Relevance of laws of thermodynamics in ecology.

 

Relevance of laws of thermodynamics in ecology.

                        Thermodynamics is a branch of science deals with the transformation of energy and the relation between the farms of energy. According to the concept of themodynamic almost all processes including life processes of organism require energy. In energetic, energy has been defined as the capacity to do work. In biological system, the source of energy is the chemical energy which is produced by plants through photo synthesis. All the organisms use these chemical energy either directly or indirectly. This energy not only used to maintain life process but also their survivility in the ecosystem.

                        On the basis of quantitative estimation, two laws of thermodynamics have been proposed. Both the laws are applicable in ecosystem.

First law of thermodynamics in ecosystem : It states that the amount of energy in the universe is constant. It may change from one farm to another but it can neither be created, nor be destroyed. Energies can only transform from one farm to another. In ecosystem, this law is applicable almost all steps.

eg. Production in ecosystem involves the fixation and transfer of energy from the sun. Green plants fix solar energy in the process of photosynthesis. The products are accumulated as plant biomass. Non photosynthstic organism convert this stred energy into heterotrophic biomass. It is observed that the amount of photosynthate is equivalent to the sum of biomass of heterotrophs and radient heat of plant body. It is cleared that there is no gain or loss in total energy.

Second law of thermodynamics in ecosystem :

                        The second law states that whenever energy is transformed from one kind to another, there is an increase in entropy and decrease in the amount of useful energy. Or in other language, a system always moves towards the destabilization.

eg: Living organisms donot constitute exceptions to the second law of thermodynamics. In ecosystem, second law of thermo dynamio is well studied during succession. When a succession is started through pioneer community which are gradually autotrophic in nature, the rate of competition is very low. During the stages of several development, the rate of competition gradually increases. At the first stage, all energies are accumulate in the ecosystem and facitate the growth of next sere. The subsequent change shows a gradual loss of energy in the farm of heat radiation and only a fraction of energy is trans farmed to the next sere. At the lost stage that is the ultimate competition is between the members of the climax community, almost 0% energy is utilized. As a result, the system is destroyed.