An ecosystem is a group of living and nonliving organisms in a given area, which is in continuous contact with each other, ensuring an ecological equilibrium. Biotic or living beings are human, plant, and animal, while abiotic or non-living beings are rock, dirt, water, air, and other associated components of that area.

Ecosystems are generally divided into two types:

• Terrestrial ecosystem: Land Earth-based
• Aquatic ecosystem: Water-based ecosystem

All ecosystems fall into one of the groups listed above. Below are the types of ecosystems.

• Forest Ecosystem:
• Classification is based on the respective climate – boreal, temperate, or tropical. Forest ecosystems in temperate areas may have a coniferous type of flora, a deciduous type, or a combination of both. Rainforest ecosystems in the tropics have the most complex plant and animal ecosystems on Earth. Here the trees grow tall, and the vegetation is thick and green with a wet and humid climate, with the species rising from the root to the canopy. The boreal forests are located in the far north, with an affluent population of coniferous trees known as the taiga.
• Desert Ecosystem:
• The most distinguishing characteristic of this ecosystem is the amount of precipitation it gets, which is the least that any ecosystem receives. This ecosystem could occur from the Arctic to the Tropics. Not all deserts are hot; some of them are windy.
• Grassland Ecosystem:
• They are present in savannahs, steppes, and prairies, temperate and tropical areas. They may also occur in cooler regions and share a similar characteristic: semi-aridity. Flowers can be scattered around the lawn, but the trees are nearly non-existent.
• Marine Ecosystem:
• It includes saltwater and inhabits a wide range of species. They are the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Marine encloses oceanic beds and coastal zones, salt marshes, estuaries, saltwater swamps, coral reefs, mangroves, etc.
• Tundra Ecosystem:
• Tundra signifies polar areas at low altitudes. It is marked by extreme weather conditions similar to deserts and is normally wind-swept, snow-covered and treeless. The land is frozen during the year and, throughout the short summers, the snow melts to create shallow pools, giving birth to small flowers and lichens.
• Freshwater Ecosystems:
• In contrast to aquatic ecosystems, they pertain to the ecosystem present in rivers, wetlands, streams, coastal swamps and freshwater springs. They include plankton, algae, insects, amphibians and aquatic plants.

The ecosystem functions are as follows:

• It controls critical ecosystem processes, promotes life-saving mechanisms and ensures sustainability.
• It is also responsible for the circulation of nutrients amongst biotic and abiotic components.
• It provides an equilibrium between the different trophic levels in the environment.
• The minerals cycle across the biosphere.
• Abiotic components assist in the synthesis of organic elements that require energy exchange.

Natural EcosystemArtificial EcosystemForests, lakes and deserts are the natural ecosystems.Dams, gardens, parks which humans make are artificial ecosystems.These are formed naturally without any human intervention.Zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens are examples of artificial ecosystems maintained to conserve biodiversity.It refers to a community of living and nonliving organisms interacting with each other through physical, biological and chemical processes.Plants and animals are placed in well-protected areas similar to their natural habitats.

In conclusion, the ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of ecology. It is of two types, Terrestrial ecosystem and aquatic ecosystem. The ecosystem promotes life-saving mechanisms and ensures sustainability.

1. State the structure of the ecosystem.
2. The ecosystem structure involves the species and physical characteristics of the environment, including the amount and distribution of nutrients in a specific habitat. It also provides detail on the climatic conditions of the region.
3. Which is the world’s largest ecosystem?
4. The aquatic ecosystem is the largest in the world. It has freshwater and coastal ecosystems and makes up 70% of Earth’s surface.
5. What is the primary function of the ecosystem?
6. The ecosystem acts as the functional unit of the environmental structure. The abiotic components are the matrix for the synthesis of organic components, entailing an energy exchange.
7. What is a good ecosystem?
8. A healthy ecosystem consists of natural plants and animal species communicating with each other and with the climate. A stable ecosystem has an energy supply and decomposers that break down dead plants and animal matter and return vital nutrients to the soil.
9. What are all the non-living things in the ecosystem?
10. Non-living objects in the ecosystem include air, wind, water, rock, dirt, temperature, and sunlight. These are regarded as ecosystem abiotic causes.