AErnst Haeckel
BE.P. Odum
CRoy Clapham
DArthur Tansley
Answer:
C. Roy Clapham
Read Explanation:
Understanding the Term 'Ecosystem'
The term 'Ecosystem' is fundamental in ecology and environmental science. It describes a community of living organisms (biotic components) interacting with their non-living environment (abiotic components).
Origin of the Term:
The widely accepted scientific fact, crucial for competitive exams, is that the term 'Ecosystem' was coined by the British botanist Arthur George Tansley.
He introduced the term in his 1935 article, "The Use and Abuse of Vegetational Concepts and Terms," published in the journal 'Ecology'.
Tansley emphasized the interconnectedness of organisms and their physical environment, proposing 'ecosystem' to encompass this entire complex system.
Components of an Ecosystem:
Biotic Components: These are the living parts of the ecosystem, including plants (producers), animals (consumers), and microorganisms (decomposers).
Abiotic Components: These are the non-living physical and chemical factors, such as sunlight, water, soil, temperature, air, and nutrients.
Key Concepts Related to Ecosystems:
Ecology: This is the scientific study of the relationships between living organisms and their interactions with their natural or modified environment. The term 'Ecology' itself was coined by German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1866 (from Greek 'oikos' meaning house/habitat and 'logos' meaning study).
Biosphere: Represents the sum of all ecosystems on Earth, encompassing all life and the environments they inhabit.
Food Chain and Food Web: Illustrate the feeding relationships between organisms within an ecosystem, showing the flow of energy.
Biogeochemical Cycles: Refer to the pathways by which chemical elements (like carbon, nitrogen, water) circulate through the biotic and abiotic components of the Earth.