Chapter Overview
An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature: a community of living organisms interacting with non‑living (abiotic) components in a particular area. It can range from a pond to a forest to the global biosphere. Key processes include productivity, decomposition, energy flow, ecological pyramids, succession, and nutrient cycling. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Important Keywords
- Biotic components: Producers, consumers, decomposers.
- Abiotic components: Non‑living environment—soil, water, air, light.
- Productivity: Rate of biomass production; includes GPP and NPP.
- Decomposition: Breakdown of organic matter to inorganic nutrients.
- Food chain/web: Pathways of energy from producers to consumers/decomposers.
- Ecological pyramids: Numbers, biomass, energy pyramids across trophic levels.
- Succession: Sequential change in ecosystem structure—primary vs secondary.
- Nutrient cycling: Recycling of essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus.
Detailed Notes
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