Grassland ecosystem
It is an excellent example of terrestrial ecosystem. It consists of land dominated by grasses along with the animals. It occurs naturally in all continents except Antarctica and found in most ecoregions of the world. It occupies about 25% of the total landmass and grows in area with less rainfall i.e. about 25-75cm. This type of landscape shows sharp seasonal and diurnal variations, high temperature and radiation and limited moisture content of the air and the top soil is rich in humus. Prairie and Pampas are the world's famous grasslands.The extensive grassland, Shuklaphanta National Park of state-7 is the best example of grassland ecosystem in Nepal.
Structure of grassland ecosystem:
The structural components of grassland ecosystem like other also made up of biotic and abiotic components.
Abiotic components:
It includes physical factors (light, temperature, wind, rainfalls, humidity and atmospheric pressure) and chemical- nitrates, phosphates, sulphate of elements like potassium, calcium etc. and other edaphic factors. The top soil is rich in humus and of usually neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
Biotic components:
These include members i.e. producers, consumers and decomposers.
Producers:
Grassland includes various types of dominant grasses along with patches of shrubs and trees. The tall grasses like andropogon, Typha etc. are available where water is sufficient but substratum with scarcity of water covered by Oryzopsis, Saccharum spp. Producers may also be some spp. others flowering and non flowering herbs.
Consumers:
They are the heterotrophic animals which obtain energy from producers directly or indirectly. It is of three types-
Primary consumers:
They feed on plants and are called herbivores e.g. grasshopper, flies, beetle etc. are small primary consumers whereas deer, rabbits etc. are larger primary consumers.
Secondary consumer:
They feed on herbivores and are called primary carnivorous e.g. spider, toad, lizard, fox, jackal etc.
Tertiary consumers:
They are the top carnivorous and are called secondary carnivorous.
Decomposers:
The dead bodies of living beings and excretory products are acted by bacteria and fungi and convert the complex biomolecules in them into simple inorganic chemical to be used again by producers. Thus decomposers are also called transformer.
Structure of grassland ecosystem:
The structural components of grassland ecosystem like other also made up of biotic and abiotic components.
Abiotic components:
It includes physical factors (light, temperature, wind, rainfalls, humidity and atmospheric pressure) and chemical- nitrates, phosphates, sulphate of elements like potassium, calcium etc. and other edaphic factors. The top soil is rich in humus and of usually neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
Biotic components:
These include members i.e. producers, consumers and decomposers.
Producers:
Grassland includes various types of dominant grasses along with patches of shrubs and trees. The tall grasses like andropogon, Typha etc. are available where water is sufficient but substratum with scarcity of water covered by Oryzopsis, Saccharum spp. Producers may also be some spp. others flowering and non flowering herbs.
Consumers:
They are the heterotrophic animals which obtain energy from producers directly or indirectly. It is of three types-
Primary consumers:
They feed on plants and are called herbivores e.g. grasshopper, flies, beetle etc. are small primary consumers whereas deer, rabbits etc. are larger primary consumers.
Secondary consumer:
They feed on herbivores and are called primary carnivorous e.g. spider, toad, lizard, fox, jackal etc.
Tertiary consumers:
They are the top carnivorous and are called secondary carnivorous.
Decomposers:
The dead bodies of living beings and excretory products are acted by bacteria and fungi and convert the complex biomolecules in them into simple inorganic chemical to be used again by producers. Thus decomposers are also called transformer.
Comments
Post a Comment