All About Ecology and Ecosystems
You have probably heard the news or read some materials concerning issues on our environment. Ultimately, human’s destructive activities will end up destroying the surroundings. Well in this particular article, we shall define what ecology is. We will also state its importance and significance to human beings. The branch of biology that deals with the study of the relationship between the organisms and their environment is called ecology. The environment is made up of the external elements and conditions that affect the life and development of a certain organism.
As interactions take place in an environment, there are biological levels of organization involved. The first one is the biosphere. It is the area of the earth wherein life is possible. The second one is the ecosystem. This is any stable environment in which living and non living things interact and in which materials are used over and over again. The last one would be the biotic community. This is where all living organisms in an ecosystem are. The area that covers the earth’s surface as well as that which lies just beneath the earth’s surface comprises the biosphere. The atmosphere and the ocean depths are part of this area. Together with the abiotic or none living environment with which it interacts, the biosphere forms a bigger zone called an ecosphere. Our planet Earth is an ecosphere itself.
An ecosystem is an ecological unit that includes all the interacting parts of an environment in an area. It contains abiotic and biotic components through which nutrients are cycled and energy flows. A river, coral reef, edge of a pond, meadow and forest are all examples of an ecosystem. On the other hand, an aquarium is considered as a man-made ecosystem. All ecosystems, terrestrial or aquatic have basic components. Its basic components may include abiotic or physical factor and biotic or living things.