7 Ecosystem Diagram: Natural, Terrestrial, Biotic, Abiotic, Complex, Simple And Facts

An ecosystem refers to a collective community of organisms living and interacting with their environment in a specific environment.

An ecosystem diagram is a diagram showing the direction of the flow of energy and nutrients in a specific habitat system. Both energy and nutrients simply flow from the biotic to the abiotic components of the ecosystem.

An ecosystem consists of biotic i.e. living and abiotic components which are non-living. Since energy cannot be destroyed it is just converted to various forms like- kinetic, chemical or thermal energy and is recycled across the ecosystem. All ecosystems depend on solar energy from the sun which is then converted to other forms as their primary energy source.

Parts of an ecosystem diagram:

An ecosystem is divided into two parts: abiotic constituents (minerals, climate, soil, water, sunshine, and all other nonliving factors) and biotic constituents (all living members). Two basic dynamics connect these constituents: the movement of energy through the ecosystem and the cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem which are represented by arrows in different colours.

ecosystem-diagram
Diagram showing Nitrogen fixation in an ecosystem
Image: Wikipedia

Ecosystems vary in size: some are small enough to fit within a single droplet of water, while others are huge enough to engulf entire landscapes and countries. The diagrams of biotic and abiotic components are equally important to show the flow of nutrients and energy across the ecosystem.

One of the main goals is to show the nutrient cycling of 6 major elemem=nts including- nitrogen, oxygen,

Simple ecosystem diagram:

A simple ecosystem is one restricted to a smaller environment or habitat. This means that the energy and nutrients are contained in a small cycle.

Something like an aquarium or a small pond is a simple ecosystem. The ecosystem is simple because the variables i.e components are usually fixed.

Complex ecosystem diagram:

A complex ecosystem has a larger variety of components biotic and abiotic. This also means that the energy and nutrient flow is not always one way.

A complex ecosystem diagram shows the abiotic components of the environment and the biotic components are not simply labelled but also differentiated into classes of -producers, consumers and decomposers.

Any ecosystem comprises a certain amount of organic matter, which includes all of its vegetative and animal creatures; the weight of this matter is referred to as “biomass,” and it is computed dry and per unit of area inhabited by the ecosystem.

Biotic and Abiotic ecosystem diagram:

Biotic and Abiotic ecosystems cannot occur individually. Biotic and abiotic factors make up a properly functioning ecosystem together. Biocenosis is a group of living species, such as animals, plants, or microorganisms, that are constantly interacting and so interdependent.

FoodWeb.svg
Image showing a freshwater and a terrestrial food web
Image: Wikipedia

The biotic factors in the diagram include-

  • Producers: Including plants, algae, and some microbes these are “autotrophic” creatures that generate the organic stuff they require to live and grow by themselves, using simple inorganic substances such as water, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrates.
  • Consumers are classified as “heterotrophic” organisms since they cannot make their food and must rely on producers (for example, herbivore consumers such as cows and lambs that eat grass) as well as other consumers (carnivore consumers).
  • Decomposers: Bacteria and fungi feed on the tissues of deceased and decaying organisms are known as decomposers.

A biotope is a distinct physical habitat with unique physical features such as climate, temperature, humidity, nutrient concentration, or pH.

Natural ecosystem diagram:

A natural ecosystem refers to one that is naturally found in nature like a forest ecosystem, a pond ecosystem or a marine ecosystem. A natural ecosystem results from the interaction of interactions between species and their surroundings. An ocean, for example, is classed as a marine ecosystem, which includes algae, consumers, and decomposers.

 In this sort of ecosystem, a cycle begins with algae converting energy through photosynthesis. Energy is transmitted across species when consumers consume algae. In this system, as consumers die, decomposers decompose them into organic compounds. This process occurs gradually over time, whereas human intervention is needed in an artificial ecosystem.

Terrestrial ecosystem diagram:

A terrestrial ecosystem is the interplay of biocenosis and biotope components in a specific area on terrestrial areas i.e on land. Tundra, taigas, temperate deciduous and tropical rainforests, grasslands, and deserts are all various examples of terrestrial ecosystems. The type of terrestrial ecosystem present in a particular location is determined by the temperature range, average precipitation, soil type, and amount of light received.

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Image of the Amazon rainforest biotope
Image: Wikipedia

Terrestrial ecosystem diagrams vary from aquatic ecosystem diagrams in that soil rather than water is present at the surface, and plants extend beyond this soil/water surface throughout terrestrial ecosystems. Water availability varies greatly throughout ecological systems (including water shortages in some circumstances), whereas water is rarely a limiting factor for life in aquatic ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems often face greater seasonal and diurnal temperature differences than marine ecosystems in similar regions because water cushions temperature fluctuations.

Pond ecosystem diagram:

A pond can be a natural or a man-made ecosystem surrounding a stagnant body of freshwater. This included the biotic and abiotic components present in the water and also surrounding this water body.

Pond ecosystems are distinct from other types of water ecosystems. Unlike the river ecosystem, which is classified as Lotic, the pond ecosystem is classified as Lentic since the water in ponds remains stationary for a longer period.

Based on water depth and types of vegetation and animals there may be three zones in a lake or pond. The different zones are as follows:

  1. The littoral zone is a shallow water region that is typically populated by rooted plants.
  2. The limnetic zone extends from shallow to effective light penetration depth, and associated creatures include small crustaceans, rotifers, insects and their larvae, and algae.
  3. Pro-fundal zone- These are the deep-water areas with no effective light penetration. Mussels, crabs, and worms are examples of related organisms.

Coral reef ecosystem diagram:

Coral reefs are among the world’s most diversified ecosystems. Coral polyps, the invertebrates largely responsible for reef formation, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including vast reef-building colonies, elegant floating fans, or even small, lonely species. Thousands of coral species have been found; some thrive in warm, shallow tropical waters, while others live in frigid, dark ocean depths.

Corals reefs are composed of various coals which are in themselves consumers. Others include anemones and shellfish. The main producers are algae and kelp and some diatomic organisms like zooplankton and phytoplankton.

800px Blue Linckia Starfish
Image of a corral reef ecosystem Image: Wikipedia

Some animals like sharks and dolphins do not live in the reefs themselves but depend on them for food. Corals that reside in shallow water have a symbiotic association with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae that live in their tissues. The coral provides a safe environment as well as the substances required by zooxanthellae for photosynthesis. In exchange, the algae create carbohydrates and oxygen, which the coral consumes for sustenance. The algae also aid in the removal of waste from the coral. Mutualism refers to a sort of symbiosis in which both partners profit from the interaction.

Deep-sea corals lack zooxanthellae and survive in significantly deeper or colder oceanic environments. Unlike their shallow-water relatives, which rely mainly on photosynthesis to make food, deep-sea corals obtain a large portion of their energy from plankton and organic materials.

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