Welcome to an enlightening journey into the fascinating world of ecosystems! In this captivating PowerPoint presentation, we delve into the intricate relationships between organisms, their environment, and the delicate balance that sustains life on our planet. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure, functions, and dynamics of ecosystems through visually stunning illustrations, compelling case studies, and scientific insights. Discover how diverse ecosystems, ranging from forests and wetlands to coral reefs and grasslands, function as complex systems that support biodiversity, regulate climate, and provide essential ecosystem services. Key Topics Covered: 1. Ecosystem Components: Explore the interactions between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements that shape ecosystems. 2. Trophic Relationships: Uncover the flow of energy and nutrients through food chains and webs, and the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers. 3. Ecological Succession: Understand the processes of ecosystem development and the dynamic changes that occur over time. 4. Human Impact: Examine the profound influence of human activities on ecosystems, including habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. By engaging with this presentation, you will deepen your appreciation for the interconnectedness of life and the fragility of ecosystems. Gain insights into the significance of conservation efforts and sustainable practices for preserving the rich tapestry of our planet's ecosystems.

1. Ecosystems
By:
Jeel Dobariya
M. Pharm. (SEM–2)
Under The Guidance Of:
Dr. Dhara Patel,
M. Pharm., PhD.
Associate Professor
Pioneer Pharmacy College,
Vadodara.

2. Ecosystem

3. Content
INTRODUCTION
4
STRUCTURE OF ECOSYSTEM
6
BIOTIC COMPONENTS
8
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
13
FUNCTION OF ECOSYSTEM
14

4. Introduction(1)
ECOLOGY:
• The term was first coined by Hons Reiter and Haekel in 1869.
• The term ecology (Okekologie) is originated from two Greek
words Oikos (eco) – means “house” or place of living and “ology”
means “the science of or the study of.
• Hence, ecology is the branch of science that deals with the study of
the pattern of relations between the organism and their
environment.
• In other words, Ecology is the study of interactions among
organisms or group of organisms with their environment.
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5. Continue…
ECOSYSTEM:
• In 1935, the British ecologist A.G. Tansley coined the term
“eco system”.
• The term “eco system” is made up of two Greek words.
• “Eco” means ecological sphere or place of living or
surroundings, where living organism does exist while
“system” means “group of organisms joined in regular and
interdependent manner.
• Hence, A group of organisms interacting among themselves
and with environment is known as ecosystem.
• Pond, lake, ocean, forest and desert, etc. are some of the
examples of the ecosystems.
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6. Structure of Ecosystem(1)
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• The structure of an ecosystem can be split into two main components, namely:
• Biotic Components
• Abiotic Components
• The structure of an ecosystem is characterised by the organisation of both biotic and
abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in our environment. It also
includes the climatic conditions prevailing in that particular environment.
• The biotic and abiotic components are interrelated in an ecosystem. It is an open
system where the energy and components can flow throughout the boundaries.

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ECOSYSTEM
Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors
Producers Consumers Decomposers
Primary
(Herbivores)
Secondary
(Primary
Carnivores)
Tertiary
(Secondary
Carnivores)

8. Biotic Components(1)
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• Biotic components are the living things that have a direct or indirect influence on other organisms in
an environment.
• For example plants, animals, and microorganisms and their waste materials.
• Based on nutrition, biotic components can be categorised into:
i. Autotrophs
ii. Heterotrophs
iii. Saprotrophs (or decomposers).

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PRODUCERS:
• It include all autotrophs such as plants. They are called
autotrophs as they can produce food through the process
of photosynthesis.
• Consequently, all other organisms higher up on the food
chain rely on producers for food.

10. Continue…
CONSUMERS:
• Consumers or heterotrophs are organisms that depend
on other organisms for food.
• Consumers are further classified into primary consumers,
secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.
• Primary consumers are always herbivores as they rely
on producers for food.
• Secondary consumers depend on primary consumers
for energy. They can either be carnivores or
omnivores.
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11. Continue…
CONSUMERS:
• Tertiary consumers are organisms that depend on
secondary consumers for food. Tertiary
consumers can also be carnivores or omnivores.
• Quaternary consumers are present in some food
chains. These organisms prey on tertiary
consumers for energy. Furthermore, they are
usually at the top of a food chain as they have no
natural predators.
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12. Continue…
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DECOMPOSERS:
• Decomposers include saprophytes such as fungi and bacteria.
• They directly thrive on the dead and decaying organic matter.
• During the decomposition inorganic nutrients are released.
• The organisms which break down the complex compounds
into simple products are called decomposers (or) reducers.
• Decomposers are essential for the ecosystem as they help in
recycling nutrients to be reused by plants.

