecosystem.

The energy pattern and flow are governed by first and second laws of thermodynamics. The first law states that in any system of constant mass, energy is neither created nor destroyed but it can be transformed from one type to another type (example, electrical energy can be converted into mechanical energy). In terms of ecosystem energy inflow or energy input into the system will be balanced by energy outflow from the system.

The second law of thermodynamics states that when work is done, energy is dissipated and the work is done when one form of energy is transformed into another form. In the context of ecosystem there is dissipation of energy from each transfer point (trophic level) and thus the dissipated or lost energy is not again available to the ecosystem.

Solar radiation is the basic input of energy entering the ecosystem. The radiant solar energy is received by the green plants. Most of the received solar energy is converted into heat energy and is lost from the ecosystem to the atmosphere through plant com­munities. Only a small proportion of radiant solar energy is used by plants to make food through the process of photosynthesis.

Thus, green plants trans­form a part of solar energy into food energy or chemi­cal energy which is used by the green plants to develop their tissues and thus is stored in the primary producers or autotrophs at the bottom of trophic levels. The chemical energy stored at trophic level one becomes the source of energy to the herbivorous animals at trophic level two of the food chain.

Some portion of energy is lost from trophic level one through respira­tion and some portion is transferred to plant-eating animals (herbivores) at trophic level two. The transfer of energy from trophic level one (green plants) to trophic level two (herbivores) is performed through the intake of organic tissues (which contain potential chemical energy) of green plants by the herbivores.

Thus, the chemical energy consumed by herbivores helps in the building of their own tissues and is stored at trophic level two and becomes the source of energy for carnivores at trophic level three. A substantial portion of chemical energy is released by carnivores at trophic level three through respiration because more energy is required for the work to be done by carni­vores at trophic level three (building of tissues, grow­ing, movement for grazing, catching prey, reproduc­tion of their off-springs etc.).

Some portion of potential chemical energy is transferred from trophic level three to trophic level four or top trophic level represented by omnivores (those animals which eat both plants and animals, man is the most important example of omni­vores). The animals at trophic level four mainly man also take energy from trophic levels one and two. Again some portion of energy is released by omnivores through respiration.

The remaining stored chemical energy in the plants and animals is transferred to decomposers when they (plants and animals) become dead. The decomposers release substantial amount of energy through respiration to the atmosphere. It may be pointed out that at each trophic level the available potential chemical energy to be transferred to the next higher trophic level decreases as more energy is re­leased through respiration to the atmosphere from each trophic level.

Respiration means chemical breakdown of food in the body and thus respiration releases heat which is transferred to the atmosphere. Based on above statement it may be summarized that apart from the energy released to the atmosphere through respiration, the remaining energy is transferred in successive con­sumer stages known as trophic (literally nourishment) levels from autotrophs to heterotrophs (meaning that they derive their nourishment from others). Ultimately all the energy is passed on the detrivores, or decomposer organisms’

The circulation of elements or matter or nutri­ents (organic and inorganic both) is made possible through energy flow. In other words, energy flow is the main driving force of nutrient circulation in the various biotic components of the ecosystem.

The organic and inorganic substances are moved reversibly in the bio­sphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere through various closed system of cycles in such a way that total mass of these substances remain almost the same and are always available to biotic communities.

‘In other words, the materials that make up the biosphere are distributed and redistributed by means of an infinite series of cyclic pathways motored by the continuous input of energy’ .

The materials or nutrients involved in the circulation within an ecosystem are grouped into three categories viz.:

(i) Macro-elements (which are required in large quantity by plants, e.g., oxygen, car­bon and hydrogen),

(ii) Minor or micro- elements (which are required by plants in relatively large amounts e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, mag­ nesium and sulphur) and

(iii) Trace elements (plants require very small amounts of about 100 elements, important being iron, zinc, manganese and cobalt).

Besides these inorganic chemical elements, there are organic materials as well which comprise:

(i) Decom­posed parts of either alive or dead plants and animals, and

(ii) Waste materials released by animals.

A few of the chemical elements act as organic catalysts or en­zymes because they help chemical reactions but sel­dom undergo chemical change themselves.

Such chemi­cal elements are hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen which belong to gaseous phase (that is they are found in the atmosphere in gaseous state-atmospheric reservoir or pool) and phosphate, calcium or sulphur which belong to sedimentary phase (that is they are found in weath­ered rocks and soils-sedimentary reservoirs or pool).

Thus, these elements, derived from atmospheric and sedimentary reservoirs, are pooled into soils from where these are taken by plants in solution form though the process of root osmosis. The plants then convert these elements into such forms which are easily used in the development of plant tissues and plant growth by biochemical processes (generally photosynthesis). Thus, the nutrients driven by energy flow pass into various components of biotic communities through the process known as ‘biogeochemical cycles’.

In a generalised form the biogeochemical cycles include the uptake of nutrients or inorganic elements by the plants through their roots in solution form from the soils where these inorganic elements, derived from sedimentary phase, are stored. The nutrients are transported to various trophic levels through energy flow. Here, the nutrients become organic matter and are stored in the biotic reservoirs of organic phase.

