All living organisms do not live on Earth in isolation from each other, but form communities. Everything in them is interconnected, both living organisms and factors of inanimate nature. Such formation in nature is called an ecosystem that lives according to its own specific laws and has specific features and qualities that we will try to get acquainted with.
Ecosystem concept
It is quite difficult to thoroughly study any ecosystem, since it includes a huge number of living organisms, as well as abiotic factors.
There is such a science as ecology, which studies the relationship between wildlife and non-living. But these relationships can only be carried out within the framework of a certain ecosystem and occur not spontaneously and chaotically, but according to certain laws.
Types of ecosystems are different, but they are all a set of living organisms that interact with each other and with the environment through the exchange of matter, energy and information. That is why the ecosystem remains stable and sustainable over a long period of time.
Classification of ecosystems
Despite the great diversity of ecosystems, they are all open, without which their existence would be impossible. The types of ecosystems are different, and the classification may be different. If we keep in mind the origin, then ecosystems are:
Natural or natural. In them, all interaction is carried out without the direct participation of a person. They, in turn, are divided into:
- Ecosystems totally dependent on solar energy.
- Systems that receive energy from both the sun and other sources.
2. artificial ecosystems. Created by human hands, and can only exist with his participation. They are also subdivided into:
- Agroecosystems, that is, those that are associated with human economic activity.
- Technoecosystems appear in connection with the industrial activities of people.
- Urban ecosystems.
Another classification distinguishes the following types of natural ecosystems:
1. Ground:
- Rainforests.
- Desert with grassy and shrubby vegetation.
- Savannah.
- Steppes.
- deciduous forest.
- Tundra.
2. Freshwater ecosystems:
- Standing water bodies (lake, pond).
- Flowing waters (rivers, streams).
- Marshes.
3. Marine Ecosystems:
- Ocean.
- Continental shelf.
- Fishing areas.
- Mouths of rivers, bays.
- Deep water rift zones.
Regardless of the classification, one can see the diversity of ecosystem species, which is characterized by its set of life forms and numerical composition.
Distinguishing features of an ecosystem
The concept of an ecosystem can be attributed to both natural formations and artificially created by man. If we talk about natural, then they are characterized by the following features:
- In any ecosystem, the essential elements are living organisms and abiotic environmental factors.
- In any ecosystem there is a closed cycle from the production of organic substances to their decomposition into inorganic components.
- Interaction of species in ecosystems ensures sustainability and self-regulation.
The whole world around us is represented by various ecosystems, which are based on living matter with a certain structure.
Biotic structure of the ecosystem
Even if ecosystems differ in species diversity, abundance of living organisms, their life forms, but the biotic structure in any of them is still the same.
All types of ecosystems include the same components, without them the functioning of the system is simply impossible.
- Producers.
- First order consumers.
- Consumers of the second order.
- Decomposers.
The first group of organisms includes all plants that are capable of the process of photosynthesis. They produce organic matter. Chemotrophs also belong to this group.which form organic compounds. But only for this they use not solar energy, but the energy of chemical compounds.
Consumers include all organisms that need organic matter from outside to build their bodies. This includes all herbivorous organisms, predators and omnivores.
Decomposers, which include bacteria, fungi, turn the remains of plants and animals into inorganic compounds suitable for use by living organisms.
Ecosystem functioning
The largest biological system is the biosphere, which, in turn, consists of individual components. You can make such a chain: species-population - ecosystem. The smallest unit in an ecosystem is the species. In each biogeocenosis, their number can vary from several tens to hundreds and thousands.
Regardless of the number of individuals and individual species in any ecosystem, there is a constant exchange of matter, energy, not only among themselves, but also with the environment.
If we talk about the exchange of energy, then it is quite possible to apply the laws of physics. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy does not disappear without a trace. It only changes from one species to another. According to the second law, energy can only increase in a closed system.
If physical laws are applied to ecosystems, then we can come to the conclusion that they support their vital activity due to the presence ofsolar energy, which organisms are able to not only capture, but also transform, use, and then release into the environment.
