The term "Ecosystem" was coined by the British ecologist A.G. Tansley, who was a prominent member of the British Ecological Society. Tansley introduced the term in 1935 to describe the interaction between the biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (non-living components) elements in an environment.
A.G. Tansley made significant contributions to the field of ecology, and his work helped to lay the foundation for modern ecological studies. He was awarded the Linnean Medal in 1941 by the Linnean Society of London and was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, recognizing his contributions to the scientific understanding of ecology and the environment.
Tansley's concept of the ecosystem was revolutionary because it emphasized the interdependence of organisms and their environment, considering them as a unified system. This system approach to ecology helped shape how ecological studies are conducted today.
Ecosystem was recognized in the biotic community and its physical environment as a fundamental unit of ecology when the famous Scientist A.G. Tansley coined the word in 1935. Before this, the ecosystem was referred to as 'biocoenosis'.
The ecosystem forms an essential component of the biosphere comprising of a community of biotic (living beings) and the abiotic or physical environment both interacting with each other. Ecosystems are further classified into three categories of organisms namely, producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Also Read: Productivity in Ecosystem
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Gause’s ‘Competitive Exclusion Principle’ states that two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually.
Statement II: In general, carnivores are more adversely affected by competition than herbivores.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
In the equation GPP - R = NPP
GPP is Gross Primary Productivity
NPP is Net Primary Productivity
R here is ________.
An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology where the living organisms come in to interact with each other and the surrounding environment.
The structure of an ecosystem is distinguished by the organization of both biotic and abiotic components. This involves the distribution of energy in our environment. It also comprises the climatic conditions prevailing in that particular environment.
There are two main components of the structure of an ecosystem, namely:
The biotic and abiotic components are interconnected in an ecosystem. It is an open system where the energy and components can flow through the boundaries.