Chapter-3

Ecosystem Contd.
 Types Of Ecosystems
Terrestrial Ecosystem Aquatic
Ecosystem
Forest Pond

Grassland Lake

Semi-arid areas Wetland

Deserts River

Mountains Delta

Islands Marine
 Forest Ecosystem

Abiotic Aspects

Biotic Aspects
 Abiotic Aspects
Decides about the type of forest
For Example forests on mountains differ from
forests of river valley
Amoun
t of
Rain
fall

Latitud Local
Type of
e/altitu Tempe
forests
de rature

Soil
types
 Biotic Aspects
Plants- Trees, Shrubs, Climbers,
Grasses, Herbs, Angiosperms
(Flowering Plants),Gymnosperms
(Non-Flowering Plants), Pteridophytes,
Bryophytes, Fungi, Algae.
Animals- Mammals including Man(as it
depends upon the forests directly or
indirectly), Birds, reptiles, Insects,
Amphibians, and other invertebrates.
 Forests Types in India

Coniferous Forests
(Himalayans Region Forests)
Broad leaved Forests(Includes
Evergreen, Deciduous, Thorn(semi-
arid),Mangrove Forests)
(Middle to lower attitude)
Forest Type Characteristic Plant Types Animal Types
Feature
Coniferous Forests Himalayans Gymnosperms Snow leopard (rare),
Mountain Region having cones(Pine, Brown Bear (rare) ,
Deodar) Musk Deer(rare),
Black Bear

Evergreen Forests Western Ghats (high Trees forms Tiger, Leopard,

rainfall areas), North continuous Closed Sambar, Hornbill,
Eastern India, Canopy like orchids, Rhino (rare),
Andaman and Ficus, Jamun Lion Tailed Macque
Nicobar Islands, (rare),

Deciduous Forests Regions with Teak trees (Dry Tiger, Barking deer,
moderate seasonal deciduous), Sal Hornbills.
rainfall, Shed their trees (Moist
leaves in Winters deciduous),
Thorn Forests Semi-arid regions. Babul, Ber, Neem Blackbuck,
Xerophytic Species Chinkara, Antelope,
(with thicky & waxy Lizard, Bustard
leaves and long & (rare)
fibrous root to
conserve water).

Mangrove Delta Along With River Mangrove Trees, Crocodiles,Crustace

Forests Deltas, Plants with Avicenia ans, Water monitor
breathing roots. Lizard (rare)
 Direct use of forests
Fruits
Roots
Medicines
Fuel wood
Timber wood
Bamboo for house preparation
Grass for grazing
 Indirect use of forests
Paper from bamboo and softwood
Medicinal plant parts processed into
drugs
Gums and resins
Raw material for industrial product
and chemicals
Building material for construction
and furniture for urban sector
 Threats to forests
ecosystem
Indias forests cover has decreased
about 33% to 11% in last centuary
due to
Population growth
Industralisation
Urbanisation
Agriculture
Over utilisation
Grasslan
d
Ecosyste
Characteristics of Grassland
Poor soil quality
Low rainfall
Grass cover along with small herbs
Usually seasonal appearance
Dry in summer season
Migratory species
 Types of grassland in India
Himalayan pasture belt
Terai Grasssland
Semiarid grassland
Shola grasslands
 The Himalayan pasture belt
Extends up to the
snowline.
Patches along with
coniferous or
broadleaved
forests.
Himalayan wildlife
require both the forest
and the grassland
ecosystem .
The animals migrate up
acccording to season.
Himalayan hill slopes are
covered with thousands
 The Terai Grassland
consists of patches of tall
grasslands
interspersed with a Sal
forest.
patches of tall elephant
grass, which grows to a
height of about five meters,
are located in the
cover the elevated regions
and the Himalayan foothills.
also includes marshes in low-
lying depressions.
extends as a belt south of
the Himalayan foothills.
 The Semi-arid grassland
The Semi-arid plains of
Western India, Central
India and the Deccan
are covered by
grassland tracts with
patches of thorn forest.
Amimals such as the
wolf, the blackbuck,
chinkara, and birds such
as the bustards and
floricans are adapted to
these arid conditions.
 The Shola grasslands
Consist of patches on
hillslopes along with
the Shola forests on
the Western Ghats,
Nilgiri and Annamalai
ranges.
This forms a
patchwork of
grassland on the
slopes and forest
habitats along the
streams and lowlying
areas.
HUMAN IMPACT ON GRASSLAND

DECLINE IN THE EXTENT OF

GRASSLANDS
SOIL DEGRADATION
DECLINE IN GRASSLAND BIRDS
REDUCED CARBON STORAGE
POTENTIAL
DECLINE IN WILDLIFE POPULATION
VEHICLE DRIVING IN DESERTS
FIRE AROUND GRASSLANDS
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
DECLARATION OF NO GRAZING ZONE
DECLARING PARTICULAR ZONE AS
NATIONAL PARK
CREATING AWARENESS
INNOVATIVE IRRIGATION METHODS
PLANTATION
 DESERTS

