Composition and properties of ecosystems. Ecosystem functions

All the diversity of organisms on our planet is inextricably linked. There is no such being that could manage to exist isolated from everyone, strictly individually. However, not only organisms are in close interconnection, but the factors of the external and internal environment affect the whole biome. Together the whole complex of living and inanimate nature represents the structure of ecosystems and their properties. What is this concept, what parameters are characterized, let's try to understand the article.

The concept of ecosystems

What is an ecosystem? From the point of view of ecology, this is the cumulative joint activity of all kinds of organisms, regardless of class affiliation and environmental factors, both biotic and abiotic.

The properties of ecosystems are explained by their characteristics. The first mention of this term appeared in 1935. A. Tensli suggested using it to mean "a complex consisting not only of organisms, but also of their environment". The concept itself is quite extensive, it is the largest unit of ecology, and also important. Another name is biogeocenosis, although there is little difference between these concepts.

The main property of ecosystems is the continuous interaction within them of organic and inorganic matter, energy, heat redistribution, migration of elements, complex impact of living beings on each other. In total, there are several basic characteristics that are called properties.

Main properties of ecosystems

The most important of them can be divided into three:

• Self-regulation;
• Sustainability;
• Self-reproduction;
• Changing one to another;
• integrity;
• Emergent properties.

On the question of what is the main property of ecosystems, one can respond in different ways. All of them are important, because only their aggregate presence allows this concept to exist. Let us examine in detail each characteristic trait in order to assimilate its important significance and to understand the essence.

Self-regulation of ecosystems

This is the main property of the ecosystem, which implies the independent management of life within each biogeocenosis. That is, a group of organisms that is in close relationship with other living beings, as well as environmental factors, has a direct impact on the entire structure as a whole. It is their livelihoods that can affect the sustainability and self-regulation of the ecosystem.

For example, if we talk about predators, then they eat herbivores of the same species exactly until their numbers decrease. Then the eating stops, and the predator switches to another food source (that is, another kind of herbivorous creature). Thus, it turns out that the species is not completely destroyed, it remains in peace until the necessary quantity is restored.

Within the ecosystem, there can be no natural extinction of the species as a result of eating by other individuals. This is self-regulation. That is, animals, plants, mushrooms, microorganisms mutually control each other, despite the fact that they are food.

Also, self-regulation is the main property of ecosystems also because it provides a controlled process for converting different types of energy. Inorganic substances, organic compounds, elements - all are in close interrelation and general circulation. Plants directly use solar energy, animals eat plants, transferring this energy into chemical bonds, after their death, microorganisms again decompose them to inorganics. The process is continuous and cyclical without external intervention, which is called self-regulation.

Sustainability

There are other properties of ecosystems. Self-regulation is closely related to sustainability. The extent to which this or that ecosystem will survive, how it will survive, and whether changes will occur for others, depends on a number of reasons.

Truly stable is the one within which there is no place for human intervention. It constantly consistently high numbers of all types of organisms, there are no changes under the influence of environmental conditions, or they are insignificant. In principle, any ecosystem can be stable.

Man can break this state by his intervention and failure of the established order (deforestation, shooting animals, destroying insects, etc.). Also, the nature itself can influence the stability, if the climatic conditions change dramatically, preventing the time organisms from adapting. For example, natural disasters, climate change, reduction of water quantity and so on.

The greater the diversity of species, the longer ecosystems exist. Ecosystem properties - sustainability and self-regulation - is the basis on which this concept is generally held. There is a term that generalizes these characteristics - homeostasis. That is, maintaining consistency in everything - the diversity of species, their numbers, external and internal factors. For example, tundra ecosystems are more likely to be replaced than tropical forests. After all, in them the genetic diversity of the living is not so great, so. And survival rate is sharply reduced.

Self-reproducibility

If one thinks carefully about the question of what is the main property of ecosystems, then one can come to the conclusion that self-reproducibility is no less important for their existence. After all, without constant playback of components such as:

• Organisms;
• Soil composition;
• Transparency of water;
• Oxygen component of air and so on.

It is difficult to talk about sustainability and self-regulation. To ensure that the biomass is constantly revived and the numbers are maintained, it is important to have enough food, water, and favorable living conditions. Inside any ecosystem, there is a constant replacement of old individuals on young, sick people on healthy, strong and hardy. This is a normal condition for the existence of any of them. This is possible only under the condition of timely self-reproducibility.

The manifestation of the properties of an ecosystem of this kind is a pledge of genetic preservation of alleles of each species. Otherwise, whole genera and types, classes and families of living beings would be destroyed without further restoration.

Succession

Also important properties of ecosystems - the change of ecosystems. This process is called succession. It occurs under the influence of a change in external abiotic factors and takes from several tens of years to millions. The essence of this phenomenon is the successive replacement of one ecosystem by another under the influence of both internal factors arising between living organisms and external conditions of inanimate nature for a long time.

Also, a significant cause of succession is human economic activity. So, forests are replaced by meadows and swamps, lakes turn into deserts or floodplain meadows, fields overgrow with trees and form a forest. Naturally, while the fauna also undergoes significant changes.