Energy is transferred from one trophic level to another, during the transfer, one type of energy is transformed into another. Some of it is, of course, lost as heat.
Whatever types of natural ecosystems exist, such laws apply absolutely in every one.
Ecosystem structure
If we consider any ecosystem, then it is sure to see that various categories, such as producers, consumers and decomposers, are always represented by a whole set of species. Nature provides that if something suddenly happens to one of the species, then the ecosystem will not die from this, it can always be successfully replaced by another. This explains the sustainability of natural ecosystems.
The wide variety of species in the ecosystem, the diversity of food chains ensure the sustainability of all processes that take place within the community.
Besides, any system has its own laws, which all living organisms obey. Based on this, several structures can be distinguished within the biogeocenosis:
- View structure. Shows the ratio of plant and animal species. In each system, this indicator is different, it depends on many factors: geographical location, climate, age of the ecosystem. A species that outnumbers all others is called a habitat-forming species. But small representatives in some cases are an indicator of well-being in the system.
- Trophic structure. Diversity of species, branched food chains in an ecosystem are indicators of sustainability. In any biogeocenosis, organisms are interconnected primarily by food ties. You can always make food chains. Usually they start with a plant organism and end with a predator. For example, a grasshopper eats grass, a titmouse will eat it, and a kite will catch it.
- Spatial structure. The question arises how such a large number of different species coexist in one territory. All this is due to a certain structure, adhering to which species settle. In the forest, the very first tier is occupied by light-loving trees. Some species of birds also nest here. The next level is the lower trees, and again the habitat for some animal species.
Any structure is necessarily present in any ecosystem, but it can differ significantly. For example, if we compare the biogeocenosis of the desert and the rainforest, the difference is visible to the naked eye.
Artificial ecosystems
Such systems are created by human hands. Despite the fact that in them, as in natural ones, all components of the biotic structure are necessarily present, there are still significant differences. Among them are the following:
- Agrocenoses are characterized by poor species composition. Only those plants grow there that man grows. But nature takes its toll, and always, for example, on a wheat field you can see cornflowers, daisies, various arthropods settle. ATin some systems, even birds have time to build a nest on the ground and hatch chicks.
- If a person does not take care of this ecosystem, then cultivated plants will not withstand competition with their wild relatives.
- Agrocenoses also exist due to the additional energy that a person brings, for example, by fertilizing.
- Since the grown biomass of plants is withdrawn along with the harvest, the soil is depleted in nutrients. Therefore, further existence again requires the intervention of a person who will have to fertilize in order to grow the next crop.
It can be concluded that artificial ecosystems do not belong to sustainable and self-regulating systems. If a person stops caring for them, they will not survive. Gradually, wild-growing species will replace cultivated plants, and the agrocenosis will be destroyed.
For example, an artificial ecosystem of three types of organisms can easily be created at home. If you put an aquarium, pour water into it, place a few branches of elodea and settle two fish, here you have an artificial system ready. Even such a simple one cannot exist without human intervention.
The importance of ecosystems in nature
Globally speaking, all living organisms are distributed across ecosystems, so their importance cannot be underestimated.
- All ecosystems are interconnected by the circulation of substances that can migrate from one system to another.
- ThanksThe presence of ecosystems in nature preserves biological diversity.
- All the resources that we draw from nature give us exactly ecosystems: clean water, air, fertile soil.
It is very easy to destroy any ecosystem, especially considering the human capabilities.
Ecosystems and Man
Since the appearance of man, his influence on nature has increased every year. Developing, man imagined himself the king of nature, began without hesitation to destroy plants and animals, destroy natural ecosystems, thereby began to cut the branch on which he himself sits.
Interfering with centuries-old ecosystems and violating the laws of the existence of organisms, man has led to the fact that all environmentalists of the world are already shouting with one voice that the world ecological crisis has come. Most scientists are sure that natural disasters, which have recently begun to occur more often, are nature's response to thoughtless human intervention in its laws. It's time to stop and think that any kind of ecosystems were formed for centuries, long before the appearance of man, and perfectly existed without him. Can humanity live without nature? The answer suggests itself.
