Ecosystem

All living organisms and non-living constituents of an area together form an ecosystem.

For example - In a garden, we have plants and trees. We also have animals there, like dogs, cats, frogs, birds, and insects. All these living organisms live in a particular temperature, plants are formed from the soil. Rainfall and wind also affects the living organisms. So, these non-living constituents like Temperature , Soil, Rainfall, Wind.

All of these living and non-living things constitute an ecosystem of the garden. 

Types of Ecosystem

Ecosystem can be of two types

• Natural Ecosystems - Ecosystem can be on land, or on Water. 
• Land ecosystems include Forests, Grasslands, Desert Ecosystem. 
• Aquatic ecosystems include Ocean and Lake Ecosystem

• Artificial Ecosystems - These Ecosystems are made by human beings. Example - Garden, Crop-fields, Aquarium

Function of Ecosystem

The function of ecosystem is to keep all its living and non-living components running in a balance.

So, we can say that the functions of the ecosystem are:

• Ecosystem maintains balance among Producers, Consumers and Decomposers
• It provides an environment for producers to trap sun’s energy and provide food.
• It is responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic components.
• The Ecosystem supports life through bio-geochemical cycles and other biospheric processes. (Example - Cleaning the air, adding nutrients to the soil)