Structure, composition, organization principles and ecosystem properties

Ecosystem - a biological system, which consists of a set of living organisms, their habitat, as well as a system of connections that carry out the exchange of energy between them. At present, this term is the main concept of ecology.

Structure

The properties of the ecosystem are studied relatively recently. Scientists distinguish in it two main components - biotic and abiotic. The first is divided into heterotrophic (it includes organisms that receive energy as a result of oxidation of organic matter - consumers and decomposers) and autotrophic (organisms get primary energy for photosynthesis and chemosynthesis, i.e. producers).

The only and most important source of energy necessary for the existence of the whole ecosystem are producers who absorb the energy of the sun, heat and chemical bonds. Therefore, autotrophs are representatives of the first trophic level of the entire ecosystem. The second, third and fourth levels are formed at the expense of consumers. Closed by decomposers, capable of translating non-living organic matter into an abiotic component.

The properties of the ecosystem, which you can read briefly in this article, mean the possibility of natural development and renewal.

The main components of the ecosystem

The structure and properties of the ecosystem are the main concepts of ecology. It is accepted to allocate such indicators:

- climatic mode, ambient temperature, as well as humidity and lighting conditions;

- organic substances that bind the abiotic and biotic components in the circulation of substances;

- inorganic compounds included in the energy cycle;

- producers are organisms that create primary products;

- phagotrophs - heterotrophs, which feed on other organisms or large particles of organic matter;

- saprotrophs are heterotrophs capable of destroying dead organic matter, mineralize it and return it to the circulation.

The totality of the last three components forms the biomass of the ecosystem.

Ecosystem, properties and principles of organization are studied in ecology, it functions thanks to blocks of organisms:

1. Saprophages - eat dead organic matter.
2. Biofagi - eat up other living organisms.

Sustainability and biodiversity of ecosystems

The properties of the ecosystem are associated with the diversity of species that inhabit it. The larger the biodiversity and the more complex the food chain, the higher the sustainability of the ecosystem.

Biodiversity is very important, as it makes it possible to form a large number of communities that differ in form, structure and functions, and provides a real opportunity for their formation. Therefore, the higher the biodiversity, the more communities can live, and the more biogeochemical reactions can be realized, while ensuring the integrated existence of the biosphere.

Are the following judgments on the properties of the ecosystem true? This concept is characterized by integrity, stability, self-regulation and self-reproducibility. A lot of scientific experiments and observations give an affirmative answer to this question.

Efficiency of ecosystems

During the study of productivity were put forward such concepts as biomass and crop in the vine. The second term defines the mass of all organisms living on a unit of water or land area. But biomass is also the weight of these bodies, but in terms of energy or dry organic matter.

Biomass includes the whole body (including dead tissue in animals and plants.) Biomass becomes necromass only when the whole body dies.

The primary production of the community is the generation of biomass by producers without excluding energy, which can be expended on respiration per unit area per unit time.

Allocate gross and pure primary products. The difference between them is the cost of breathing.

Net productivity of the community is the rate of accumulation of organic matter, which is not consumed by heterotrophs, but because of, and the decomposers. It is accepted to calculate for a year or a growing season.

Secondary productivity of the community is the rate of energy accumulation by consumers. The more consumers in the ecosystem, the more energy is processed in large volumes.

Self-regulation

The properties of the ecosystem include self-regulation, the effectiveness of which is regulated by the diversity of inhabitants and food relations between them. When the quantity of one of the primary consumers decreases, the predators pass to other species that previously were of secondary importance for them.

Long chains may overlap, while creating the possibility of a variety of food relations depending on the number of victims or crop yields. In the most favorable times the number of species can be restored - thus the relations in the biogenocenosis are normalized.

Unreasonable interference of a person in the ecosystem can have negative consequences. Twelve pairs of rabbits imported to Australia multiplied to several hundred million individuals in forty years. This was due to the insufficient number of predators that feed on them. As a result, fluffy animals destroy all vegetation on the mainland.

Biosphere

The biosphere is an ecosystem of higher rank, uniting all ecosystems and providing an opportunity for life on the planet Earth.

The properties of the biosphere as a global ecosystem are studied by the science of ecology. It is important to know how the processes that affect the life of all organisms in general are arranged.

The composition of the biosphere includes such components:

- The hydrosphere is the water shell of the Earth. It is mobile and penetrates everywhere. Water is a unique compound that is one of the foundations of the life of any organism.

- Atmosphere - the lightest air envelope of the Earth, bordering on outer space. Thanks to it, energy is exchanged with the outer space;

- The lithosphere is a solid shell of the Earth, consisting of magmatic and sedimentary rocks.

- The pedosphere is the upper layer of the lithosphere, which includes soil and the process of soil formation. Borders with all previous shells, and closes all cycles of energy and matter in the biosphere.

The biosphere is not a closed system, since it is almost entirely provided by solar energy.

Artificial ecosystems

Artificial ecosystems are systems created as a result of human activity. This includes agrocenoses and natural-economic systems.

The composition and main properties of the ecosystem created by man differ little from the present. It also has producers, consumers and decomposers. But there are differences in the redistribution of the flows of matter and energy.

Artificial ecosystems differ from natural ones by such parameters:

1. A much smaller number of species and a clear predominance of one or more of them.
2. Relatively small stability and strong dependence on all types of energy (including human).
3. Short food chains because of the small variety of species.
4. Unclosed circulation of substances due to seizure of community products or human yield. At the same time, natural ecosystems, on the contrary, include as much of it as possible in the cycle.

The properties of the ecosystem created in an artificial environment are inferior to those of the natural. If energy flows are not maintained, then natural processes will be restored after a certain time.

Forest Ecosystem

The composition and properties of the forest ecosystem are different from other ecosystems. In this environment, precipitation is much more precipitate than over the field, but most of them do not reach the surface of the earth and evaporate directly from the leaves.

The ecosystem of deciduous forest is represented by several hundred species of plants and several thousand species of animals.

Plants growing in the forest are real competitors and are fighting for sunlight. The lower the level, the more shadowy the species settled there.

The primary consumers are hares, rodents and birds and large herbivores. All the nutrients that are contained in the summer in the leaves of plants, fall into branches and roots in the fall.

Also to the primary consumers are caterpillars and bark beetles. Each food level is represented by a large number of species. The role of herbivorous insects is very important. They are pollinators and serve as a source of nutrition for the following level of food chains.

Freshwater ecosystem

The most favorable conditions for the life of living organisms are created in the coastal zone of the reservoir. It is here that the water is best warmed up and contains the most oxygen. And it is here that a large number of plants, insects and small animals live.

The system of food relations in fresh water is very complex. Higher plants use herbivorous fish, mollusks and insect larvae. The latter, in turn, are a source of nutrition for crustaceans, fish and amphibians. Predatory fish feed on smaller species. Here they find food and mammals for themselves.

But the remnants of organic matter fall to the bottom of the reservoir. They develop bacteria, which are consumed by protozoa and filtering mollusks.