Types of ecosystems. General characteristics of ecosystems

All living organisms live on the Earth not in isolation from each other, but in forming communities. In them, everything is interconnected, like living organisms, and the factors of inanimate nature. Such an education in nature is called an ecosystem that lives according to its specific laws and possesses specific characteristics and qualities that we will try to get acquainted with.

The concept of an ecosystem

It is rather difficult to thoroughly study any ecosystem, since it includes a huge number of living organisms, as well as abiotic factors.

There is such a science as ecology, which is engaged in studying the relationship between wildlife and inanimate. But these relations can be carried out only within the framework of a certain ecosystem and occur not spontaneously and chaotically, but according to some laws.

Types of ecosystems are different, but they are all a combination of living organisms that interact with each other and with the environment through the exchange of substances, energy and information. That is why the ecosystem remains stable and stable for a long period of time.

Classification of ecosystems

Despite the great diversity of ecosystems, they are all open, without this their existence would be impossible. The types of ecosystems are different, and the classification can be different. If we bear in mind the origin, then the ecosystems are:

1. Natural or natural. In them, all interaction is carried out without direct human participation. They, in turn, are divided into:

• Ecosystems are completely dependent on solar energy.
• Systems that receive energy from both the sun and other sources.

2. Artificial ecosystems. Created by the hands of man, and can exist only with his participation. They are also subdivided into:

• Agroecosystems, that is, those that are related to human economic activity.
• Technoecosystems appear in connection with the industrial activities of people.
• Urban ecosystems.

Another classification distinguishes the following types of natural ecosystems:

1. Ground:

• Rainforests.
• Desert with grassy and shrubby vegetation.
• Savannah.
• The steppes.
• Deciduous forest.
• Tundra.

2. Freshwater ecosystems:

• Standing ponds (lake, pond).
• Flowing waters (rivers, streams).
• The swamps.

3. Marine ecosystems:

• Ocean.
• The continental shelf.
• Areas with fishing.
• The mouth of the rivers, the bay.
• Deepwater rift zones.

Regardless of the classification, one can see the diversity of ecosystem types, which is characterized by its own set of life forms and numerical composition.

Distinctive features of the ecosystem

The concept of an ecosystem can be attributed both to natural formations, and to an artificially created man. If we talk about the natural, then they are characterized by the following symptoms:

• In any ecosystem, the obligatory elements are living organisms and abiotic factors of the environment.
• In any ecosystem, there is a closed cycle from the production of organic substances to their decomposition into inorganic components.
• Interaction of species in ecosystems provides stability and self-regulation.

The whole surrounding world is represented by various ecosystems, which are based on living matter with a certain structure.

Biotic structure of the ecosystem

Even if ecosystems differ in species diversity, the abundance of living organisms, their life forms, but the biotic structure in any of them is still the same.

All kinds of ecosystems include the same components, without their presence the functioning of the system is simply impossible.

1. Producers.
2. First-order consumers.
3. Consumables of the second order.
4. Reedents.

The first group of organisms include all plants that are capable of the process of photosynthesis. They produce organic substances. To the same group belong chemotrophs, which form organic compounds. But only for this use not the solar energy, but the energy of chemical compounds.

Consuments include all organisms that require the input of organic substances from outside to build their bodies. This includes all herbivorous organisms, predators and omnivores.

The decomposers, which include bacteria, fungi, transform the remains of plants and animals into inorganic compounds suitable for use by living organisms.

The functioning of ecosystems

The largest biological system is the biosphere, it, in turn, consists of separate components. It is possible to compile such a chain: the species-population-the ecosystem. The smallest unit that enters the ecosystem is a species. In each biogeocenosis, the number of them can vary from a few tens to hundreds and thousands.

Regardless of the number of individuals and species in any ecosystem, there is a constant exchange of matter, energy not only among themselves, but also with the environment.

If we talk about the exchange of energy, then it is possible to apply the laws of physics. The first law of thermodynamics says that energy does not disappear without a trace. It only changes from one species to another. According to the second law, in a closed system, energy can only increase.

If physical laws are applied to ecosystems, it can be concluded that they support their life through the availability of solar energy, which organisms are able not only to capture, but also to transform, use, and then give to the environment.

