Difference between Natural and Artificial Ecosystem

The main difference between a natural and artificial ecosystem is that a natural ecosystem is an ecosystem that occurs naturally without any human influence, whereas an artificial ecosystem is created and maintained by humans. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms that interact with each other and the environment where they live.

In this article, we will read about natural and artificial ecosystems, their types, examples, and differences between Natural and Artificial ecosystems.

Difference Between Natural and Artificial Ecosystems

Natural and artificial ecosystems are two different ecosystems. The differences between natural ecosystems and artificial ecosystems are stated below:

Basis of Comparison	Natural Ecosystem	Artificial Ecosystem
Meaning	Naturally occurring ecosystems developed due to the constant interaction between the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment without any human influence	Human-made ecosystem developed for specific purposes, comprising of plants, animals, people, and technology regulated and maintained by human
Examples	Forests, mountains, oceans, deserts, grasslands etc.	Agricultural fields, poultry farms, aquariums, dams, etc.
Purpose	To maintain the balance of nature and the biochemical cycle of life.	To study or examine the natural processes, to conserve the particular flora or fauna and to enjoy and exhibit the artificially created environment.
Function	To protect and conserve the biodiversity, natural resources, and to maintain the ecological balance.	To improve crop production, animal husbandry practices, and enhancing natural productivity by using artificial tools and techniques.
Biodiversity	A high level of biodiversity, with a large number of different species coexisting in a complex web of interdependence.	Biodiversity is very low as only a few dominant species coexists in a simplified artificial system.
Genetic Variance	Genetic variability is very high which continuously keeps on interacting in a complex manner.	Genetic variability is very low as less favored species gradually decreases.
Sustainability	Self-sustaining	Requires human assistance to supply food, nutrients, etc. for their survival.
Level of resilience	Highly resilient and capable of adapting to changes in their environment and evolving.	Often becomes less resilient and more susceptible to the environmental changes or changes from the ideal conditions.
Food Chain	Food chains are complicated and interconnected to form a food web.	Simple, disordered, and discontinuous food chain.
Energy Source	The ultimate energy source of producers is sunlight, which then supplies energy to the successive trophic levels.	Sunlight provides energy to producers, but it is not always passed to the next trophic level.
Nutrient Cycle	The Nutrient cycle is entangled but complete.	Nutrient cycle is simple but incomplete.
Ecological Succession	An adequate level of ecological succession occurs due to evolution and adequate biological, geological, and ecological processes.	Ecological succession is not possible.

What is the Natural Ecosystem?

The natural ecosystem is a naturally occurring ecosystem in which biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) self-sustaining components interact with each other as well as the environment where they live through various biological, physical, and chemical processes without the influence of human activities. Natural ecosystems are self-regulatory and can survive without human intervention. They have very high biodiversity and vast natural resources. The ecosystem’s structure is not affected by the Industrial Revolution.

Salient Features of the Natural Ecosystem

The salient features of a natural ecosystem are as follows:

• They naturally occur.
• A spontaneous evolutionary selection operates on natural ecosystems which leads to wide genetic variations.
• These ecosystems are self-sustaining and self-sufficient. They do not require human assistance to survive.
• The biological, physical, and chemical interactions between the components occur to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
• The living and non-living components work together as a single unit to maintain the cycle of life.
• The food chain in the food web is interconnected where one organism depends on the other for food. Thus it completes an energy cycle.
• This ecosystem helps in the conservation of natural resources and the transmission of biological traits to future generations.

What is the Artificial Ecosystem?

Artificial ecosystems are human-made ecosystems where biotic and abiotic factors are created by humans for their purposes. These ecosystems can not survive without the influence of humans. All the setup of the ecosystem along with organisms and energy flow are regulated and controlled by humans. Examples of artificial ecosystems include crop fields, aquariums, gardens, dams, zoos, terrariums, greenhouses, fish farms, artificial wetlands, managed forestry, parks, hydroponics, etc.

Salient Features of Artificial Ecosystem

The salient features of artificial ecosystems are as follows.

• Artificial ecosystems are entirely human-created ecosystems that require human intervention for their survival.
• The genetic diversity of flora and fauna is very low in most of them because the number and variety of organisms are regulated by humans.
• Artificial ecosystems do not support the evolution of the organisms indwelling in them due to the absence of natural factors.
• Both food chains and nutrient cycles are usually not complete in these ecosystems because in most cases the appropriate decomposers and bacteria are absent.
• Artificial ecosystems are created for human purposes such as productivity, conservation, or entertainment.

Conclusion: Difference between Natural and Artificial Ecosystem

Natural and artificial ecosystems differ from each other in many aspects. Natural ecosystems have naturally evolved over several years without any human interference, while artificial ecosystems are created and regulated by humans for their specific purpose. The differences between these two ecosystems include the level of biodiversity and genetic variance, resilience, sustainability, and human influence. Understanding these differences is crucial for maintaining and conserving healthy natural ecosystems as well as developing sustainable artificial ecosystems.

FAQs on Natural and Artificial Ecosystem

What is the Difference Between a Natural Ecosystem and an Artificial Ecosystem?

Natural ecosystems are naturally occurring ecosystems consisting of soil, plants, sunlight, air, water, microorganisms, and animals. An artificial ecosystem is a human-created ecosystem of plants, animals, and people living in an area together with their surroundings.

What is the Difference Between Man-made and Natural Environment?

A manmade environment includes human-made biotic and abiotic factors. Its survival depends on humans. But the natural environment includes all the natural things and its survival does not depend on human existence.

What is meant by Artificial Ecosystem?

Artificial ecosystems are human-made systems where biotic and abiotic components are made to interact with each other for survival. It is not self-sustaining and its existence depends on human assistance. Examples of artificial ecosystems include aquariums, agriculture fields, zoos, etc.

What is the Natural Ecosystem?

A natural ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that occur freely in nature. Every component interacts together as a combined unit through physical, chemical, and biological processes.

What is the Difference Between a Natural and Managed Ecosystem?

Natural ecosystems have diversified species and are self-sustaining. In managed ecosystems, species are selected by humans and limited in diversity, and human assistance is required for their existence.