Question

The term ecosystem was used for the first time by
(a)Tansley
(b)Odum
(c)Ritar
(d)Mishra and Puri

Answer 1

Hint An ecosystem is a term used to define a biological system where the living components interact among themselves as well as the abiotic environments they are living in such as air, water, etc. it is said to be the functional unit of nature.

Complete Answer:
The term ecosystem was used for the first time by George Tansley in 1935 to define a system of nature where organisms live while interacting with their environment. An ecosystem can be of varied sizes ranging from a small pond to a large forest or sea ecosystem. It is also said that the entire biosphere of the Earth is a composite of all the ecosystems present on Earth. For convenience during studies, ecosystems are divided into smaller categories like the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Examples of terrestrial ecosystems include forest, grassland, desert, etc whereas aquatic ecosystems include a pond, lake, river, etc.

Additional information:
Let us look at the different components of an ecosystem.
Productivity: The amount of biomass produced by living organisms over a period of time is known as production. It is expressed in terms of the rate per year known as productivity.
Decomposition: The breakdown of complex organic matter into simple inorganic substances is known as decomposition. There are 5 steps involved in this process known as fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralization.
Energy flow: There is a unidirectional flow of energy from the sun to the producers and then to the consumers until it is finally lost to the surroundings.
Nutrient cycling: Nutrients of an ecosystem are never exhausted as they are recycled over and over again. It is divided into two types known as gaseous and sedimentary nutrient cycling.

So, the correct option is ‘Tansley’.

Note:
- Man-made ecosystems are also seen in the case of an aquarium or a crop field.
-The amount of biomass produced by producers (plants) is known as primary productivity whereas the biomass produced by consumers (herbivores) is known as secondary productivity.
-Sun is the source of energy for all ecosystems except for deep-sea hydrothermal ecosystems.