Structure and Function of an Ecosystem

Structure and function of an ecosystem

The two important aspects of an ecosystem are:

• Structure and
• Function

Structure of an ecosystem consists of

• Composition of biological community (eg: plants, animals and microbes), biomass, life cycles and distribution in space.
• Quantity, distribution and cycling of non-living materials (macro and micro nutrients, trace elements and water)
• Variation of conditions like temperature, rainfall, sunlight, relative humidity, wind and topography.

Function of an ecosystem consists of

• Rate of biological energy flow (production and respiration rates)
• Rate of nutrient cycles
• Ecological regulation (Environment regulation in the form of photoperiodism and Organism regulation in the form of nitrogen fixation by organisms)

From the trophic stand-point, an ecosystem has two components

• Autotrophic component and
• Heterotrophic component

Autotrophic component involves

• Fixation of light energy
• Use of simple inorganic substances like carbon and water
• Synthesis of hexose sugars (glucose) to complex substances such as polysaccharide carbohydrate (starch), fat and protein synthesis.

Heterotrophic component involves

• Utilization
• Rearrangement and Decomposition of complex substances
• Herbivores, Carnivores and Omnivores (Phagotrophs) and microconsumers (decomposers, osmotrophs and saprotrophs) comprise the heterotrophic component.