NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS: THEIR OVERALL VALUE
An ecosystem’s members have symbiotic relationships in that the members participate with each other which are beneficial to each member participating. For example, a beehive is an ecosystem where the same process takes place time and time again as bees reproduce and die. In order for them to do so, they must obtain energy, and they do so by feeding off of flowers, and in return the bee’s pollen brushes up against the flowers. This helps to pollinate the glucose and other sugars (Wright, 2005). Organisms of different species work hand in hand for the good of the ecosystem.
NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS ARE ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN SURVIVAL
Humans have a relationship with natural ecosystems (nature), and in fact no organism can live without interaction with other species or apart form its environment (Wright, 2005). Humans must value natural ecosystems because they are “functional units of sustainable life on Earth” (Wright, 2005). All life and their environments make up one large ecosystem commonly called the biosphere, meaning all species on Earth are sustained under the biosphere (Wright, 2005).
SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING THEIR VALUE
It seems that ancient peoples may have been able to understand their environments without biology and ecology, but today, people are so far removed from nature that it is imperative that every factor of the Earth’s ecosystems be measured. Without measuring the elements and other factors in the ecosystem, there will be no clue, as if signs are not enough, to understand what industrial, over grazing and new practices are leading to in the Earth’s ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVOLUTION
A shift in the way humans think and the way things are normally done in the environment must be changed. In other words, changes must occur in order to bring about a sustainable society. This transition is an environmental revolution (Wright, 2005). There are many ways to achieve a sustainable society and care should be given in many aspects by first remembering that as global population increases, a need for more natural resources increase; thereby rendering it inevitable that Earth’s natural resources will continue to decrease. A global environmental revolution is what is needed or the ecosystems on Earth will have a revolution that humans may be unable to live with. The natural systems must indeed be brought back to sustainable conditions.
The recycling of elements is a vital functional process occurring in all ecosystems. Two fundamental processes are cell respiration (Prenhall.com, 2005) (an energy releasing process) (Wright, 2005) and photosynthesis (Prenhall.com, 2005). The biogeochemical cycles for carbon begin with carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules that are present in the air and bicarbonate (HCO3) molecules that are present in water. Photosynthesis and metabolism change carbon atoms from CO2 to organic molecules which constitute the body of a plant. Then the carbon atoms transfer into food webs and the tissues of all organisms in the ecosystem. Humans have intruded on the cycle by increasing carbon dioxide atmospheric levels by 35% (Wright, 2005).
The biogeochemical cycle for phosphorous runs its cycle similar to carbon, but instead through rocks and soil minerals. Rocks slowly break down and release phosphate and other ions to plants and are transferred to food via producers. Again, humans interrupt the cycle because phosphorus unlike carbon does not recycle as the same exact element and may only return back to the soil. Carbon possesses a gas phase and phosphorous does not. Humans use inorganic fertilizers and feeders with phosphorous, thereby allowing an abundance of phosphate to pollute the waters. Nitrogen possesses a gas phase like carbon and acts as a limiting factor like phosphorous. Nitrogen is needed in the aquatic and plant worlds but does not absorb the gas. Nitrogen follows the classic energy flow pattern from producers to decomposers and becomes ammonium nitrogen. The intrusion of humans has increased the levels of nitrogen adding 150 teragrams, which is about 1.5 times the normal amount of nitrogen (Wright, 2005).
HOW THE NEOLITHIC AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IMPACTED THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Revolutionary changes in human culture have greatly changed the relationship between humans and the environment. The Neolithic Revolution brought a change in weather, from hot and wet to cool and dry. Hunting and gathering became more difficult with this change and animal husbandry and agriculture began to be practiced (Wright, 2005). Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with the care and breeding of domestic animals such as cattle, hogs, sheep, and horses (The Free Dictionary, 2005). With agriculture bringing a greater supply of food and labor for specific jobs, populations increased and other people had time to provide other important factors; such as home, technology and increased safety practices in regard to food and water. The Neolithic Revolution, also known as the beginning of modern civilization and took place about 12,000 years ago (Wright, 2005).
The Industrial Revolution took place approximately 11,000 years after the Neolithic Revolution, in the 17th and 18th centuries. At that time, the world population was about 1 billion. Science and technology brought large cities, pollution, factories and global commerce. The industrial revolution brought human systems that displaced natural systems. Technology was energized by fossil fuels, pollution increased drastically and the entire Earth was affected by the Industrial Revolution Wright, 2005).
CONCLUSION
The Earth’s ecosystems recycle elements which is imperative to sustaining life on the planet. Humans take advantage of life and the reality that continuously taking without giving back will lead to some type of disaster. Do humans really have common sense? Humans are wise enough to realize that stereos have inputs and outputs and ecosystems have inputs and outputs, therefore, we must utilize out outputs as much as our inputs.
REFERENCES
- The Free Dictionary (2005) Animal Husbandry Retrieved on August 30, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/animal+husbandry
- Kay, J. J., (1999). An ecosystem approach to sustainability of ecological economic systems: A short summary
- Prentice Hall (2005) Introduction: Key Topics Retrieved on August 30, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_wright_envisci_9/0,9215,1406670-content,00.htm
- Wright, R. T., (2005) Environmental Science Ninth Edition Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
