Ecosystems – What Are They?
By definition, the ecosystems are a set of organisms that live in certain environments. For example, fish, algae, whales, corals and a body of water are part of marine ecosystems, while scorpions, cacti, rattle snakes, and sand form a desert ecosystem. This phrase or expression originates from the vocabulary of Sir Arthur George Tansley, when in 1935, it was used to express the relationship and symbiosis existing between living and non-living things in a certain environment. As such, an ecosystem consists of two major parts, one is the living thing, which is termed as community and the other one is the non-living thing, which is called the habitat.
Wherever you go on the planet, you would encounter a number of different ecosystems, such as forest ecosystems, marine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems, coral reef ecosystems, and so on. Whichever ecosystem you take into consideration, you will find that there is a very close relationship between the living and non-living community. The inter-dependence is so acute that even the slightest change in any of the participants within an ecosystem would result in changes throughout the bio network. This is why it is very important that balance should be maintained at all times throughout the system.
Today, you will find that most of the ecosystems that exist are changing rapidly due to the imbalances created by human abuse. It is the human beings who need the natural ecosystem the most, yet it is the same human beings who are destroying it by overpopulation, pollution and consistent abuse. Unless serious measures are incorporated, especially to restore the rain forest and aquatic ecosystems, which are some of the worst affected bio networks; it is easy to foresee that this planet, our terra firma, is heading for sure self-destruction.
Our planet is made of a multitude of ecosystems, each one forming a vital link in the chain that nurtures and promotes life. The ecosystems are so closely interwoven that the slightest deviation in one triggers change in another. The situation is such that it calls for urgent and concrete steps to restore the ocean ecosystems, as well as forest ecosystems, which provide the most critical inputs for life. There is need for measures that promote forest conservation, restoration of freshwater ecosystems and many others so the quality of human life will not suffer any further. This is an extreme situation that calls for extreme measures. Hopefully, we are all ready for it and this exceptionally, unique planet will be saved.
