An ecosystem is defined as a biological system made up of living organisms that are in interaction with their surroundings such as air or water. In the context of climate change, dangers that affect single organisms or species will also affect their ecosystem as a whole. This is why it is vital to understand and protect ecosystems.
Ecosystems generally stretch out over a specific area, although there is no explicit definition describing their size. They are influenced by internal as well as external factors. An external factor would be climate, which affects the ecosystem but is not affected itself. Other external factors are time and the potential organisms living in an ecosystem. Internal factors affect the ecosystem and are alternately affected by the ecosystem. This is why internal factors are often described as feedback loops. Internal factors are the specific organisms present in an ecosystem, shading or decomposition.
One classification of ecosystems describes a hierarchy, ranging from microecosystems, to mesoecosystems and macroecosystems. Examples of ecosystems include the greater marine ecosystem, coral reefs, deserts, or forests such as the rainforest. The area of the Yellowstone National Park even has its own ecosystem. When whole ecosystems are monitored, this is a form of natural resource management called ecosystem management. Humans can either manage ecosystems intensively, as is the case with agrosystems, or conserve the wilderness. Consequently it can be said that general ecological products of any kind are becoming more and more important – for instance biologically produced food, ecological and natural furniture, etc.
Several different processes are operating in ecosystems, for example the production of organic matter from inorganic sources through photosynthesis, the flow of energy in plants and animals, the decomposition of dead organic matter, or the nutrient cycle. These processes are carried out by individual species. If any of the species belonging to an ecosystem is absent, this has significant influence on the effectiveness of the system.
It is vital to understand the role of humans in ecosystems. We do not only endanger our own kind by chemical emissions and pollution. Also ecosystems suffer from the effects caused by climate change and water and air pollution, which are caused by human activities. Moreover, humans are dependent on a number of goods and services provided by ecosystems, for example food, construction material, medicinal plants or the cleansing of air and water.
Ecosystems generally stretch out over a specific area, although there is no explicit definition describing their size. They are influenced by internal as well as external factors. An external factor would be climate, which affects the ecosystem but is not affected itself. Other external factors are time and the potential organisms living in an ecosystem. Internal factors affect the ecosystem and are alternately affected by the ecosystem. This is why internal factors are often described as feedback loops. Internal factors are the specific organisms present in an ecosystem, shading or decomposition.
One classification of ecosystems describes a hierarchy, ranging from microecosystems, to mesoecosystems and macroecosystems. Examples of ecosystems include the greater marine ecosystem, coral reefs, deserts, or forests such as the rainforest. The area of the Yellowstone National Park even has its own ecosystem. When whole ecosystems are monitored, this is a form of natural resource management called ecosystem management. Humans can either manage ecosystems intensively, as is the case with agrosystems, or conserve the wilderness. Consequently it can be said that general ecological products of any kind are becoming more and more important – for instance biologically produced food, ecological and natural furniture, etc.
Several different processes are operating in ecosystems, for example the production of organic matter from inorganic sources through photosynthesis, the flow of energy in plants and animals, the decomposition of dead organic matter, or the nutrient cycle. These processes are carried out by individual species. If any of the species belonging to an ecosystem is absent, this has significant influence on the effectiveness of the system.
It is vital to understand the role of humans in ecosystems. We do not only endanger our own kind by chemical emissions and pollution. Also ecosystems suffer from the effects caused by climate change and water and air pollution, which are caused by human activities. Moreover, humans are dependent on a number of goods and services provided by ecosystems, for example food, construction material, medicinal plants or the cleansing of air and water.
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