What is the meaning of Ecosystem? Concept, Definition of Ecosystem


What is: "ecosystem" ‒Definiciones and Conceptos‒

1. Concept of ecosystem in the Wikipedia Encyclopedia

An ecosystem is a natural system that consists of a set of living organisms (biocoenosis) and the physical environment where related (biotope). An ecosystem is a unit of interdependent organisms that share the same habitat. Ecosystems usually form a series of ranges showing the interdependence of organisms within the system. You can also define thus: «an ecosystem consists of the biological community of a place and the physical and chemical factors that constitute the abiotic environment».
This concept, which began to be developed between 1920 and 1930, takes into account the complex interactions between organisms (e.g. plants, animals, bacteria, protists and fungi) that form the Community (biocoenosis) and the flows of energy and materials that pass through it.
The term ecosystem was coined in 1930 by Roy Clapham to designate the set of physical and biological components of an environment. British ecologist Arthur Tansley later refined the term, and described it as 'The full system,'... including not only the complex of organisms, but also the whole complex of physical factors forming what we call environment. Tansley regarded ecosystems not simply as natural units, but as "mental isolates" ("mental isolates"). Tansley later defined the spatial extent of ecosystems using the term «ecotope» («ecotope»).
Central to the ecosystem concept is the idea that living organisms interact with any other element in their local environment. Eugene Odum, one of the founders of ecology, stated: "any unit that includes all of the organisms (ie: the 'Community') in limited area interacting with the physical environment so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined trophic structure biotic diversity and cycles of materials (i.e., an exchange of materials between living and nonliving parts) within the system is an ecosystem». The human ecosystem concept is based on removing the human/nature dichotomy and the premise that all species are ecologically integrated with each other, as well as with the abiotic constituents of their biotope.


2. Definition of ecosystem

Referred to as ecosystem to all beings living and devoid of life that have existence in a certain place and keep relations among themselves. The concept was introduced in the mid-20th century by ecologists to account for the object of study of ecology. It is important to stress that the notion of ecosystem is conventional and relative, so it supports some variants of specific use. For example, each ecosystem can be divided into smaller size and complexity.
An example of these theoretical postulates may offer it a forest. In this there are countless living beings that interact between Yes (biotic factors), as well as lacking factors of life such as water, air and minerals, which are necessary for the development of life in some cases while in others are at least linked to this (abiotic factors). Now, it may refer also to the tops of the trees of the forest as an ecosystem to the extent that fall within the definition used of the same.
With these schemes relate the concepts of ecological niche and habitat. In the first case is mentioned relations cited that biotic beings have each other and the abiotic; These include conditions of temperature, humidity, light, power mode, diseases, etc. In the second case refers to the physical environment of the ecosystem which the various species of this are adapted.
The ecosystem may experience gradual change of some elements by others. Thus, for example, may appear new plant species. This phenomenon is called ecological succession. When the emergence of life is carried out in a way that never had it refers to primary succession, while otherwise refers to secondary succession.
There are many biologists that amplify this concept in laminated versions, i.e., prefer to define a set of more or less stable ecosystems in its components and dynamics to give rise to a kind of higher "taxon", usually called biome. As well, each small ecosystems from a jungle region, United and interacting among themselves, give rise to the tropical forest or rainforest biome. Similarly, a reverse scale, a simple homely pot is an ecosystem, in which abiotic factors (land, water, solar energy, air) are integrated with the biotic components (vegetable planting, weeds, insects, worms, microorganisms) in a game of mutual relations with interaction, in some cases with advantages for both elements (symbiosis: aphids and ants) or at least one of them (commensalism(: the spider which is hidden in the flower of the same color) or, on the contrary, with effects deleterious to one of the members (parasitism: scale insects that devastate the crop).
In return, some relationships between living beings of peculiar characteristics have transcended from the single symbiosis and today, are defined by the sciences as real ecosystems. Thus, the presence of normal bacteria in the intestine of humans, known in the usual way as microflora, is considered by many experts as a real ecosystem, in which the local environment is the abiotic factor and various microbial species make up the biotic component. The stability and protection of this "ecosystem" is beneficial for the human being, both micro-organisms while that their abnormalities are associated with mutual prejudice.
It should be noted that this description in terms of ecosystems can also be applied to aquatic environments, although generally terrestrial ecosystems have greater complexity. It should not be forgotten in addition to mixed systems, such as the air-ground or coasts, which are ecosystems of great complexity due to the dynamics of each component that integrates them. Finally, there are surprising ecosystems quite hostile media such as the edge of volcanoes, Antarctic or deserts, which shows that the diversity of life is able to proliferate in the most adverse contexts.


