The “ecological footprint” created by humans is increasingly expanding, bringing huge impacts to the global ecosystem. It can be seen that the ecosystem is one of the concepts that plays a leading important role in human life. So what is an ecosystem? Let's GREEN IN Find out more about this issue through the article below!
1. What is an ecosystem?
According to Clause 9, Article 3 of the Law on Biodiversity 2008, the concept of ecosystem is clearly explained as follows: “An ecosystem is a community of organisms and non-living factors in a certain geographical area, interacting and exchanging materials with each other.” Simply put, an ecosystem is a system of organisms existing in a certain area. This is where they can interact and exchange with each other as well as with other non-living factors in the environment. This coordination ensures conditions for organisms to survive and develop sustainably.
2. Components of the ecosystem
An ecosystem in nature will be formed from two main components including abiotic and biotic:
2.1. Abiotic components (Biostscape)
Abiotic components are components that support organisms to survive and develop in the natural habitat but do not have separate life such as:
- Physical components: Temperature, light, water, wind, atmosphere, terrain, soil...
- Chemical components: Organic compounds such as lipids, proteins, salts, sugars as well as chemical elements produced and existing in the process of metabolism.
- These bioisotopes do not depend on organisms for their survival, but on the contrary, they play an important role in strongly influencing the biological stratification of communities in ecosystems.
2.2. Biological composition
This is the main component of the ecosystem which is divided into many different groups of organisms such as heterotrophs, autotrophs and intermediate organisms. Together they form a diverse and closely connected network:
- Autotrophic organisms are organisms that produce their own nutrients through non-biological sources. Some typical representatives of this group of organisms include plants, some types of bacteria (sulfur bacteria, cyanobacteria, etc.), unicellular algae, etc. The development of autotrophic organisms depends largely on the process of photosynthesis.
- The group of heterotrophic organisms is also known as the group of consumers. The sources of nutrients that sustain the body of heterotrophic organisms will be provided through active searching activities such as hunting and gathering. The representative objects of the heterotrophic group are animals. In addition, some microorganisms and fungi with similar abilities are also classified into this group of organisms. This is the group of organisms that plays the most important role in the process of forming ecological cycles in the area.
- Intermediate decomposers play a role in the decomposition and regeneration of nutrients, thereby helping to maintain the balance of life activities in the ecosystem. Unaffected by natural enemies like the other two groups, intermediate decomposers ensure the continuous circulation of matter.
3. The role of the ecosystem
It can be said that a sustainable ecosystem plays an important role in human life as well as the entire planet. Some of the core roles of a sustainable ecosystem include:
- Providing food sources: Ecosystems serve as an essential food source for humans and other living species on Earth.
- Ensuring clean water sources: Forests, rivers and ecosystems contribute to maintaining and purifying water sources, meeting the living needs and sustaining the lives of humans and many living species.
- Producing fresh air: Trees and plants that exist in the ecosystem through photosynthesis will produce oxygen, thereby improving the atmosphere.
- Providing natural resources: Ecosystems are a source of valuable resources such as wood, minerals, oil and many other necessary products for life and production.
- Maintaining ecological balance: An ecosystem is an environment that helps maintain a balance between species and the environment. For example, predators control the number of prey, contributing to the stability of the ecosystem.
- Climate regulation: Ecosystems such as forests and oceans absorb large amounts of CO2, playing an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change.
- Protecting the natural environment: Ecosystems support biodiversity conservation, protect land and natural landscapes, and help maintain the stability of the living environment.
4. Current state of the ecosystem
Ecosystems today are facing many risks of degradation due to strong human impacts. Some common risks include:
- Overexploitation of natural resources: Natural resources such as minerals, forest water are being overexploited. The most typical example is deforestation to create farming areas, illegal logging can affect the habitat of many species.
- Environmental pollution: Industrial activities and laxity in waste treatment systems can be responsible for the impact on the ecosystem.
- Climate change: The increase in greenhouse gases causing global climate change has had a strong impact on the ecosystem. Typically, the increase in global temperature causes ice to melt, causing sea levels to rise, directly affecting the digital environment of many organisms in coastal areas.
- Loss of habitat: Urban planning and agricultural production projects are the cause of the disappearance of habitats of many species, affecting natural ecosystems.
- The invasion of harmful plants and animals, also known as invasive species, is a serious threat to ecosystems. They not only change the natural structure but also lead to competition for resources, negatively affecting the ecological balance. Typical examples are weeds, water hyacinth, kelp, Koi fish or red deer, these species spread rapidly, dominate resources and create harsh habitats, significantly reducing the development of native species.
5. Solutions for sustainable ecosystems
- Efficient use of natural resources: Natural resources such as minerals, water, wood, etc. need to be exploited reasonably. Sustainable exploitation methods need to be applied to ensure the regeneration of these natural resources.
- Minimize environmental pollution: Apply industrial efficiency and green production processes to minimize land, water and air pollution. Public transportation should also be widely used, limiting personal transportation and promoting energy saving and recycling.
- Planting more trees and creating forests to compensate for the increasingly serious deforestation can improve the digital environment for many species in the ecosystem.
- Improve community awareness: Implement many educational programs for the community about the importance of sustainable ecosystems, thereby raising people's awareness and actions on environmental protection issues.
- Promote international cooperation to address global issues such as biodiversity conservation, climate change, and global sustainable ecosystem protection.
6. Conclusion
The above article has helped you learn about what an ecosystem is? Hopefully our information will be of some help to you. Don't forget to follow the next articles at GREEN IN for more updated information!