Structure of an Ecosystem

Trophic levels are categories in which living things are classified according to their way of obtaining materials and energy; Moreover, the trophic level of an organism is its position in the food chain.

         And that living things need energy to perform all vital functions, which is obtained from the sun and is captured by plants through photosynthesis which transform it into food. Then, at this point energy transfer is initiated, which passes from plants to herbivores and from herbivores to carnivores. And so a food relationship between the various bodies within the ecosystem is established.

         The different components that make up the structure of an ecosystem are based on their respective roles on the environment; the structure are divided into biotic and abiotic.

• Biotic: are living things in an ecosystem to survive, those with life. They may relate to the flora, fauna, humans from a particular place and their interactions. Individuals must have specific behavioral and physiological characteristics that allow their survival and reproduction in a defined environment. The condition of sharing an environment engenders competition among species, given for food, space, etc. It structure is based on: 

-Producers or Autotrophs: are organisms that are able to manufacture or synthesize their own food from inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts. Plants are autotrophs.

-Consumers or heterotrophs: they feed on organic substances already developed by other organisms, which feed on substances made by the producers or other consumers. Consumers also can be:

* Consumers Primary or First-Order (herbivores): are those that feed directly from plants, and this is the greatest advantage that energy reserved by the producers. Some primary consumers are rodents, insects, birds, lapwings, cow, sheep, among others.

* Consumers Secondary or First-Order Carnivora: those that eat primary consumers, but their diets are called carnivores. Within this group we find the zooplankton, some fish, opossums, snakes, frogs, among others.

*Consumers Secondary Tertiary or Carnivores: those that eat other carnivores such as raptors and cats. Within this group we find omnivores that eat both plants and animals.

-The Decomposers and Detritivores: when a plant or animal dies the bodies are disintegrated by other agencies, decomposers, which are represented by bacteria and fungi; and detritivores, which are represented by small worms, earthworms, protozoa, snails, slugs, millipedes, among others; within this group large scavengers, organisms that feed on carrion like vultures and crows are located.

         Also, the decomposition can be defined as the gradual disintegration of dead organic matter, in which complex energy-rich molecules are fragmented by decomposers and detritivores. It is for this reason that organisms belonging to this trophic level have a key role in the cycling of matter because "close" food chains in cycles, allowing organic matter is transformed into inorganic and can be captured by producers.

The other part of the structure of an ecosystem is the abiotic factor, which are the different components that determine the physical space in which living organisms; among the most important we find: water, temperature, light, pH, soil moisture, air and nutrients.

Specifically, are the factors lifeless.