3. Definition of ecosystem

Ecosystem refers to the community of living beings, whose life processes are interrelated. The development of these organisms occurs depending on the physical environmental factors that share.
Ecosystems agglutinate all biotic factors (i.e., to the plants, animals and micro-organisms) of an area determined with the abiotic factors of the environment. It is, therefore, a unit made up of interdependent organisms that form chains trophic or nutritional (current of energy and nutrients established among the species of an ecosystem in relation to their nutrition).
It is important to stress that there are many ways of carrying out an ecosystem study, more specifically three are the usual methods. So, firstly, can be analysis by food relations occurring in it which translates in to talk energy that comes to Earth from the Sun so that moving from a few bodies to others. This would in turn place calls, as you have quoted above, food chains where are plants, herbivores or primary consumers, carnivores or secondary consumers, and the Ghouls.
The second way of studying an ecosystem is through the cycles of matter. With them is what is expressed as various chemical elements (oxygen, hydrogen, carbon...) that make up the different beings living ranging through trophic levels to others.
And the third form of analysis is the focus on the so-called energy flow that moves from one level to another and that is the charge that the ecosystem is running. In this case we have to emphasize that this energy always follows the same direction.
The notion of ecosystem emerged in the 1930s to explain the complex interaction between living beings, the currents of energy and material resources, and the community which develops.
The higher number of species (i.e., increased biodiversity), ecosystem usually presents a greater capacity for recovery. This is possible thanks to the best possibilities of absorption and reduction of environmental changes.
The concept of habitat is associated with the ecosystem. The habitat is the physical location of the ecosystem, a region that offers the necessary natural conditions for the subsistence and reproduction of the species.
The ecological niche, on the other hand, is the way in which an organism is linked to the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment through different physical, chemical and biological conditions.
It is important to note that an ecosystem is a situation of balance that changes over time and which implies constant adaptation of the species that inhabit it.
In addition to the foregoing not we can overlook the fact that nowadays one of the problems that most worries the global society is the contamination of the ecosystem. That manifests itself through the water, soil and air. For this reason, fueling various initiatives and projects with the clear aim to curb it, protect the environment and achieve, therefore, that human beings have a better quality of life.


4. Definition of ecosystem

An ecosystem is the set formed by living things and non-living elements of the environment and the vital relationship between them. The Science study ecosystems and these relationships is called ecology.
Ecosystems can be of two types: land (forests, jungles, savannas, deserts, Poles, etc.) and aquatic (range from a puddle to the oceans, seas, lakes, lagoons, mangroves, coral reefs, etc.).
Most of the ecosystems of our planet are aquatic as their three quarters are covered by water. However, terrestrial ecosystems are best known by us since it does not require special equipment for your observation.
Entire ecosystem is characterized by the presence of living or biotic components (plants, animals, bacteria, algae and fungi) and non-living or abiotic components (light, shade, temperature, water, moisture, air, soil, pressure, wind, and pH).
Species are dispersed in the air that spread in populations or demos, which occupy certain positions in ecosystems, according to food requirements, environment requiring, etc., positions that define its specific ecological niche. To refer to a type of organism given environmental characteristics, is often speak of habitat.
Ecosystems are characterized by maintaining a constant exchange of matter and energy that passes from one living being to another, through food chains. (Producer organisations) plants capture solar energy and synthesize organic matter (food), both for them and for consumers organisms (animals) that take advantage of it, which in addition can then feed each other.
On the death of these organisms Act the decomposers (bacteria and fungi) and transforms them into nutrients for the soil, which will be used by plants, thus initiating a new cycle.
Should be noted, that currently the ecosystems are facing unprecedented difficulty: humanity. The uncontrolled action of humans on ecosystems such as the destruction and fragmentation of habitats (fire, indiscriminate logging, hunting and fishing without control), climate change, soil and water pollution affects your state of "natural balance", and the normal development and growth of the organisms in a population.
For this reason, have been created the decrees and laws for the protection of the environment. Mankind must recognize that attack the environment threatens the survival of their own species.