Question

Differentiate between natural and artificial ecosystems.

Answer 1

Hint: An ecosystem forms the basic building block of an environment. It consists of both biotic and abiotic components and their continuous interactions with each other.

Complete answer:
Difference between natural and artificial ecosystems are -

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.
Sunlight is the energy source for plants and this energy drives all biological cycles.	Sunlight is the ultimate energy source for plants but artificial fertilizers and other nutrients are externally supplied to the soil.
Food chains are long and complex.	Food chains are simple and often incomplete as other species are killed as pests or weeds.
Ecological succession takes place over time.	No ecological succession.
Natural nutrient cycling takes place.	Incomplete nutrient cycling occurs.
It is naturally sustainable.	It is unsustainable as most fertilizers are made from non-renewable fossil fuels, and they add to water pollution, biomagnification, and other ecological disturbances.

Note: Natural ecosystem is a community of living and nonliving organisms, where each component interacts together as a unit through biological, physical, and chemical processes. The components enabling the interactions that make up the natural ecosystems include soil, plants, sunlight, air, water, microorganisms, and animals. An artificial ecosystem is a human-made system of plants, animals, and people living in an area together with their surroundings. Deserts, forests, and oceans are a few examples of naturally occurring ecosystems. Examples of artificial ecosystems are-Aquariums, crop fields, dams, gardens, zoo, park, etc.