13. Abiotic Components(1)
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• The non-living component of an ecosystem is called “abiotic component”
• These non-living components enter the body of living organism, take part in metabolic activities
and then return to the environment. The abiotic component of the ecosystems divided into three
portions.
1. Climate factors : Solar radiation, temperature, wind, water current, rainfall, etc.
2. Physical factors : Light, Fire, Soil, Air, etc.
3. Chemical factors : Organic and Inorganic substances.

14. Function of Ecosystem(2)
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• It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and renders
stability.
• It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic
components.
• It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem.
• It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
• The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components that involve the
exchange of energy.

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So the functional units of an ecosystem or functional components that work together in an
ecosystem are:
• Productivity – It refers to the rate of biomass production.
• Energy flow – It is the sequential process through which energy flows from one trophic level to
another. The energy captured from the sun flows from producers to consumers and then to
decomposers and finally back to the environment.
• Decomposition – It is the process of breakdown of dead organic material. The top-soil is the
major site for decomposition.
• Nutrient cycling – In an ecosystem nutrients are consumed and recycled back in various forms
for the utilisation by various organisms.

16. Environmental
Hazards

17. Content
INTRODUCTION
18
AIR POLLUTION
20
WATER POLLUTION
23
SOIL POLLUTION
26
RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION
30

18. Introduction(3)
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• An environmental hazard is a substance, a state or an event which has the potential to threaten
the surrounding natural environment or adversely affect people's health and natural disasters
such as storms and earthquakes.
• Any single or combination of toxic chemical, biological, or physical agents in the environment,
resulting from human activities or natural processes, that may impact the health of exposed
subjects.
• Any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological features of air, land and water is
called pollution.
• Any physical, chemical or biotic component or non-living substance that is responsible to bring
about an undesirable change in the environment is called pollutant.

19. Types of environmental hazard
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There are four types of environmental hazard:
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Soil pollution
• Radioactive pollution

20. Air Pollution(4)
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• Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are
introduced into Earth’s atmosphere.
• Sources of air pollution include gases (such as ammonia, carbon monoxide,
sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates
(both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules.
• It may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans; it may also cause
harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, and may
damage the natural or built environment.
• Air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related
diseases, including respiratory infections, heart disease, COPD(Chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease), stroke and lung cancer.

21. Sources of Air Pollution(3)
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• Air Pollution may originate from a natural or anthropogenic source or from both sources.
• Natural source – An erupting volcano, accidental fire etc.
• Man made – Industrial units, thermal power plants, automobile exhausts, fossil fuel burning, mining,
nuclear explosions.

22. Effects of Air Pollution(3)
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1. Human effects: e.g. diseases
2. Environmental Effects
• Acid rain
• Ozone Depletion
• Global Climate Change
o Green- house effect
o Global warming.

23. Water Pollution(4)
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• Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of
human activities. Water bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans,
aquifers and groundwater.
• Water pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural
environment. For example, releasing inadequately treated wastewater into
natural water bodies can lead to degradation of aquatic ecosystems.
• This can lead to public health problems for people living downstream. They
may use the same polluted river water for drinking or bathing or irrigation.
• Water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of death and disease, e.g. due
to water-borne diseases.

24. Sources of Water Pollution(3)
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• Sewage (Waste Water): The sewage water carries pathogens, a typical water pollutant, other harmful
bacteria, and chemicals that can cause serious health problems and thereby diseases.
• Agricultural Pollution: Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used by farmers to protect crops from insects
and bacteria. However, when these chemicals are mixed up with water, they produce harmful pollutants for
plants and animals.
• Industrial Waste: Industries produce a tremendous amount of waste, which contains toxic chemicals and
pollutants, causing air pollution and damage to our environment and us.
• Oil Pollution: Oil spill poses a huge threat to marine life when a large amount of oil spills into the sea and
does not dissolve in water. It causes problems for local marine wildlife, including fish, birds, and sea otters.
• River dumping and Marine Dumping: The garbage produced by households in the form of paper, plastic,
food, aluminum, rubber, glass, is collected and dumped into the rivers and seas, they not only cause water
pollution but also harm aquatic animals.

