What is an Ecosystem? How do Human Beings influence Ecology?

An ecosystem is defined as a community of living things, composed of non-living components that interact with each other. An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology in which living organisms interact with each other and with the environment. In other words, an ecosystem is a chain of interactions between an organism and its environment. All plants and animals in certain areas are interrelated and also interdependent on each other and their dependence on the environment is known as an ecosystem.

Ecosystem

Structure Of Ecosystem

The structure of an ecosystem is characterized by the organization of both biotic and abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in the environment. This also includes the climatic conditions prevailing in a particular environment. 

The structure of the ecosystem can be divided into two main components.  

• Biotic Components  
• Non-Biotic Components  

Biotic and Non-Biotic components are interconnected in an ecosystem. It is an open system through which energy and components can flow across boundaries.

Functions of Ecosystem

The ecosystem performs the following functions:   

1.  Regulates basic ecological processes, supports life systems, and ensures sustainability.  
2.  It is also responsible for the nutrient cycle between biotic and non-living components.   
3.  Balances the different nutrient levels in an ecosystem.  
4.  Ensures mineral circulation in the biosphere.   
5.  Non-living components aid in the synthesis of organic components that enable energy exchange.

Thus, the functional units of an ecosystem, or functional components that work together in an ecosystem, are:  

• Productivity – Represents the rate of biomass production.  
• Energy flow is a sequential process in which energy flows from one trophic level to another. 
•  Solar energy flows from producers to consumers, to decomposers, and finally to the environment.  
• Decomposition is the process by which dead organic matter decomposes. Topsoil is the main decomposition site.
• Nutrition cycle- In an ecosystem, nutrients are consumed and reused in different forms for use by different organisms.

Links Between Ecosystems And Human Activities

We managed to control fires, farm, and build vehicles. We’ve built factories, dams, and solar panels, and we’re constantly looking for new ways to explore space. Nevertheless, mankind’s desire to use, modify and transform natural ecosystems seems to be endless. Turning plains into grain fields, for example, will dramatically change the local ecosystem. Sometimes we change it completely from its original basis.

Human activity today is having a huge impact on ecosystems, so we’re talking about the Anthropocene timeline. This is a period that determines the significant impact of human activities on the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, and geological and hydrological systems. This period also takes into account changes due to climatic events that are primarily caused by human activities. We see all these changes everywhere. When trees are cut down in the Amazon forest,  species struggle to survive, and the ecosystem changes with local humidity and climate change. Dam construction also changes the distribution of water and affects the species that live around rivers.  A commonly used example of how human activity affects ecosystems is Yellowstone National Park, USA. Here, as in other national parks, the US Department of Biology has decided to kill wolves and other species as a means of controlling predators. The problem is that in the long run, the disappearance of the wolf population affects the entire ecosystem and also changes the flow of local rivers. About 70 years later, wolves were reintroduced into the park to restore balance to the ecosystem.

Effects of Human Activities on the Ecosystem

The effects which human activities have on the ecosystem include:

Over Population

Survival meant population growth. However, the reverse is also quickly true as the planet reaches the maximum capacity it can handle.   Overpopulation has turned into a contagious disease with a decrease in mortality rate, advances in medicine, and the introduction of industrial agriculture, prolonging the lifespan of human life and increasing the total population.

The consequences of overpopulation are very serious, and one of the most serious is the destruction of the environment. Whether agricultural or industrial, people need a lot of space, and they also take up a lot of space. Population growth leads to clearer cuts, causing serious damage to ecosystems. Without enough trees to purify the air, CO₂ levels can rise, damaging all organisms on the planet.

Another problem is that it relies on coal and fossil fuels for energy. The larger the population, the more fossil fuels are used. The use of fossil fuels (such as oil and coal) releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, threatening the extinction of thousands of species, and exacerbating the already impacts of deforestation.   Humanity constantly needs more space. This destroys ecosystems and increases CO₂ levels, further destroying the vulnerable environment. Recycled materials are needed to power cities, but previous estimates suggest that the planet could suffer such damage before it does us any harm.

Pollution

Pollution is almost everywhere. From garbage dumped on highways to the millions of metric tons of pollutants released into the atmosphere each year, it’s clear that pollution and waste are inevitable.   Pollution is so great that  2.4 billion people today do not have access to clean water sources. Humans are constantly polluting irreplaceable resources like air, water, and soil, and it takes millions of years to replenish them.   Air is probably the most polluted, generating 147 million metric tons of air pollution annually in the United States alone.

In 1950, when the smog in Los Angeles became so strong, ozone (an atmospheric gas present in the atmosphere rather than on the ground) exceeded 500 parts per billion volume (ppbv). 75 ppbv (more than 6.6 times to be precise).  People thought they were under foreign attack because the smog burned snow and left a bleach smell in the air. It was then that the destructive effects of aerosols were discovered.

Global Warming

Global warming is probably the biggest cause of environmental impact. The largest contributors to CO₂ levels, from respiration to more harmful sources such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.   Anyway, people are constantly increasing CO₂ levels worldwide every year. Before 1950, the highest level of CO2 in human history was about 300 ppm. However, current measurements of CO₂ levels exceed 400 ppm, cancelling all records from 400,000 years ago.

The increase in CO₂ emissions has contributed to an increase in the average global temperature by almost one degree.   As temperatures rise, Arctic land ice and glaciers melt and sea levels rise at a rate of 3.42 mm per year, allowing more water to absorb more heat, causing more ice to melt, creating a positive feedback loop. By 2100, the sea will rise 1-4 feet.

Climate Change

Climate change is closely linked with historical developments in industry and technology. As global temperatures rise, the Earth’s weather patterns will change dramatically. Some areas will experience longer growing seasons, while others will dry up and become barren wastelands over vast areas, turning once flowering areas into deserts. These increases will affect weather patterns, promising more hurricanes in both size and frequency, exacerbating and prolonging droughts and heat waves. But air pollution doesn’t just affect the environment. There is growing evidence that poor air quality and rising temperatures destroy vulnerable ecosystems and even increase the incidence of asthma and cancer in humans.

Genetic Modification

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have made a significant contribution to the survival and prosperity of mankind. GMOs are crops or selected varieties of crops in which DNA has been directly grafted to the crop to benefit the crop, such as maintaining a lower temperature, requiring less water, or producing more products.   However, GMOs are not always intentional. For years, people have been using glyphosate, a herbicide designed to kill weeds, the biggest threat to all plants.

“Superweeds” threaten farmland by dumping outcrops. One of the only solutions is to turn the soil over to kill weeds and start planting crops early. However, the downside of plowing is that it makes the soil dry faster, kills beneficial bacteria, and significantly shortens the fertile lifespan. Fertilizers are used to replenish depleted soil,  which creates entirely new environmental problems and can be catastrophic for local agriculture in the long run.

Overfishing 

Pollution is the biggest threat to all aquatic life and a major cause of biodiversity loss. This is truly unfortunate considering that water and aquatic life are among the most important natural resources we can handle. But, as mentioned above, overfishing also damages our oceans.   Fishing itself is not harmful to our seas. However, if not properly regulated, it can harm the oceans and people. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that the world’s overfished catches have tripled in half a century and that one-third of the world’s estimated fish stocks today are now beyond their biological limits. Moreover, billions of people depend on fish as a source of protein.

Acid Rain

When people burn coal, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, accumulating in the clouds until they become saturated and acid rain, destroys the land beneath the clouds.   Rain accumulates in water bodies and is particularly harmful to lakes and small bodies of water. The earth surrounding the water absorbs acids, depleting the soil of essential nutrients. Trees that absorb acids accumulate toxins, damaging their leaves and slowly killing large areas of the forest.

Deforestation 

As humanity grows exponentially, more and more food, materials, and shelter are being produced at an incredible rate, primarily through forestry.   Forests are cut down to make room for new people, which in turn creates more people who can see problems. International data shows that about 18 million acres of trees are cut down each year to create new developments and wood products. That’s less than half of all the trees on the planet since the start of the Industrial Revolution.

Since trees are one of the biggest producers of oxygen, this is clearly not good for humans, especially the animals that call forests home. Because forests are home to millions of diverse species, deforestation is a major threat to their survival and a major conservation challenge. It also increases the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, further exacerbating global warming. Such human activities must cease if we are to survive. What’s more, recent studies have linked deforestation with increased wildfires in areas like the Amazon. Wildfires displace both people and species, destroying more equally.

FAQs on Ecosystem

Q 1. How do humans influence the ecosystem?

Answer-

Humans influence the ecosystem in various ways like climate change, ocean acidification, habitat loss, air pollution and so forth.

Q 2. What is an ecosystem?

Answer-

Ecosystem refers to the geographic area in which plants, animals and other forms of organisms as well as that of climate and landscape would work together.

Q 3. What is the role of humans in the ecosystem?

Answer-

The role of humans in the ecosystem would include:

1. Provisioning
2. Regulating
3. Cultural services