Question

Give an example of an artificial ecosystem.

Answer 1

Hint: An ecosystem is defined as a community of living organisms that live together with non-living components of the environment. The term ecosystem was coined by A.G. Tansley in the year of 1935.

Complete answer:
Ecosystems can be divided into four major types- terrestrial, lentic, lotic and artificial ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems are those that include land ecosystems such as forest, grasslands, deserts and tundra region.

Depending on the prevailing climate a certain area can have more than one ecosystem. The variation of plants and organisms occupying the above mentioned types of ecosystem are different, for example tundra have extreme low temperature and deserts have extreme high temperature as a result of which there are fewer plants and organisms found there whereas the grassland and forests have moderate temperature that supports growth of wide variety of plants and animals.

Lentic ecosystems are types of aquatic ecosystems that include ponds, lakes, rivers, swamps and streams. Lentic ecosystems are defined as freshwater ecosystems and are not very large in size and also promote photosynthesis. Lotic ecosystems are also aquatic ecosystems but they include flowing bodies of water such as streams and rivers that ultimately lead to the ocean.

But the lotic ecosystem differs from lentic in that they do not allow photosynthesis and comprises both freshwater and saltwater. Artificial ecosystems are those that are man-made though they could be included to any of the above three classes. Examples of artificial ecosystems include zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, etc.

Note: Artificial ecosystems are mostly developed for the conservation of certain species of plants and animals which might be endangered and thus plays an important role in prevention of extinction of the species as well as conservation of biodiversity.