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Syllabus

Ecosystem — Syllabus

ICSE · Class 12 · Biology

What Ecosystem covers in ICSE Class 12 Biology: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session. Part of the ICSE Class 12 Biology syllabus.

60 questions40 flashcards5 concepts

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A flowchart illustrating the sequential and simultaneous steps involved in the decomposition of detritus: fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralisation.
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4 Topics · ICSE Class 12 Biology · 2026-27

Topics in Ecosystem

1

1. Meaning, Origin, and Types of Ecosystem

  • The idea of ecosystem dates back to 1877 when Forbes and Mobius stated that the unit of study of ecology must include the whole tangled mixture of plants and animals and their physical surroundings.
  • G. Tansley coined the term ecosystem in 1935 and defined it as the sum total of interaction between living and non-living components capable of independent existence.
  • E. P. Odum defined ecosystem in 1962 as the basic functional unit of organisms and their environment, interacting with each other and with their own components.
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2. Components of Ecosystem

  • From the structural viewpoint, ecosystem has two components: biotic and abiotic.
  • Biotic components include producers, consumers, and decomposers.
  • Producers are green plants and other photosynthetic organisms that prepare food from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight.
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3. Food Chain, Trophic Levels, and Food Web

  • A food chain is the sequence of living organisms in an ecosystem in which one organism consumes another to transfer food energy.
  • A food chain begins with producers and ends with the top consumer.
  • Grazing food chain starts from living green plants, then herbivores, and then carnivores.
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4. Standing Crop, Standing State, and Ecological Pyramids

  • Standing crop is the amount of living material at different trophic levels or in a component population.
  • Standing crop is usually expressed in terms of biomass.
  • Standing state is the amount of inorganic matter present in an ecosystem.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Ecosystem

Definition of ecosystemTypes of ecosystemsScale of ecosystemsComponents of ecosystemBiotic componentsAbiotic componentsProducersConsumers

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Ecosystem for ICSE Class 12 Biology?
Key topics in Ecosystem include Meaning, Origin, and Types of Ecosystem, Components of Ecosystem, Food Chain, Trophic Levels, and Food Web, Standing Crop, Standing State, and Ecological Pyramids. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the ICSE Class 12 board exam.
How should I revise Ecosystem for the ICSE Class 12 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 60 practice questions on Ecosystem. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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All ICSE Class 12 Biology Syllabus

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