Components of Ecosystem

The components of the ecosystem can be categorised into abiotic or non-living and biotic or
living components;

Abiotic components: The important abiotic components are

a) Energy: basically from the sun is essential for maintenance of life. In the case of plants, the sun directly supplies the necessaty energy. Since animals cannot use solar energy directly they obtain it indirectly by eating plants or animals or both. Energy determines the distribution-prganisms in the environment.

b) Materials: (i) organic compound\oteins, carbohydrates, lipids, humic substances which are formed from inorganic into them on decomposition. (ii) inorganic carbon, carbon dioxide, water, sulphur, nitrates, phosphates, and ions of vari-tals are essential for organisms to survive.

c) Climatic factors: light, heat, temperature, wind, humidity, rainfall, snowfall etc.

d) Edaphic factors (structure and composition of soil along with its physical and chemical components.

Biotic components: Biotic components include living organisms comprising plants, animals and decomposers and are classified according to their functional attributes into producers and consumers.