×
Ecosystem  > page  > L3 - Activity 3  >  
CLIX BIOLOGY

Let Us Make an Ecosystem

Can we make a miniature ecosystem in the classroom and study it? Yes, we can!!

Let us make an aquatic ecosystem.

Materials required:

  1. Transparent plastic bottle - 2
  2. Scissors
  3. Syringes - 5ml
  4. Water from natural water body (pond, well etc)
  5. Water cooled after boiling (some of you could bring it from home)
Step 1: Cut both bottles at a height of 14 centimetres bottom and wash it well.
Bottlebottle
Step 2: Now fill one bottle with water from the natural water body and other with water cooled after boiling.

Step 3: Add 20ml artificial manure solution to both using the syringes. Mix well and keep it near the window of the classroom.

Step 4: Do not forget to mark which bottle contains cooled boiled water and other the water from the natural water body.

Step 5: Observe the changes happening in the water during the lunch time period or during the leisure period for 15 days. Record it in our data sheet.

day  day ​

                               Day 1                                                          Day 8 (change in water colour)

      
     



Now let us see what are the biotic and abiotic factors present in a freshwater ecosystem. 
Abiotic factors: Water, Sediment (found in the bottom of the ponds, lakes etc.,), oxygen dissolved and carbon dioxide in it, many minerals, rocks etc.,
Biotic factors: Biotic factors of this ecosystem includes

  • Phytoplanktons: Are also known as microalgae, are similar to terrestrial plants in that they contain chlorophyll and require sunlight in order to live and grow.They are autotrophs and producers in a freshwater ecosystem. Eg: Algae, Diatoms etc.,
phytoplankton
Diatoms 
  • Water Plants: Some of these plants like lotus come to the water surface while others are submerged. They are also phototropic and producers.
  • Zooplanktons:  They are the tiny animals found near the surface in aquatic environments. They are primary consumers - they eat phytoplanktons. Eg: copepods, jellyfish etc.,
zooplankton
Zooplanktons
  • Fishes: They are major consumers of the aquatic ecosystem. Some of them are primary consumers while others are secondary or tertiary consumers. 
  • Other organisms such as Water sakes, Terpenes, Snails, Frogs etc live in the aquatic ecosystem.
We human beings are also dependent on a freshwater ecosystem. We are dependent for drinking water, fishes and for our household purposes. Many of the freshwater ecosystem present on the Earth's surface (Ponds, Lakes, Streams, Rivers etc) also act as a source of drinking water which we collect from wells or tube wells. 
 

In the video, you can see some selected phytoplankton and zooplanktons present in a freshwater ecosystem.

​

Let us do these excercises also

Make a list of biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem you made?

Can you tell us why the ecosystem made using water cooled after boiling did not develop the green color?

Can you make a list of the abiotic and biotic factors present in the garden ecosystem present in your school or home?
[Contributed by administrator on 10. Januar 2018 21:33:20]


×
    Programs