Energy is transferred from one trophic level to another, during the transfer, one type of energy is converted into another. Part of it, of course, is lost in the form of heat.

Whatever existed types of natural ecosystems, but such laws operate absolutely in everyone.

Ecosystem structure

If you look at any ecosystem, you can see in it that different categories, such as producers, consumers and decomposers, are always represented by a whole set of species. Nature is provided, if something suddenly happens to one of the species, then this ecosystem will not die, it can always successfully replace another. This explains the sustainability of natural ecosystems.

A wide variety of species in the ecosystem, a variety of food chains ensure the sustainability of all processes that are carried out within the community.

In addition, any system operates its own laws, which are subject to all living organisms. Proceeding from this, it is possible to single out several structures within the biogeocenosis:

1. Species structure. Shows the ratio of plant and animal species. In each system, this indicator is different, it depends on many factors: geographic location, climate, age of the ecosystem. A species that surpasses all the others in numbers is called the medium of formation. But small representatives in some cases are an indicator of well-being in the system.
2. Trophic structure. The diversity of species, branched food chains in the ecosystem are an indicator of sustainability. In any biogeocenosis, organisms are linked primarily by food links. It is always possible to compose a power circuit. Usually they begin with a plant organism, and end with a predator. For example, a grasshopper eats grass, it is eaten by a cyan, and a kite will catch it.
3. Spatial structure. The question arises as to how such a large number of different species coexist on one territory. All this is due to a certain structure, adhering to which species are settled. In the forest, the light-loving trees occupy the very first tier. Here, some species of birds are nesting. The next level is trees lower, and again residence for some species of animals.

Any structure is necessarily present in any ecosystem, but it can differ substantially. For example, if we compare the biogeocenosis of the desert and the tropical forest, the difference is visible to the naked eye.

Artificial ecosystems

Such systems are created by human hands. Despite the fact that in them, as in natural, all components of the biotic structure necessarily exist, there are still significant differences. Among them are the following:

1. Agrocenoses are characterized by poor species composition. Only those plants grow there. But nature takes its own, and always, for example, on the wheat field you can see cornflowers, chamomiles, various arthropods settle. In some systems, even birds manage to tweak a nest on the ground and bring out the chicks.
2. If a person does not take care of this ecosystem, then the cultural plants will not withstand competition with their wild relatives.
3. Agrocenoses exist at the expense of additional energy, which man brings, for example, by introducing fertilizers.
4. Since the grown biomass of plants is taken with the crop, the soil is impoverished with nutrients. Therefore, for further existence, it is again necessary to intervene with a man who will have to introduce fertilizers in order to grow the next crop.

It can be concluded that artificial ecosystems do not belong to stable and self-regulating systems. If a person stops caring for them, they will not survive. Gradually, wild species will displace cultural plants, and agrocenosis will be destroyed.

For example, an artificial ecosystem of three types of organisms can easily be created at home. If you put an aquarium, pour water into it, put a few twigs of elodey and plant two fish, here's an artificial system ready. Even such a simple can not exist without human intervention.

The importance of ecosystems in nature

Speaking globally, all living organisms are distributed across ecosystems, so their importance is difficult to underestimate.

1. All ecosystems are interconnected by a cycle of substances that can migrate from one system to another.
2. Due to the presence of ecosystems, biological diversity is preserved in nature.
3. All the resources that we derive from nature, we are given the ecosystem: pure water, air, fertile soil.

Any ecosystem is very easy to destroy, especially considering the capabilities of a person.

Ecosystems and humans

Since the appearance of man, his influence on nature has been increasing every year. Developing, a person imagines himself to be the king of nature, began without hesitation to destroy plants and animals, destroy natural ecosystems, thereby began to chop the branch on which he sits.

Intervening in the age-old ecosystems and violating the laws of the existence of organisms, man has led to the fact that all the world's ecologists are screaming in one voice that the world ecological crisis has come . Most scientists believe that natural disasters, which have recently begun to occur more often, are the answer of nature to the thoughtless interference of a person in its laws. It's time to stop and think that any kinds of ecosystems were formed centuries ago, long before the appearance of man, and perfectly existed without him. But humanity can live without nature? The answer arises by itself.