Scavenger is the organisms that break apart the dead and decayed matter into smaller particles. In contrast, decomposer is such organisms that further break-down or decompose the dead matter (dead plants and animals). As a result, they provide nutrients to the soil by producing products such as nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium. Therefore we can say that scavengers are the one who initiates the consumption of the dead matter and the decomposers finish it, and provide nutrients back to the soil; … [Read more...]

When both the partners or organisms get benefits from one another by living together is known mutualism. When only one partner or organism gets benefits without any effect on the other is commensalism. When one partner or organism gets benefits while the other is harmed is known as parasitism. Mutualism, Commensalism and Parasitism are the kinds of symbiosis relationship or interaction between two different species observed in our ecosystem. Symbiosis is originated from the Greek word that … [Read more...]

Micro-evolution refers to the alteration in a gene pool of the population over time, resulting in small changes of an organism in the same species. On the other hand, Macro-evolution refers to the alteration in organisms, and these changes gradually give rise to completely new species, which is different from their ancestors. The genetic change in the scale of descent over time or heritable change in a population of an organism; brought up by the process like genetic drift, mutations, gene … [Read more...]

Flora is the term used for studying the plant's life living in a particular area or region, whereas fauna refers to the study of animals life living in any geographical area. Secondly, all kinds of grasslands, trees, plants, comes under flora, on the contrary, all types of animals, birds, and insects fall under the category of fauna. Although biota is the term used for complete forms of life like fungi, bacteria, etc. Flora and Fauna are scientific words, in general, we use the term plants … [Read more...]

The biological process, where ammonium gets converted into nitrate is called nitrification. Further, when this nitrate is converted or reduced into nitrogen gas, it is called denitrification. These steps involve various microorganisms, and it is important biologically as well as economically. Both the steps are a significant part of the nitrogen cycle, which is one of the most important cycles for our atmosphere. Around 78% of the atmosphere contains nitrogen, which is even an essential … [Read more...]

Biodegradable substances are those that degrades or break down naturally. Non-biodegradable substances are those that do not degrade easily. These terms itself defines the ability of the substances which are degradable or not. Materials like plants, animals, their waste, paper, fruits, flowers, vegetables fall under biodegradable substances, on the other hand, rubber, plastic, chemicals, paint plastic falls under the category of the non-biodegradable items. The environment in which we live is … [Read more...]

Primary Succession can be defined as the process of growth in an area that was previously uninhabited, barren, unoccupied and there was no initial vegetation. On the other hand, Secondary Succession can be defined as the growth of the community in such area which was previously occupied, inhabited and that has primary vegetation but got disturbed or damaged due to some external or internal factors. The example of Primary Succession is the newly formed bare rock, desert, ponds, etc., while the … [Read more...]

The primary difference between both is that abiotic factors include those components of the ecosystem which are non-living part of any habitat. On the other hand, biotic factors include living components of the ecosystem. The examples of the abiotic factors are sunlight, the wind, clouds, water, rocks, energy, temperature, soil, etc. while the examples of biotic factors are plants and trees, animals, microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, algae. The ecosystem provides the major platform … [Read more...]

The basic difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton is that the word 'phyto' is used for the small plants like diatoms and algae and word 'zoo' is used for the small animals like tiny fish, crustaceans, which are the weak swimmers and just move along the currents. The word "plankton" refers to the smallest aquatic plants or animals that float and drift in the limnetic zone of water bodies. Planktons are divided into two categories where one is called as permanent plankton and the other … [Read more...]