Balance in the Ecosystem

Ecological Balance in Nature

The environment in which the man and other organisms live is called the biosphere. The biosphere is made up of different regions that have different types of flora (plants) and fauna (animals). The types of organisms in an area are determined by various factors such as the climate, temperature, rainfall, etc.

The regions based on their physical and biological nature are classified into ecosystems. For example, pond ecosystem, evergreen forest ecosystem, desert ecosystem, etc. The organisms, in addition to being dependent on the environment for their needs, are also dependent on each other. This dependency is especially for food. This results in the presence of food chains and food webs.

Food Chain in Nature(P = producer, H = herbivore, C₁ = carnivore order-1, C₂ = carnivore order-2)

The food chains and other such interrelationships in the ecosystems create a balance in the environment that is called the ecological balance.

Man is also a part of these food chains and webs. However, man tries to modify the environment to suit his needs unlike the other components of the ecosystem. This has upset the delicate balance being maintained in the environment.

Forest Food Webs

For example: consider the food chain: plants, deer, tiger in a forest. There is a balance maintained in the environment because of this food chain. This balance becomes evident when it is upset. If for some reason, all the tigers disappear, then the deer population will increase to such an extent that plants will reduce in number drastically and the habitat will become unsuitable for other herbivores also with more competition. If the deer disappear, then the tigers will starve and dwindle in number. And if the plants disappear, then deer cannot survive and as a result the tigers also cannot survive.

Such an event in the earlier days has resulted in the creation of deserts such as Sahara in Africa and the Thar desert in Rajasthan. Due to hunting habits of man, the numbers of lions in Africa were drastically reduced during the times of the Romans. This resulted in increased population of herbivores that in turn adversely affected the plant population. Less cover of vegetation on land led to desertification. Thus maintenance of this ecological balance is very important.

Sustainable Development

The importance of maintaining the ecological balance and conservation of the resources has been increasingly becoming clear in the last two decades. It has now become necessary for all countries in the world to recognise this fact and plan what is known as 'sustainable development'. The United Nations World Commission of Environment and Development in 1987 has defined sustainable development as "a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and the institutional change are in harmony and enhance both current and future generations to meet their needs."

This means that the requirements of the present generation in terms of economic growth and community development (to provide for basic needs like food, water, shelter, education, etc) are met without compromising on environmental protection. This will ensure that every generation will leave clean air, water and soil resources for the future generations.

Methods to Enforce the Concept of Sustainable Development

• judiciously use the resources that are available in plenty and maintain them without depletion or pollution

• restrict the use of the already endangered resources and protect them from unsustainable development.

• to increase awareness about the concept of sustainable development and ensure that the people understand its full meaning. This concept means that there is a symbiotic relationship (mutually beneficial) between the developmental process and environment protection. If environment protection is ignored, then the very basis of developmental processes (the natural resources) will get exhausted which will spell doom for mankind. On the other hand, one cannot ignore development and only think of environmental protection. However, it is necessary to strike a balance between the two.

Towards this end, every individual has to make his actions eco-friendly. This is possible only if man stops thinking of himself as the supreme creation and enjoys only the benefits. It is high time man realizes that he is an integral part of the environment. He should also realize that because he is at the pinnacle of evolution and has also more responsibility towards maintaining the environment.

from: http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-ii/environment-and-environmental-problems/ecological-balance.php

Ecological Relationships

Five Types of Ecological Relationships

Ecological communities consist of interacting or potentially interacting species in the same environment. The direct interactions between species are divided into five categories. Sometimes these complex interactions and the flow of energy through the system are diagrammed in food webs, which display the movement of energy from lower to higher trophic, or feeding, levels.

Predation

Predation describes one species, the predator, feeding on and typically killing another organism, the prey species. Predators use various methods to capture prey, just as their prey use various methods to avoid capture. Herbivory is comparable to predation, but herbivores feed on plants rather than animals. Herbivores do not necessarily kill a plant they feed on but sometimes put pressure on the plant species.

Competition

Competition describes multiple organisms fighting for the same resources. Interspecies competition is competition between different species; intraspecies competition is competition between organisms of the same species.The competition may or may not involve active interference. Squirrels and deer may both eat acorns in a site but do not directly fight for the acorns and instead make fewer acorns available for the other. Alternatively, competition may involve direct interference, like when a plant secretes chemicals from its roots to keep other plants from growing around it. The more similar two species in a community are, the more competitive they are with each other, fighting for limited resources.

Parasitism

Parasitism is when one species benefits from a second species that is disadvantaged, but generally not killed. A tick feeding on a host is a good example of parasitism. The host is not directly killed by the tick, which benefits from the relationship while the host is adversely affected, as it feeds on the host's blood.

Mutualism

Mutualism is an interaction characterized by mutual benefit, so both species benefit from the relationship. A flowering plant producing nectar to attract an animal, such as a bee, is one example. The bee benefits by feeding on the nectar, while the plant benefits because the bee goes on to disperse the plant's pollen. Mutualism can also be thought of as "mutual exploitation."

Commensalism

Commensalism describes a relationship in which one species benefits but the other is unaffected. Examples of commensalism include a bird nesting in a tree. The bird is using the tree for shelter but the tree is unaffected. A second example is a certain intestinal bacteria species that lives in an animal's gut, which provides food and shelter for the bacteria, but the bacteria does not negatively or positively affect the host organism. Note that there are many types of intestinal bacteria, and while some -- commensalists -- have no affect on the host, others may benefit or harm the host.

from: http://classroom.synonym.com/five-types-ecological-relationships-7786.html

Issues on Biodiversity

                The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth. Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach. Almost all cultures have in some way or form recognized the importance that nature, and its biological diversity has had upon them and the need to maintain it. Yet, power, greed and politics have affected the precarious balance.

                

 Why is Biodiversity important? Does it really matter if there aren’t so many species?

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Loss Of Biodiversity And Extinctions

It has long been feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. Despite increased efforts at conservation, it has not been enough and biodiversity losses continue. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological problems.

Nature And Animal Conservation

Preserving species and their habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves.

Yet, the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other challenges are making conservation a struggle.

Climate Change Affects Biodiversity

Rapid global warming can affect an ecosystems chances to adapt naturally.

The Arctic is very sensitive to climate change and already seeing lots of changes. Ocean biodiversity is already being affected as are other parts of the ecosystem.

From:http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversity