In only the autotrophs can produce their own food and the others are dependent on this production. All the living organisms in an ecosystem are interrelated in terms of feeding and being fed thus forming a definite chain known as food-chain. Food chains are of two main types:
1. Grazing food-chain: Starting with autotrophic plants and [...]
It is the most powerful weather event on the earth, disrupting weather pattern across half of the earth’s surface. The most recent El Nino began to develop in 1989 and lingering until 1995. It resulted in unusual weather and short term climate changes that caused losses in crops and commercial fishing.
The BOD test is an indirect measure of the biodegradable organic matter in an aqueous sample. The test is indirect because oxygen used by microbes as they degrade organic matter is measured. Generally the test is performed over a 5 day period (BOD5) of 20°C in 300 ml bottles incubated in the dark to prevent [...]
A large terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem characterized by distinctive kinds of plants and animals and maintained by a distinct climate and soil conditions. Such as the desert biome is characterized by low annual rainfall, high rate of evaporation, resulting in dry environmental conditions. Special adaptations allow organisms to survive in this condition. Other examples of [...]
The term is used to describe the growth and accumulation of living organisms on the surfaces of submerged artificial structures as opposed to natural surfaces. It results in increased costs of recovery of normal functioning of man made structures such as ships, buoys, floats, pipes, cables etc. Biofouling may be of two types-
Microfouling- microorganisms form [...]
Organic matter produced within an ecosystem is known as autochthonous material. Organic matter entering a stream, lake or ocean but derived from an adjacent terrestrial ecosystem is identified as allchthonous material.
A term with alternative definitions, not all of them synonymous. To state two (i) the ‘occupation’ of ‘profession’ of an organism or species, or (ii) the range of conditions, resource levels and densities of other species allowing the survival, growth and reproduction of an organism or species. Hence, if each condition, resource or other species [...]
