Structure of ecosystem

An ecosystem is a system of different species interacting with one another and their surroundings by exchanging energy and matter. It consists of plants, animals and micro-organisms. Both living and non-living components are included in an ecosystem. There are two types of ecosystems-terrestrial and aquatic. Pollution, population, change in migratory patterns etc. adversely affect the harmony of an ecosystem. Forest, steppes, savannas etc. are terrestrial ecosystems. Lakes, ponds, rivers etc. are aquatic ecosystems. Water, soil, light, air, humidity, temperature etc. are abiotic factors which are affected by change in geological, geographical, hydrological and climatological parameters. Biotic factors are organisms which can be either producers or consumers in terms of energy flowing through an ecosystem. Plants, algae and cyanobacteria are producers which convert energy from the environment into carbon bonds. Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and detritivores are consumers which extract energy from carbon bonds. Herbivores eat autotrophs. Carnivores eat herbivores. Omnivores eat both animals and plants. Beetles and termite are detritivores. Fungi, bacteria, protozoan etc. are decomposers which convert dead organic matter into simple inorganic form.