Ecosystem Structure:

• Components: Ecosystems consist of both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors.
• Components include soil, water, climate, and nutrients.
• Understanding structure helps comprehend ecosystem functioning.

Ecosystem Functioning:

• Study of processes and interactions within ecosystems.
• Involves energy flow, nutrient cycling, and species roles in stability.

Food Webs and Trophic Levels:

• Ecosystems have complex food webs with different trophic levels.
• Producers (plants), consumers (herbivores and carnivores), and decomposers.
• Vital for nutrient cycling and energy transfer.

Biogeochemical Cycles:

• Essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle in ecosystems.
• Movement between biotic and abiotic components.
• Critical for ecosystem functioning.

Succession:

• Gradual change in ecosystem structure and composition over time.
• Includes primary and secondary succession after disturbances.

Biodiversity:

• Variety of species and their genetic diversity within ecosystems.
• High biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience.
• Evil quartet is a term related to four major causes of biodiversity losses.

Energy Flow:

• Energy flows unidirectionally in ecosystems.
• Captured by primary producers and transferred through food chains.

Trophic Interactions:

• Predation, herbivory, and competition shape ecosystems.
• Influence species populations and distribution.

Ecosystem Services:

• Ecosystems provide valuable services like clean water and climate regulation.
• Vital for conservation and sustainable management.

Human Impact:

• Human activities impact ecosystems negatively (deforestation, pollution) and positively (conservation).
• Key challenges include habitat destruction and climate change.

Conservation and Restoration:

• Strategies to protect and restore ecosystems.
• Includes protected areas, habitat restoration, and sustainable resource management.
• The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the ‘Earth Summit’, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-14 June 1992.

Biomes:

• Distinct ecosystem types in different regions (e.g., rainforests, deserts).
• Each biome has unique characteristics and species.

Aquatic Ecosystems:

• Oceans, rivers, lakes, wetlands have unique dynamics.
• Crucial for global biodiversity and climate regulation.

Urban Ecology:

• Study of ecosystems in urban environments.
• Focuses on how human activities impact local ecosystems and sustainability.