All the diversity of organisms on our planet is inextricably linked. There is no such creature that could manage to exist in isolation from everyone, strictly individually. However, not only organisms are closely interconnected, but also factors of the external and internal environment affect the entire biome. Together, the whole complex of animate and inanimate nature is represented by the structure of ecosystems and their properties. What is this concept, what parameters is 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 joint life activity of all types of organisms, regardless of class 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. Tensley suggested using it to mean "a complex consisting not only of organisms, but also their environment." The concept itself is quite extensive, it is the largest unit of ecology, and also an important one. Another name is biogeocenosis, although there are still slight differences between these concepts.
The main property of ecosystems is the continuous interaction within them of organic and inorganic matter, energy, redistribution of heat, migration of elements, the complex effect of living beings on each other. In total, there are several basic characteristics that are called properties.
Key ecosystem properties
The most important of them can be distinguished three:
- self-regulation;
- sustainability;
- self-reproduction;
- change of one to another;
- integrity;
- emergent properties.
The question of what is the main property of ecosystems can be answered in different ways. All of them are important, because only their combined presence allows this concept to exist. Let us consider in detail each characteristic feature in order to assimilate its importance and understand the essence.
Ecosystem Self-Regulation
This is the main property of the ecosystem, which implies independent life management within each biogeocenosis. That is, a group of organisms, which is closely interconnected with other living beings, as well as environmental factors, has a direct impact on the whole structure as a whole. It is their vital activity 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 are reduced. Further, eating stops, and the predator switches to another power source (that is, a different type of herbivore creature). Thus, it turns out that the species is not completely destroyed, it remains at rest until the restoration of the necessary number indicator.
Within the ecosystem, the natural extinction of a species as a result of eating by other individuals cannot occur. This is where self-regulation lies. That is, animals, plants, fungi, microorganisms mutually control each other, despite the fact that they are food.
Also, self-regulation is a basic property of ecosystems also because thanks to it there is a controlled process of conversion of different types of energy. Inorganic substances, organic compounds, elements - all are in close interconnection and a general cycle. Plants directly use solar energy, animals eat plants, converting this energy into chemical bonds, after they die, microorganisms decompose them again to inorganic. The process is continuous and cyclical without external interference, which is called self-regulation.
Sustainability
There are other properties of ecosystems. Self-regulation is closely related to sustainability. How long this or that ecosystem will last, how it will be preserved, and whether changes to others will occur, depends on a number of reasons.
Truly stable is considered one in which there is no room for human intervention. In it there is a constantly stably high number of all types of organisms, no changes occur under the influence of environmental conditions or they are insignificant. In principle, any ecosystem can be sustainable.
A person can violate this condition by his intervention and a malfunction of the established order (deforestation, shooting of animals, extermination of insects, etc.). Also, stability itself can be affected by nature itself if climatic conditions change dramatically, preventing the organisms from adjusting. For example, natural disasters, climate change, water reduction, and more.
The greater the diversity of species of organisms, the longer ecosystems exist. The properties of an ecosystem - sustainability and self-regulation - are the foundation on which this concept generally rests. There is a term that generalizes these characteristics - homeostasis. That is, maintaining constancy in everything - the diversity of species, their numbers, external and internal factors. For example, tundra ecosystems are more likely to undergo shifts than tropical forests. Indeed, in them the genetic diversity of living things is not so great, which means. and survival is drastically reduced.
Self-reproducibility
If one thinks well about the question of what is the main property of ecosystems, one can come to the conclusion that self-reproducibility is no less important condition for their existence. After all, without constant playback of such components as:
- organisms;
- soil composition;
- water clarity;
- oxygen component of air and so on.
It’s hard to talk about sustainability and self-regulation. In order for the biomass to constantly revive and maintain numbers, it is important to have sufficient food, water, and favorable living conditions. Inside any ecosystem, there is a constant replacement of old individuals with young, sick with healthy, strong and hardy ones. This is a normal condition for the existence of any of them. This is possible only if timely self-reproducibility.
The manifestation of the properties of an ecosystem of this kind is the key to the genetic conservation of alleles of each species. Otherwise, entire genera and types, classes and families of living beings would disappear without subsequent restoration.
Succession
Also important properties of ecosystems are 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 consistent replacement of one ecosystem by another under the influence of both internal factors arising between living organisms and the external conditions of inanimate nature for a long time.
Also, a significant cause of successions is human economic activity. Thus, forests are replaced by meadows and swamps, lakes turn into deserts or floodplain meadows, fields are overgrown with trees and a forest is formed. Naturally, the fauna is also undergoing significant changes.
