Definition ecosystem or what is an ecosystem
- (1) According to Lindeman (1942), ecosystems are physical, chemical, and biological conditions of interrelated, dynamic, or changing nature.
- According to Odum (1963), an ecosystem is a state of interrelationships between organisms and the inanimate environment, and through these relationships, they influence each other.
- Definition of an ecosystem by Scientist Tansal (1935): According to Scientist Tansal, an ecosystem is a particular spatial or organizational unit in which various substances are exchanged through the interaction of living and non-living elements.
- Clarke’s definition: According to the scientist Clarke, the organism of the settlement and the physical elements that form a complex living system together are called an ecosystem.
Basic properties of an ecosystem
- An ecosystem has a specific area.
- Ecosystems are observed in terms of time.
- The supply and production of energy and matter in ecosystems are always occurring.
- In an ecosystem, matter exchanges occur within the unit. It includes inanimate and living components.
- An open system is so-called because it releases energy after functioning in the ecosystem.
- The only source of energy in the ecosystem is the sun.
- Ecosystems seek a stable balance. This happens when energy flows through the food chain and is not disrupted.
- Energy exists after working in the ecosystem, so it is called an open system.
What are the ecological principles?
- The unit of the environment is the ecosystem, which is the combined product of the non-living and living elements of the environment.
- The biosphere is the largest ecosystem.
- Life on Earth has become sustainable due to the effects of an ecosystem.
- In an ecosystem, the natural environment and living things influence each other.
- All ecosystem functions are based on solar energy.
- The natural and biological processes that have worked in the ecosystem in the distant past continue to work today and will continue to do so in the future, even if rates of work change.
- Biodiversity increases ecosystem productivity.
- No matter how big or small the organism is, every organism has an important role in the ecosystem.
- Biogeochemical cycles transport inorganic and organic elements in ecosystems.
- An ecosystem that does not adapt to environmental changes is not sustainable.
- Ecosystems affect people’s food, clothing, economic activities, and culture.
Essential components of an ecosystem
- Abiotic Components
- Biotic components.
Abiotic Components: We call all the elements of the ecosystem that do not have life called non-living elements. These elements are physical and chemical. They fall into three categories.
Inorganic substances: Ecosystems have oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and carbon dioxide. These ecosystem components circulate through biogeochemical cycles. They maintain the balance of the environment.
Organic substances: Proteins, carbs, fats, etc. from dead plants or animals. They are the organic matter of ecosystems. These substances help establish connections between living and non-living components of an ecosystem.
Physical substances: Ecosystems’ physical substances are water, air, soil, and solar energy. The entire biosphere depends on these ecosystem components.
Biotic Components: We call all the living components in the ecosystem biotic components. You can divide this material into three parts. Namely: i) autotrophic components; ii) heterotrophic components; and iii) saprotrophic components.
Ecosystem of the Ocean
Marine ecosystems vary with water depth and available elements. Environmental elements like water, soil, carbon dioxide, oxygen, inorganic salts, producers, consumers, and decomposers are essential to all ecosystems. You can find various forms of these ecosystems.
- Mangroves
- Open ocean
- Hydrothermal vents
- Coral reefs
- Estuaries
- Deep-sea trenches
- Seagrass beds
- Kelp forests
Here is a breakdown of the different components found in marine ecosystems.
Abiotic Elements: air, water, soil, oxygen, carbon dioxide, inorganic salts, etc.
Biotic Elements: These elements are
- Producers: various phytoplankton, insects, larvae, etc.
- Carnivores: diatoms, salps, jellyfish, tetons, cuttlefish, corals, crabs, and various types of fish, such as halibut, cod, plaice, etc.
- Decomposers: Different types of fungi, bacteria, etc.
Composition: Producers in marine ecosystems store various carbohydrates in their bodies. Later, based on the food-consumer relationship, they are transferred from the bodies of producers to the bodies of various consumers (diatoms, dinoflagellates) and reach the highest level; finally, decomposers break down the remains of deceased plants and animals and blend them into the soil. The following is an example of energy transfer in the bodies of food-eating animals in marine ecosystems:
Solar energy→ phytoplankton→ zooplankton→ herring→and blue whales (top eaters).
Division of the ocean according to depth:
- The region from sea level to a depth of 200 meters is called the Epipelagic Biozone.
- The Mesopelagic Biozone is an area of seawater that ranges in depth from 200 to 1,000 meters.
- The Bathypelagic Biozone is a region of sea water that stretches from 1,000 to 4,000 meters.
- The abyssopelagic biozone is the region extending from 4,000 m to 6,000 m in sea water.
- The Hedalpelagic Biozone extends from > 6,000 m to the deep sea floor.
Division of oceans according to sunlight penetration:
Photic Zone/Euphotic Zone: The Greek word ‘phos’ means light. Scientists call the depth to which sunlight reaches the ocean the illuminated zone or photic zone. It is also called the euphotic zone in English. The number of aquatic plants and animals living here is the highest. Marine algae, plankton, and fish like herring and mackerel, etc.
Aphotic zone: this area starts at an average of 200 m. The dark or aphotic zone extends from the surface to the deepest part of the ocean. Nekton organisms like crabs, sharks, whalefish, viperfish, etc, can be found here.
Essential services that come from the sea:
The ocean has created a vast, complex ecosystem. It has touched every part of our lives. For example—
- Most of the fish we need are taken from the ocean.
- The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and maintains the carbon dioxide balance of our atmosphere.
- Oceans produce a large amount of oxygen, an invaluable resource for sustaining our lives, producing almost half of it.
- Also, the mangrove ecosystem protects us from floods. It grows in the marine estuarine habitat.
Human impacts on marine ecosystems include:
- Oil mixing in sea water due to various accidents during oil extraction causes severe damage to the marine ecosystem.
- Also, plastic, factory waste, and discarded items. disrupting the marine ecosystem.
- Excessive tree-cutting has changed our climate. It has melted Antarctic ice and raised sea levels. As a result, the species distribution in the ecosystem is changing.
- As the population grows, our needs increase. We are overfishing the oceans. This disrupts the food chain and harms the ecosystem.
- Coastal tourism and urbanized ports are fragmenting ecosystems. They are destroying habitats and harming coastal species.
Actions to be taken to protect marine ecosystems, such as—
- Fragmentation of marine ecosystems is pollution, and it is ours to maintain the balance.
- Adhering to government regulations and maintaining a stable system of fishing.
- Avoiding plastic pollution in general.
- Encouraging the use of materials that do not harm the environment.
- Extraction of oil according to scientific principles.
- Stop overcutting trees and take action on climate change.
- Various public, private, and general public measures are being taken to protect marine coastlines.