Desert and semi arid lands are highly

specialised
and sensitive ecosystems that are easily
destroyed
by human activities. The species of these
dry areas can live only in this specialised
habitat.
Deserts and semi arid areas of India

located in Western India and the Deccan

Plateau.
Cold deserts such as in Ladakh, located in the
high plateaus of the Himalayas.
The most typical desert landscape that is seen
in Rajasthan is in the Thar Desert. This has sand
dunes.
The Great and Little Rann of Kutch are highly
specialised arid ecosystems. In the summers
they are similar to a desert landscape and
converted to salt marshes during the monsoons.
 Characteristics
In most areas, the rainfall is scanty and
sporadic. In an area it may rain only once
every few years.
vegetation consists of a few shrubs and
thorny trees such as kher and babul.
The Great Rann is famous, as it is the only
known breeding colony of Flamingos.
The Little Rann of Kutch is only house of
wild ass.
 Threats to desert
ecosystems
Several types of development strategies as
well as human population growth
Conversion of these lands through
extensive irrigation systems has changed
several of the natural characteristics. The
canal water evaporates rapidly bringing the
salts to the surface and it becomes highly
unproductive as it becomes saline.
Pulling excessive groundwater from
tubewells lowers the water table
 How can desert ecosystems be conserved?

The Bishnois in Rajasthan are known to have

protected their Khejdi trees and the blackbuck
antelope. Several Bishnois were said to have
been killed while trying to protect their trees.
The Indira Gandhi Canal in Rajasthan is
destroying this important natural arid ecosystem,
as it will convert the region into intensive
agriculture.
In Kutch, areas of the little Rann, which is the
only home of the Wild Ass, will be destroyed by
the spread of salt works.
So, we need a sustainable form of development
that takes the special needs of the desert into
 Types of Aquatic ecosystems

Fresh water Marine

Ecosystem ecosystems
Flowing water Brackish water
Still water Saline water

Streams Rivers Deltas Shallows

Ponds Deep ocean
Coral reefs
Wetlands Coastal

lakes
 CASE STUDY
Threats to wetlands in Assam

Almost 40% of all wetlands in Assam are under

threat.
A survey conducted by the Assam Remote Sensing
Application Center (ARSAC), Guwahati, and the Space
Research Center, Ahemadabad, has revealed that
1367 out of 3513 wetlands in Assam are under
severe threat
Due to invasion of aquatic weeds and several
developmental activities.
The wetlands of Assam form the greatest potential
source of income for the State in terms of fisheries
and tourism.
 Questions
1. Which of the following is an example
of a biotic component of an
ecosystem?
A) the climate
B) a community
C) water
D) synthetic pesticides
E) soil
What important role do decomposers
play in the ecosystem?
A) predation
B) pollination
C) nutrient cycling
D) photosynthesis
E) symbiosis
Which of the following is a good
example of a producer?
A) nutrient-richwater
B) a rabbit
C) an alga
D) a fungus
E) a saprotroph
What is each level or "link" in a food
chain or a food web called?
A) a trophic level
B) a consumer
C) an energy flow unit
D) an equivalent
E) entropy
Which statement best portrays the grey squirrel in
the food web below?
A) Consumers that eat producers are primary
consumers.
B) Secondary consumers eat primary consumers.
C) Both secondary and tertiary consumers are
carnivores.
D) Tertiary consumers are also called
heterotrophs.
E) Primary consumers are detritus feeders.
The nitrogen cycle is one of the most important and
complex of the biogeochemical cycles. Why is
nitrogen important?
A) It's a greenhouse gas.
B) It's an essential part of biological molecules
such as proteins and nucleic acids (DNA).
C) It's the most toxic element to living organisms.
D) Nitrogen dilutes the oxygen in the atmosphere
causing respiratory problems.
E) It's a crucial part of the process of
photosynthesis.
Whit is Nitrogen fixation?
A) The conversion of gaseous nitrogen into an
organism friendly form (ammonia (NH3).
B) Preplanned setting of atmospheric levels of
nitrogen at 78%.
C) Stabilizing elemental nitrogen into a gaseous
two-atom molecule (N2).
D) The reduction of nitrate (NO3-) to gaseous
nitrogen.
E) The repair of D.N.A. by adding nitrogen to the
organism's diet.
Your body building friend says she needs the nitrogen
in protein for energy. Do you agree? Which of the
following is the best response to her statement?
A) Yes, protein is produced via photosynthesis,
which is the source of energy for the food chain.
B) Yes, energy used in respiration is stored in
chemical bonds of proteins.
C) Yes, proteins are needed for the nitrogen cycle.
D) No, energy for respiration is stored in sugars
rather than proteins.
E) No, nitrogen is not essential for life.
How can humans interfere with the
phosphorus cycle?
A) by burning natural gas
B) by mining for fertilizers
C) emissions from automobile
exhaust
D) increasing global warming
E) by burning coal
Which of the following processes plays
an important role in the phosphorus
cycle?
A) erosion
B) fixation
C) combustion
D) cellular respiration
E) ammonification