25. Effects of Water Pollution(3)
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1. Physical effects:
Settled particles may slowly accumulate on vegetation foliage and produce a deposit on the river
bed. Small suspended particles make water turbid and reduces light.
2. Chemical nutrient effects:
In water pollution, the two most important nutrients are nitrogen and phosphorous usually present
in nitrates and phosphates.
3. Microorganism effects:
Wastes that are discharged into water contain pathogenic organisms that are capable of causing
human diseases, E.g.: cholera, typhoid fever, etc.

26. Soil Pollution(4)
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• Soil pollution as part of land degradation is caused by the presence of
xenobiotics (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil
environment.
• It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper
disposal of waste. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum
hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead,
and other heavy metals.
• The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from
direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapours from the contaminants, or
from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil.

27. Sources of Soil Pollution(3)
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• Agricultural practices such as excessive use of pesticides and insecticides.
• Industrial chemical discharges from mining and manufacturing of goods.
• Contamination with polluted water caused due to acid rain.
• Presence of heavy metals in high concentrations in the soil

28. Effects of Soil Pollution(3)
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• Disposal of industries wastes on fertile lands degrades the quality of soil.
• Urban waste slowly poison the soil, damaging its fertility.
• Radioactive elements that present in polluted soil enter food chain through plants.
• It can decrease the quality of crops.
• It will increase the exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals thus increasing health threats to people
living nearby and on the degraded land.

29. Method to control Soil Pollution(3)
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• Reducing chemical fertilizer and pesticide use.
• Recycling is another way to reduce and control soil pollution.
• Reusing of materials.
➢ De-forestation, the cutting down of trees, causes erosion, pollution and the loss of fertility in the topsoil.

30. Radioactive Pollution(4)
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• Among the various other types of pollution, radioactive pollution is one
of the most serious.
• Introduction of radioactive substances into the environment, where
their presence is unintended, or the levels of radioactivity are
undesirable. Such type of pollution is harmful to life due to the
emission of ionizing radiation. This type of radiation is potent enough to
cause damage to tissues and DNA in genes.
• Radiations are classified into two types, they are:
• Non-lonizing radiations
• lonizing radiations

31. Sources of Radioactive Pollution(3)
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NATURAL SOURCES
• Cosmic Radiation
• Terrestrial Radiation
• Internal Radiation
MAN-MADE SOURCES
• Production and research of nuclear weapons
• Mining of radioactive ore
• Medical waste
• Nuclear power plants

32. Effects of Radioactive Pollution(3)
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• Radioactive pollution causes damage to DNA strands, which (over moderately long durations of
time) can lead to some forms of genetic breakup. Based on the amount of radiation that the
organism has been exposed to and the type of the radiation, the extent of the genetic mutation,
which can lead to changes in the DNA composition, is known to vary.
• This radiation will stay active once it is inside the body because energy can’t be destroyed. The
resulting genetic mutation will make the person or the organism highly susceptible to different forms
of cancer. Another important effect of radioactive pollution on organisms is infertility.

33. Control of Radioactive Pollution(3)
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Radiation can still be found in radioactive waste. As a result, it cannot be disposed of in the same manner as for regular
waste.
• Storage: It cannot be buried or incinerated. Since seepage is a possibility, this waste should be stored in large, thick
concrete containers.
• Dilution: Since storage may not be practicable, another alternative is to dilute the radiation.
• Low-level Waste: Low-level waste disposal is simple and may be done practically any place in a safe manner.
• Used Fuel: Used fuel is typically stored for at least five years underwater and subsequently in dry storage.
• Deep Geological Disposal: The greatest solution for the eventual disposal of the most radioactive waste produced is deep
geological disposal, which is widely accepted.

34. References
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1. Ankur Choudhary, ”Concept of ecosystem, Structure and function of an ecosystem”, 2008,
https://www.pharmaguideline.com/2007/01/concept-of-ecosystem-structure-and.html
2. Byju’s , ”Ecosystem”, 2020, https://byjus.com/biology/ecosystem/
3. Shreyas B. R, “Environmental hazard”, 2019, https://www.slideshare.net/shreyasBR5/environmental-hazards-
135363124.
4. Chandan gupta, “Environmental hazard”, 2020, https://www.slideshare.net/ChandanGupta209/environmental-
hazard- 234782908

35. Thank you