Ecosystem in equilibrium: what is and how it remains

The ecological balance or balance of nature implies a situation of the ecosystem in which the interdependence relationship established between the different elements that make up the environment It is optimal. This situation allows both existence and the development and transformation of all living beings of the same ecosystem to be possible.

It is a theory that states that ecological systems are in stable equilibriumthat is, that if the change of any parameter is given, such as the size of a specific population, this change will be counteracted and corrected by a new parameter, thus establishing the original “point of equilibrium” with the rest of the system. This theory commonly applies to relationships between populations dependent on each other, for example, in the Predator-Pressa ratio or in relations between herbivores and their food source. Sometimes, we can also apply the ecological equilibrium theory to the relationship between different Earth’s ecosystems, to the climate of the world or even to the composition of the atmosphere.

In an ecosystem a balance situation is achieved when certain environmental conditions are given in which the different organisms that inhabit have a population size and eating habits that remain constant during the course of its existence.

To achieve the balance of the ecosystem, the constant adaptation of the species that inhabit it is necessary, which is capable of conserving and maintaining its own balance. But how can this natural balance be maintained? We will see it in more detail in the following section.

One of the ways in which the ecosystem remains in balance is by using the circulation of matter and energythrough chains and food networks. The ecosystem can store and provide food to living beings that inhabit it through permanent circulation of fundamental nutrients, such as oxygen and carbon.

However, the ecological balance of any ecosystem can be altered due to changes produced by natural phenomena or by the action of the human being. Let’s look at some examples of these situations of ecological imbalance to better understand how the balance of an ecosystem is altered and break:

• Natural phenomena As floods, droughts, hurricanes or volcanic eruptions are able to produce changes in the balance of any ecosystem. For example, in the case of tropical forests, during times of drought in which the rains are scarce, we often find that numerous plants die when they have less water. When this happens, the food of the herbivores is scarce, which causes a situation of competition between them, since they must strive more to achieve food and not all will be able to achieve it. The result of this interaction is, without a doubt, very harmful, giving a decrease in plant populations (primary producers of the food chain), as well as herbivores (primary consumers).
• On the other hand, The human being It has caused large and numerous changes in different natural ecosystems in order to obtain some benefit. For this reason, many ecosystems have lost their ecological balance, even disappearing when they are seriously affected by human practices such as fishing, felling trees (deforestation), hunting and mining.
• Pollution It is another of the main engines of environmental alteration and its equilibrium ecosystems. The presence of polluting substances in the air, water and/or soil breaks the existing ecological balance and affect the survival of numerous species, many of which are extinguished as they are not able to adapt to other habitats and new ecosystems. Here you can better know how pollution affects the environment.

Now that you know what the ecosystem is, how it remains and how it can be lost, to know more about the ecological imbalance, its possible consequences and how to avoid it, do not miss this other article Ecological imbalance: what is, causes, consequences and examples. “

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