Understanding Environmental Factors and Their Impact on Ecosystems

Environment:

     Where we live its surrounding called environment. Specific organisms live in specific

environment.  Specific environment include specific temperature, atmosphere and some other factors as shown in figure. These factors are limited in environment. 

There are four main component of environment which are lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Ecosystem:

        Eco related to environment and system means a collection of related parts. A place where

 biotic depends upon abiotic things is called ecosystem.

Another definition of ecosystem is:

"All communities interact with each other make a ecosystem." 

Communities:

        All population (a group of same species) interact with each other are called communities. There are two major types community: 

1. Simple community
2. Complex community

Simple community:

     A group which has few species ( a group of organisms which are live together and freely interbreed to reproduce their organisms) of organisms in an ecosystem is called simple community. For example a little forest which has few plants and animals. It has limited diversity and easy to study and predict. 

Complex community:

    A group which has many species of organisms in an ecosystem. It is more diverse and 

dynamic. It is difficult to study and predict. For example: A tropical rain forest with numerous

species.

Factors of ecosystem:

        There are two main factors of ecosystem:

1.  Biotic factors 
2.   A-biotic factors

Biotic Factors:

        Living organisms of ecosystem are called biotic factor. These are producers, consumers

and decomposers.

Producers:

      The organisms which can produce their own food are called producers.

All autotrophs are producers, every food chain is always started from producers. 

Examples of producers are plants, some bacteria and some species of protists (algae). 

Consumers:

       The organisms which have no ability to produce their food and depend on producers

to consume food. They are heterotrophs. All members of kingdom animalia are consumers. There are further types of consumers  depend upon type of nutrition. Animals are divided into three groups which are herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

Herbivores:

    The consumers which are eat just grass and shoots of plant are called herbivores. They

have specialized designed teeth for grinding plants leaves which are incisors, molar and 

premolars. Incisors are found at the front of mouth. Molars and premolars are located at 

back of mouth. Canines are absent in them. For example goat, cow, deer and sheep etc.

Carnivores:

    The consumers which are eat just meat of other animals are called carnivores. They have

specialized teeth for catching, killing and for cutting into pieces his prey. The incisors are 

small and sharp at front of mouth. Canines are long and sharp next to incisors. Last are molars

and premolars. There are absence of grinding surface. For example lion, tiger, dog and wolf etc.

Omnivores:

    The consumers which are eat both meat and grass are called omnivores. They have teeth

incisors for cutting leaves, canines for meat and molars and premolars are for grinding food.

For example human, crows, red fox and bear etc.

Decomposer:

    The decomposers gain their nutrient by decaying organic matter and change complex matter

into simple matter. Because of this also known as recyclers. Some bacteria and fungi are decomposer.

Some fungi are parasites.

A-Biotic:

    The non living factor of ecosystem is known as a-biotic factor. The major factors are air,

water, temperature and soil. Organisms are really depend on these factor.

Air:

    Air is essential for all living organisms. Air is the mixture of gases. Which contain oxygen,

nitrogen and carbon dioxide, necessary for metabolism and for other activities. For example

oxygen for breathing, carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and nitrogen for protein synthesis.

 Water:

    Water is necessary factor for life. Our total body has 60%

 made up of water. Mostly metabolism take place in water. 

It protect organs from friction and abrasive damage. It is also 

main factor in photosynthesis (production of glucose). Many

organisms live in water. Water also work as temperature stabilizer

in our environment. It has great ability of absorbing heat which 

protects organisms from sudden thermal change.

Temperature:

    Suitable temperature is very essential for life. The range of suitable temperature is

approximately 0°C-40°C. It is different for different organism. For example some bacteria 

can exist -5°C.If temperature will increase  or decrease from its normal value it become 

very difficult to live.

Soil:

    Soil is also a necessary factor especially for plants. Plants root are gain nutrient (such as sulphur,

nitrogen, phosphorus etc) from soil. It gave also support and help in balanced its weight. Some 

as like ants live in soil.