Community Level Systems: Ecosystems
Community Level Systems: Ecosystems
Understanding Ecosystems
- An ecosystem includes all the living organisms in a particular area, along with all the physical aspects of the environment, such as climate and soil type.
- Ecosystems are typically balanced, meaning that the numbers of each species are generally steady over time.
- If something drastically changes in the ecosystem, such as a severe drought or the removal of a species, the balance can be disrupted.
Components of Ecosystems
- In an ecosystem, organisms interact with each other and with their environment.
- These interactions can be classified as biotic interactions (between living organisms) or abiotic interactions (between organisms and non-living parts of the environment).
- Producers, consumers, and decomposers are the main types of organisms in an ecosystem.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
- Energy enters an ecosystem via producers, organisms like plants that make their own food through the process of photosynthesis.
- Herbivores, or plant-eating animals, then consume the plants and gain the energy stored in the plant tissues.
- Carnivores, or meat-eating animals, eat the herbivores and gain the energy that has been passed up the food chain.
The Importance of Biodiversity
- Biodiversity refers to the variety of species found within an ecosystem; it reflects the complexity of the interactions among the organisms within the system.
- High biodiversity means a healthier and more resilient ecosystem that can withstand environmental changes and recover from disturbances.
- Loss of biodiversity can destabilize ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to external changes.
Human Impact on Ecosystems
- Humans have dramatically impacted ecosystems and biodiversity across the globe through activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, the introduction of invasive species, and overexploitation of resources.
- These human influences can disrupt the balance of ecosystems, leading to the loss of species and lowered biodiversity.
- Managing human impacts and understanding how they can best be mitigated is key to protecting and preserving ecosystems for future generations.