How long will succession occur? Exactly until the stage when the most convenient and adapted to specific conditions biogeocenosis is formed. For example, the coniferous forests of the Far East (taiga) is an already established indigenous biocenosis that will no longer change. It was formed for thousands of years, during which time more than one ecosystem change took place.
Emergent Properties
These ecosystem properties are newly emerged, new and previously uncharacteristic features appearing in biogeocenosis. They arise as a result of the integrated work of all or several participants in the common system.
A typical example is the coral reef community, which was the result of the interaction between the intestinal and algae. Corals are the main source of a huge amount of biomass, elements, compounds that did not exist before them in this community.
Ecosystem functions
The properties and functions of ecosystems are closely interconnected. So, for example, such a property as integrity implies maintaining constant interaction between all participants. Including the factors of inanimate nature. And one of the functions is just a coordinated transition of various types of energy into each other, which is possible under the condition of internal circulation of elements between all parts of the population and the biocenoses themselves.
On the whole, 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. The increase depends on a combination of factors of animate and inanimate nature and can fluctuate widely. So, biomass is much larger in areas with high humidity and good light. This means that its growth will be much larger, compared with that, for example, in the desert.
Another ecosystem function is transformational. It implies a directed change in energy, its transformation into various forms under the action of living beings.
Structure
The composition and properties of ecosystems determine their structure. What structure does biogeocenosis have? Obviously, it includes all the main links (both living and abiotic). It is also important that the whole structure is a closed cycle, which once again confirms the basic properties of ecosystems.
There are two major major links in any biogeocenosis.
1. Ecotope - a set of factors of an abiotic nature. He, in turn, is represented by:
- climatopom (atmosphere, humidity, lighting);
- edafotopom (soil soil component).
2. Biocenosis - the totality of all types of living creatures in a given ecosystem. It includes three main links:
- zoocenosis - all animal creatures;
- phytocenosis - all plant organisms;
- microbocenosis - all bacterial representatives.
According to the given structure, it is obvious that all links are closely interconnected and form a single network. This connection is manifested primarily in the absorption and conversion of energy. In other words, in food chains and nets within and between populations.
A similar structure of biogeocenosis was proposed by V.N.Sukachev in 1940 and remains relevant today.
Mature ecosystem
The age of different biogeocenoses can vary within wide limits. Naturally, the characteristics of a young and mature ecosystem must be different. This is what happens.
What property of a mature ecosystem distinguishes it from a relatively recently formed ecosystem? There are several of them, consider all:
- The species of each population are formed, stable and are not replaced (replaced) by others.
- The variety of individuals is constantly and no longer changing.
- The whole community is freely self-regulating, a high degree of homeostasis is observed.
- Each organism is fully adapted to environmental conditions, the coexistence of the biocenosis and ecotope is as comfortable as possible.
Each ecosystem will undergo succession until its climax is established - the constant most productive and acceptable species diversity. It is then that biogeocenosis begins to gradually transform into a mature community.
Groups of organisms within biogeocenosis
Naturally, all living things within one ecosystem are interconnected into a single whole. At the same time, they also have a huge impact on soil composition, air, water - on all abiotic components.
It is customary to distinguish several groups of organisms by their ability to absorb and convert energy within each biogeocenosis.
- 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.
- Consumables or biophages are those who consume ready-made organic matter by eating living things. These are carnivores, insects, some plants. Herbivorous representatives also belong here.
- Saprotrophs are organisms that can decompose organics, thus consuming nutrients. That is, they feed on the dead remains of plants and animals.
Obviously, all participants in the system are in an interdependent position. Without plants, herbivores will not be able to get food, and without them predators will die. Saprophages do not process compounds, the amount of necessary inorganic compounds will not be restored. All these relationships are called food chains. In large communities, chains move into networks, pyramids form. The study of issues related to trophic interactions is the science of ecology.
The role of humans in influencing ecosystems
This is said a lot today. Finally, man realized the full extent of the damage that the ecosystem has suffered over the past 200 years. The consequences of this behavior became apparent: acid rain, the greenhouse effect, global warming, a decrease in fresh water reserves, soil depletion, a decrease in forest areas, etc. You can infinitely identify problems, because they have accumulated a huge number.
All this is the very role that man has played and still plays in the ecosystem. Mass urbanization, industrialization, the development of technology, space exploration and other human actions not only complicate the state of inanimate nature, but also lead to the extinction and reduction of the planet's biomass.
Any ecosystem needs to be protected by humans, especially today. Therefore, the task of each of us is to provide her with support. It does not take much - methods of protecting nature are being developed at the government level, ordinary people should only adhere to established rules and try to maintain ecosystems unchanged without introducing an excessive amount of different substances and elements into their composition.