When we refer to the biotic ecosystem structure talk about the parts or elements that compose it and the relationships between them to form a whole.
Biotic structure is determined by the various agencies or living things that make up the ecosystem and how they interact to give rise to different classes of organisms. In this sense, the biotic structure is based on power relations , resulting in three major categories of organisms :
1 ) producers ,
2 ) consumers
3 ) saprophytic decomposers.
Producers: Mainly related to organisms that have the ability to harness light energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen through the mechanism of photosynthesis. Furthermore, these organisms make their own food from the sugar molecules and other elements from the soil
Consumers: Consumers are characterized by obtaining energy producers or consumers of other organisms. In this category we can find a variety of microorganisms and macro-organisms . Within this category we can define different groups, depending on the source of obtaining energy. When the consumer eats primary producers are called primary consumers or herbivores, whereas when feeding on primary consumers called secondary consumers, or carnivores second order. Consumers can eat both plants and animals are considered omnivores. When consumers, plant or animal feed for a longer period of time from another plant or animal, is called parasite.
Saprophytes or decomposers of detritus: This category includes organisms that feed on detritus, dead plant material or corpses or animal feces. Here we find organisms such as earthworms, ants and beetles, fungi and bacteria also found.
Abiotic ecosystem structure is determined by the physical and chemical agents thereof. These agents largely determine the survival of the organisms in the ecosystem and their importance varies according to the environment to which we refer. The main actors are (Bernard & Wright, 1999):
• Rainfall pattern: amount and annual distribution and soil moisture
• Temperature: extremes of cold and heat, average
• Light: intensity
• Wind: Speed
• Chemical nutrients: phosphorus, nitrogen , sulfur
• PH: acidity
• Salinity: freshwater or saltwater
• Turbidity: The amount the light passing through the water column
• Soil texture: rocky or sandy
• Fire patterns
Each species , in particular each agency to respond in differential form factors ; There is a range of values within which the organism can carry out the fundamental processes of growth and reproduction , however , there is an optimum level for each factor or in which organisms function better.
Biotic structure is determined by the various agencies or living things that make up the ecosystem and how they interact to give rise to different classes of organisms. In this sense, the biotic structure is based on power relations , resulting in three major categories of organisms :
1 ) producers ,
2 ) consumers
3 ) saprophytic decomposers.
Producers: Mainly related to organisms that have the ability to harness light energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen through the mechanism of photosynthesis. Furthermore, these organisms make their own food from the sugar molecules and other elements from the soil
Consumers: Consumers are characterized by obtaining energy producers or consumers of other organisms. In this category we can find a variety of microorganisms and macro-organisms . Within this category we can define different groups, depending on the source of obtaining energy. When the consumer eats primary producers are called primary consumers or herbivores, whereas when feeding on primary consumers called secondary consumers, or carnivores second order. Consumers can eat both plants and animals are considered omnivores. When consumers, plant or animal feed for a longer period of time from another plant or animal, is called parasite.
Saprophytes or decomposers of detritus: This category includes organisms that feed on detritus, dead plant material or corpses or animal feces. Here we find organisms such as earthworms, ants and beetles, fungi and bacteria also found.
Abiotic ecosystem structure is determined by the physical and chemical agents thereof. These agents largely determine the survival of the organisms in the ecosystem and their importance varies according to the environment to which we refer. The main actors are (Bernard & Wright, 1999):
• Rainfall pattern: amount and annual distribution and soil moisture
• Temperature: extremes of cold and heat, average
• Light: intensity
• Wind: Speed• Chemical nutrients: phosphorus, nitrogen , sulfur
• PH: acidity
• Salinity: freshwater or saltwater
• Turbidity: The amount the light passing through the water column
• Soil texture: rocky or sandy
• Fire patterns
Each species , in particular each agency to respond in differential form factors ; There is a range of values within which the organism can carry out the fundamental processes of growth and reproduction , however , there is an optimum level for each factor or in which organisms function better.
