The balance of ecosystem

1. A few elements in an ecosystem need to be maintained in order to keep the ecosystem

balance :
(a) The size of each population.
(b) The composition of gases in air, water and soil.
(c) The composition of mineral salts in the soil.

2. The biotic and abiotic components are interdependent with one another to create a balanced
ecosystem which changes only slightly over time.

Interaction in an environment

1. Living things interact with each other and with non-living things in order to survive.

2. The interaction between living things and non-living things lead to balance in an ecosystem.

3. The example of interaction between living things and non-living things is shown below.

(a) Aquatic plants obtain mineral salts from the soil in the pond.
(b) Aquatic animals depend on aquatic plants to supply oxygen for the process of
respiration.
(c) Aquatic plants depend on aquatic animals to obtain carbon dioxide for photosyntesis.
(d) Small fishes and tadpoles eat aquatic plants.
(e) Big fishes eat small fishes.
(f) Kingfisher eats fish.
(g) Water lettuce, water hyacinth, lotus and land plants obtain sunlight for the process of
photosyntesis.

4. Interaction between living things and non-living things is important as it maintains

(a) balance in a environment ( the number and types of living thing within the environment
remain
the same ).
(b) balance in the carbon and oxygen cycles ( oxygen and carbon dioxide content in
atmosphere
remain the same ).