Skip to main content
Super TutorResources
Chapter 4 of 9
Revision Notes

Ecosystems — Revision Notes

ICSE · Class 8 · Biology

Ecosystems revision notes for ICSE Class 8 Biology: 4 topics in quick points. Part of the ICSE Class 8 Biology syllabus.

44 questions30 flashcards5 formulas & key relations5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying Ecosystems? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for revision notes and more.

Try Super Tutor — Free

Free trial, no card needed.

A diagram illustrating the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem and their interactions.
Super Tutor

An illustration from Super Tutor's Ecosystems chapter — alongside flashcards, concept maps and practice questions.

Key Topics to Revise

1

1. Ecosystem and Its Components

  • An ecosystem is a self-contained area composed of all the different organisms living in it, interacting with each other, as well as interacting with the physical conditions such as sunlight, air, wate
  • The term ecosystem is derived from the Greek word Oikos, meaning house.
  • A forest ecosystem contains living components and non-living components.
2

2. Trophic Levels, Producers, and Consumers

  • Food in an ecosystem moves through trophic levels, which are food-obtaining steps in a food chain.
  • Trophic level 1 consists of green plants, which are producers.
  • Trophic level 2 consists of herbivores or primary consumers.
3

3. Food Chains

  • Food chain is the linear sequence of organisms in which each organism eats the lower member and is itself eaten by the next higher member.
  • A food chain may have 2 to 5 steps, very rarely 6, but never 7.
  • Some examples of food chains are Rice → Man, Grass → Rabbit → Fox, Maize → Goat → Man, Maize → Goat → Lion, Grass → Grasshopper → Lizard → Crow, and Grass → Buffalo → Leech.
4

4. Food Webs and Their Importance

  • Food web is a network of several interconnecting food chains.
  • Food webs are complex and show many alternative feeding links.
  • The food web allows organisms to have more than one food source or more than one predator.

Get complete notes with diagrams and examples

Full Notes

Key Concepts

An ecosystem is a selfBiotic components are living partsGreen plants are producers because theyAll organisms other than autotrophsA food chain is the linear

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Ecosystems for ICSE Class 8 Biology?
Key topics in Ecosystems include Ecosystem and Its Components, Trophic Levels, Producers, and Consumers, Food Chains, Food Webs and Their Importance. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 8 exams.
How should I revise Ecosystems for Class 8 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 44 practice questions on Ecosystems. 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.

More resources for Ecosystems

All ICSE Class 8 Biology Revision Notes

For serious students

Get the full Ecosystems chapter — start free.

Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for ICSE Class 8 Biology. Free to start, no card needed.

Try Super Tutor Free
Try this chapter free