How long will succession take place? Exactly until the stage when the most convenient and adapted to specific conditions is the biogeocoenosis. For example, coniferous forests of the Far East (taiga) - this is already established indigenous biocenosis, which will no longer change. It was formed for thousands of years, during this time there was not one change of ecosystem.

Emergent properties

These properties of ecosystems are newly emerging, new and previously not characteristic features that appear in the biogeocoenosis. They arise as a result of the integrated work of all or several participants in the common system.

A typical example is the community of coral reefs, which resulted from the interaction between coelenterates and algae. Corals - this is the main source of a huge amount of biomass, elements, compounds, which before them in this community did not exist.

Ecosystem functions

The properties and functions of ecosystems are closely interrelated. So, for example, such a property as integrity means maintaining constant interaction between all participants. Including the factors of inanimate nature. And one of the functions is just the harmonious transition of different types of energy into each other, which is possible under the condition of internal circulation of elements between all links of the population and the biocenoses themselves.

In general, the role of ecosystems is determined by the types of interactions that exist within them. Any biogeocenosis should give a certain biological increase in biomass as a result of its existence. This will be one of the functions. Growth depends on a combination of factors of animate and inanimate nature and can fluctuate widely. So, biomass is much more in areas with high humidity and good illumination. Hence, its growth will be much larger, in comparison with that, for example, in the desert.

Another function of the ecosystem is transformation. It implies a directional change in energy, its transformation into various forms under the action of living beings.

Structure

The composition and properties of ecosystems also determine their structure. Which structure has biogeocenosis? Obviously, it includes all the main links (both living and abiotic). It is also important that, in general, the entire structure is a closed cycle, which once again confirms the basic properties of ecosystems.

There are two main major links of any biogeocenosis.

1. Ecotope - a set of factors of abiotic nature. It, in turn, is presented:

• Climatop (atmosphere, humidity, illumination);
• Edaphotom (soil soil component).

2. Biocenosis - the totality of all types of living beings in a given ecosystem. It includes three main links:

• Zoocenosis - all animal creatures;
• Phytocenosis - all plant organisms;
• Microbiocenosis - all bacterial representatives.

According to the above structure, it is obvious that all links are closely interrelated and form a single network. This connection is manifested, first of all, in the absorption and transformation of energy. In other words, in food chains and networks within the population and between them.

A similar structure of the biogeocenosis was proposed by VN Sukachev in 1940 and remains relevant today.

Mature ecosystem

The age of different biogeocenoses can vary widely. Naturally, the characteristic features of a young and mature ecosystem should be different. This is what happens.

What property of a mature ecosystem distinguishes it from a relatively newly formed one? There are a few, consider all:

1. The species of each population are formed, stable and not replaced (displaced) by others.
2. The variety of individuals is constantly and no longer changes.
3. The whole community is free to self-regulate, a high degree of homeostasis is observed.
4. Each organism is fully adapted to environmental conditions, the coexistence of biocoenosis and ecotope is maximally comfortable.

Each ecosystem will undergo succession until its climax is established - the constant most productive and acceptable species diversity. It is then that the biogeocenosis begins to gradually transform into a mature community.

Groups of organisms within the biogeocoenosis

Naturally, all living beings within the same ecosystem are connected to each other in a single whole. At the same time, they also exert a tremendous influence on the soil composition, air, water - on all abiotic components.

It is customary to distinguish several groups of organisms according to their ability to absorb and transform energy within each biogeocenosis.

1. Producers are those who produce organic matter from inorganic components. These are green plants and some types of bacteria. Their way of absorbing energy is autotrophic, they directly absorb solar radiation.
2. Consumers or biophages are those who consume the finished organic matter by eating living beings. They are carnivores, insects, some plants. Here belong herbivorous representatives.
3. Saprotrophs are organisms capable of decomposing organic matter, thus consuming nutrients. That is eat dead remains of plants and animals.

Obviously, all participants in the system are in an interdependent position. Without plants, herbivores can not be eaten, and predators will die without them. Saprophages do not rework compounds, the number of necessary inorganic compounds will not be restored. All these relationships are called food chains. In large communities, the chains go into networks, pyramids are formed. The science of ecology deals with the study of issues related to trophic interactions.

The role of man in the impact on ecosystems

This is much said today. Finally, the person realized the full extent of the damage that the ecosystem has inflicted on them over the last 200 years. The consequences of such behavior became obvious: acid rain, greenhouse effect, global warming, reduction of fresh water resources, scaling up of soil, reduction of forest areas and so on. It is possible to denote problems indefinitely, because they have accumulated a huge number.

All this is the very role that man has played and is playing in the ecosystem so far. Mass urbanization, industrialization, the development of technology, the exploration of outer space and other human actions lead not only to the complication of the state of inanimate nature, but also to the extinction and reduction of the biomass of the planet.

Any ecosystem needs protection from humans, especially today. Therefore, the task of each of us is to provide it with support. To do this, much is not needed - at the governmental level, methods for protecting nature are being developed, ordinary people should only adhere to established rules and try to preserve ecosystems in an unchanged form, without introducing into their composition an excessive amount of different substances and elements.