Correct Answer - Option 3 : Gardens
The correct answer is Gardens.
- An ecosystem is the basic functional unit of ecology
- Essentially, an ecosystem is a chain of interactions amongst organisms and their respective environments.
- The term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansely who was an English botanist, in the year 1953.
- Ecosystems can be broadly classified into 2 types namely Terrestrial Ecosystem and Aquatic Ecosystem.
- Ecosystems are also classified into 2 types- Natural ecosystems and Man-made/Artificial Ecosystems.
- The difference between both kinds of systems is shown in the table below-
| Natural Ecosystem |
Artificial Ecosystem |
| It consists of many species of plants and animals. |
Here Species diversity is low. |
| Genetic diversity is very high. |
Genetic diversity is very low. |
| Food chains are long and complex. |
Food chains are simple and often incomplete. |
| Ecological succession takes place over time. |
No ecological succession is seen. |
| It is naturally sustainable. |
It is naturally unsustainable. |
| Examples include Forests, Grasslands, Seas, Oceans, etc. |
Examples include Aquarium, Gardens, etc. |
The Terrestrial Ecosystems can be further divided into Forest, Grassland, Tundra, and Desert Ecosystems respectively.
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Forest Ecosystem:- This type of ecosystem consists of several plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the environment.
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Grassland Ecosystem:- The grassland ecosystem mainly consists of grasses and herbs. For example- Temperate grasslands, Savanna grasslands etc.
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Tundra Ecosystem:- Tundra ecosystems lack trees and they are found in a cold climate or in areas of very low rainfall. These are covered with snow for most of the year. For example- Arctic or mountain tops is tundra type of ecosystem.
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Desert Ecosystem:- These are the regions with very little or no rainfall characterized by very hot days and cold nights. For Example- Sahara Desert, Thar Desert, etc.
The Aquatic Ecosystem can be further classified into Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.
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Marine Ecosystem:- The marine ecosystem comprises the oceans and the seas. These types of ecosystems are characterized by high salt content and greater biodiversity with respect to the freshwater ecosystem.
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Freshwater Ecosystem:- The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that comprises lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, along with the different wetlands. These type of ecosystems consists of no salt, unlike the marine ecosystems.