The organic elements of plants and animals are released in a variety of ways i.e.:

(i) Decomposition of leaf falls from the plants, dead plants and animals by decomposers and their conversion into soluble inor­ganic form.

(ii) Burning of vegetation by lightning, accidental forest fire or deliberate action of man. The portions of organic matter on burning are released to the atmosphere and these again fall down, under the impact of precipitation, on the ground and become soluble inorganic form of element to join soil storage, while some portions in the form of ashes are decom­posed by bacterial activity and join solid storage.

(iii) The waste materials released by animals are decom­posed by bacteria and find their way in soluble inor­ganic form to soil storage. Thus, biogeochemical cy­cles involve the movement and circulation of soluble inorganic substances (nutrients) derived from sedi­mentary and atmospheric phases of inorganic sub­stances (the two basic components of inorganic phase) through biotic phase and finally their return to inor­ganic state.

The study of biogeochemical cycles may be approached on two scales:

(i) The cycling of all the elements together, or

(ii) Cycling of individual elements e.g., carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle, phos­phorous cycle, sulphur cycle etc.

Besides, hydrological cycle and mineral cycles are also included in the broader biogeochemical cycles.

Related Articles:

• Essay on Biosphere: Top 7 Essays on Biosphere | Geography
• Carbon Cycle: Essay on the Carbon Cycle | Earth | Geography
• Essay on Biogeography | Geography
• Essay on Geochemical Cycles | Geography

Biosphere , Ecosystem , Environment , Essay , Essay on Ecosystem

Privacy Overview

The Five Major Types of Biomes

A biome is a large community of vegetation and wildlife adapted to a specific climate.

Biology, Ecology

Loading ...

Learning materials, instructional links.

• Five Major Types of Biomes (Google Doc)

A biome is a large area characterized by its vegetation, soil, climate, and wildlife. There are five major types of biomes: aquatic , grassland , forest , desert , and tundra , though some of these biomes can be further divided into more specific categories, such as freshwater , marine , savanna , tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, and taiga.

Aquatic biomes include both freshwater and marine biomes. Freshwater biomes are bodies of water surrounded by land—such as ponds, rivers, and lakes—that have a salt content of less than one percent. Marine biomes cover close to three-quarters of Earth’s surface. Marine biomes include the ocean, coral reefs, and estuaries.

Grasslands are open regions that are dominated by grass and have a warm, dry climate. There are two types of grasslands : tropical grasslands (sometimes called savannas ) and temperate grasslands . Savannas are found closer to the equator and can have a few scattered trees. They cover almost half of the continent of Africa, as well as areas of Australia, India, and South America. Temperate grasslands are found further away from the equator, in South Africa, Hungary, Argentina, Uruguay, North America, and Russia. They do not have any trees or shrubs, and receive less precipitation than savannas . Prairies and steppes are two types of temperate grasslands ; prairies are characterized as having taller grasses, while steppes have shorter grasses.

Forests are dominated by trees, and cover about one-third of the Earth. Forests contain much of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity , including insects, birds, and mammals. The three major forest biomes are temperate forests , tropical forests , and boreal forests (also known as the taiga). These forest types occur at different latitudes, and therefore experience different climatic conditions. Tropical forests are warm, humid, and found close to the equator. Temperate forests are found at higher latitudes and experience all four seasons. Boreal forests are found at even higher latitudes, and have the coldest and driest climate, where precipitation occurs primarily in the form of snow.

Deserts are dry areas where rainfall is less than 50 centimeters (20 inches) per year. They cover around 20 percent of Earth’s surface. Deserts can be either cold or hot, although most of them are found in subtropical areas. Because of their extreme conditions, there is not as much biodiversity found in deserts as in other biomes. Any vegetation and wildlife living in a desert must have special adaptations for surviving in a dry environment. Desert wildlife consists primarily of reptiles and small mammals. Deserts can fall into four categories according to their geographic location or climatic conditions: hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold.

A tundra has extremely inhospitable conditions, with the lowest measured temperatures of any of the five major biomes with average yearly temperatures ranging from -34 to 12 degrees Celsius (-29 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit). They also have a low amount of precipitation, just 15–25 centimeters (six to ten inches) per year, as well as poor quality soil nutrients and short summers. There are two types of tundra : arctic and alpine . The tundra does not have much biodiversity and vegetation is simple, including shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens . This is partly due to a frozen layer under the soil surface, called permafrost . The arctic tundra is found north of boreal forests and the alpine tundra is found on mountains where the altitude is too high for trees to survive. Any wildlife inhabiting the tundra must be adapted to its extreme conditions to survive.

The National Geographic Society is making this content available under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA license . The License excludes the National Geographic Logo (meaning the words National Geographic + the Yellow Border Logo) and any images that are included as part of each content piece. For clarity the Logo and images may not be removed, altered, or changed in any way.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Production Manager

Program specialists, specialist, content production, last updated.

August 20, 2024

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service .

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources