ecosystem is the name given to a group of communities that live in a certain place and interact with each other and with the environment, constituting a stable, balanced and self-sufficient system. The term was first used in 1935 by the ecologist Arthur George Tansley. Since then, it has been part of the vocabulary of the scientific community and society.
→ Components of an ecosystem
An ecosystem consists of two basic components: the biotic and the abiotic. The first concerns living beings in the community, such as plants and animals. These beings play different roles in an ecosystem and occupy different trophic levels, they can be producers, consumers or decomposers.
In some way, all living things in an ecosystem depend on each other. Producers, for example, guarantee the entry of energy into the system. Consumers, in turn, promote the flow of energy and matter. Finally, decomposers ensure the cycling of nutrients.
In addition to the biotic components, we have the abiotic components, which are the non-living parts of the environment, such as soil, atmosphere, light and water. These factors are fundamental for the maintenance of life, as they guarantee the survival of the species, even acting in the metabolism of living beings, such as water.
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→ Examples of ecosystems
Ecosystems can be observed at different scales. The largest existing ecosystem is the biosphere itself, which corresponds to all places on the globe where life exists. Another example is the tropical forests, which stand out for their great biodiversity.
However, ecosystems can occur on a small scale, such as in a small self-sufficient aquarium containing plants, fish and algae. It is also worth noting that a single plant in a forest can be considered an ecosystem, as it encompasses several organisms that interact with abiotic factors.
It is important to understand that all ecosystems are interconnected and, therefore, there is an exchange of matter and energy between them, regardless of their size. Therefore, each ecosystem, however small, is important to ensure the planet's balance.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "What is an ecosystem?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/biologia/o-que-e-ecossistema.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
