Environment

  a universal process of directional change in vegetation, on an ecological time scale. occurs when a series of communities replace one another due to large scale destruction either natural or manmade. continously -one community replacing another community, until a stable, mature community develops. The first plant to colonise an area is called the pioneer … Read more

The elements or mineral nutrients are always in circulation moving from non-living to living and then back to the non-living components of the ecosystem in a more or less circular fashion. This circular fashion is known as biogeochemical cycling (bio for living; geo for atmosphere). Nutrient Cycling: The nutrient cycle is a concept that describes … Read more

  The interaction between the organisms is fundamental for its survival and functioning of ecosystem as a whole. Type of Biotic Interaction Mutualism: both species benefit. Example: in pollination mutualisms, the pollinator gets food (pollen, nectar), and the plant has its pollen transferred to other flowers for cross-fertilization (reproduction).   Commensalism: one species benefits, the … Read more

  Movement of these pollutants involves two main processes:   Bioaccumulation refers to how pollutants enter a food chain. there is an increase in concentration of a pollutant from the environment to the first organism in a food chain.   Biomagnification refers to the tendency of pollutants to concentrate as they move from one trophic … Read more

  ENERGY FLOW- Energy is the basic force responsible for all metabolic activities. The flow of energy from producer to top consumers is called energy flow  which is unidirectional. Energy flows through the trophic levels: from producers to subsequent trophic levels. There is a loss of some energy in the form of unusable heat at … Read more

Biosphere is a part of the earth where life can exist. represents a highly integrated and interacting zone comprising of atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water) and lithosphere (land) Life in the biosphere is abundant between 200 metres (660 feet) below the surface of the ocean and about 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) above sea level. absent at … Read more

  Aquatic systems are not called biomes, The major differences between the various aquatic zones are due to salinity, levels  of dissolved nutrients; water temperature, depth of sunlight penetration.   Fresh Water Ecosystem-Fresh water ecosystem are classified as lotic (moving water) or lentic (still or stagnant water).   Marine Ecosystem- Estuaries-Coastal bays, river mouths and … Read more

Biome The terrestrial part of the biosphere is divisible into enormous regions called biomes, which are characterized, by climate, vegetation, animal life and general soil type. No two biomes are alike. The most important climatic factors are temperature and precipitation. Tundra- Northern most region  adjoining the ice bound  poles. Devoid of trees except stunted shrubs … Read more

  Niche:- a  description  of  all  the  biological,  physical  and  chemical  factors  that  a  species needs to survive, stay healthy and reproduce. No two species have exact identical niches. Niche plays an important role in conservation of organisms. Types of Niche Habitat niche – where it lives Food niche – what is eats or decomposes … Read more

  Natural Ecosystem- Terrestrial- Forests, Grasslands, Deserts Aquatic- Fresh Waters, Saline Waters, Marine Waters Ecotone :- a zone of junction between two or more diverse ecosystems. For e.g. the mangrove forests represent an ecotone between marine and terrestrial ecosystem. Characteristics of Ecotone It may be very narrow or quite wide. It has the conditions intermediate … Read more