What is an ecosystem, and how does it relate to biodiversity?
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms that interact with each other and
with the non-living components of their environment. It includes both biotic factors
(living organisms) and abiotic factors (non-living things like air, water, and soil).
Examples of ecosystems include forests, oceans, and grasslands. The biodiversity of
an ecosystem refers to the variety of species that inhabit it, as well as the diversity of
their ecological roles and interactions.
Biodiversity is vital to the functioning of an ecosystem as it provides a range of
benefits such as nutrient cycling, pollination, and water purification. Different species
play different roles within an ecosystem and when there is a loss of biodiversity, the
negative impacts can be far-reaching. For example, the loss of keystone species
(species which have a disproportionately large effect on an ecosystem in relation to
their abundance) can lead to substantial changes in the ecosystem.
Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change can have
detrimental effects on an ecosystem's biodiversity. For example, deforestation can
lead to the loss of plant and animal species, as well as soil erosion and changes in
hydrology, which in turn can impact the entire ecosystem. Climate change can also
cause significant changes to the distribution and abundance of species, affecting the
balance of an ecosystem.
In summary, an ecosystem and biodiversity are closely linked. The diversity of
species within an ecosystem is essential for its health, stability, and functioning, and
human activities can have negative impacts on ecosystem biodiversity. Thus,
protecting biodiversity is crucial for the long-term survival of ecosystems and the
sustainability of human societies.
References:
- Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. (2005). Ecosystems and human well-being:
Biodiversity synthesis. World Resource Institute.
- Cardinale, B. J., Duffy, J. E., Gonzalez, A., Hooper, D. U., Perrings, C., Venail, P., ... &
Naeem, S. (2012). Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity. Nature, 486(7401), 59-67.
- Díaz, S., Fargione, J., Chapin III, F. S., & Tilman, D. (2006). Biodiversity loss threatens
human well-being. PLoS Biology, 4(8), e277.