__________ can be visualized as a functional unit of nature, where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC GD Constable (2022) Official Paper (Held On : 12 Jan 2023 Shift 3)

Answer 1

The correct answer is An ecosystem.

Key Points

Here is a brief explanation about an ecosystem:
Interaction of Life and Non-Life:
- An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, microbes) interacting amongst themselves and with their non-living surroundings (atmosphere, earth, sun, soil, climate).
Energy Flow:
- The ecosystem is characterized by the flow of energy and matter through food chains and food webs.
- It starts with the energy from the sun being captured by plants in the process of photosynthesis.
Nutrient Cycling:
- In an ecosystem, nutrients are cycled through various living and non-living components.
- This involves processes like decomposition and nutrient absorption by plants.
Different Types:
- Ecosystems can vary widely in size and characteristics, from a small pond to a large forest or even an entire biome such as a desert or tundra.
Balance:
- Ecosystems inherently maintain a balance between different species and resources.
- However, human intervention or natural disasters can disrupt this balance, affecting the entire ecosystem's functionality.
Here is a simple illustrating the structure of an ecosystem: