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Do you know what an ecosystem is? Can you identify its types? And are you familiar with the biomes found in Brazil and around the world?
Before answering these questions, it is important to remember that the ecosystem plays a fundamental role in environmental development.
When neglected, a variety of problems can arise for the ecosystem itself. Therefore, below are the details that make up the current ecosystem. Check it out!
What is an ecosystem?
The ecosystem consists of the set of living organisms and their physical and chemical environments.
The term "ecosystem" derives from the combination of the words "oikos" and "system," meaning "house system." It refers to the set of communities that inhabit and interact in a given space.
The elements that make up ecosystems are:
- Biotic factors: All living organisms, such as primary producers, consumers, decomposers and parasites.
- Abiotic factors: The physical and chemical environment that provides the conditions for life, including nutrients, water, rain, humidity, soil, sun, air, gases, temperature, among others.
The ecosystem is the fundamental unit of study in Ecology.
Types of ecosystems
There are two main categories of ecosystems:
- Terrestrial ecosystems: These include forests, deserts, mountains, prairies, and grasslands, where plant and animal life thrives on dry land.
- Aquatic ecosystems: These include freshwater environments, such as lakes, mangroves and rivers, as well as marine environments, such as seas and oceans, where life develops in an aquatic environment.
Furthermore, the set of terrestrial ecosystems is called a biome. Biomes are characterized by specific vegetation and a predominant climate type, giving them a general and unique character.
What are Brazil's ecosystems?
Brazil's vast territory provides a variety of climates and soils, resulting in diverse environmental conditions and ecosystems, which in turn span different geographic regions. Brazil's ecosystems are:
Pampa: The Pampa is present in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and is characterized by the large presence of grasses, creeping plants, shrubs and small trees.
Amazon: The Amazon Rainforest is the largest Brazilian ecosystem, covering approximately 60% of Brazil's territory.
Mangrove: The meeting environment between fresh and sea waters is characteristic of marshy regions.
Caatinga: The Northeast region of Brazil is comprised of the Caatinga, an ecosystem that features vegetation adapted to droughts.
Araucaria Forest: The Araucaria Forest Biome is an area that encompasses southern Brazil. It is dominated by the Paraná pine, known as Araucaria.
Closed: The Cerrado, the second largest Brazilian biome in terms of extension, covers the states of Amapá, Maranhão, Piauí, Rondônia, the Federal District, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Tocantins and Bahia.
Pantanal: The region known as Pantanal is located in the Center-West of Brazil and is considered the largest floodplain in the world.
Coconut forest: This region covers part of the Northeast and represents a transitional vegetation between the Amazon rainforest and the caatinga.
Atlantic Forest: This ecosystem accounts for 15% of Brazilian territory and is under threat. It is known as Brazil's most threatened biome.
Examples of ecosystems around the world
In addition to the ecosystems mentioned above, it's important to note that there are numerous other examples of ecosystems in various regions of the planet. Some of these regions are:
Desert: The arid ecosystem has low rainfall and extreme temperatures. Furthermore, cacti, shrubs, and animals adapted to water scarcity are common there.
Ocean: The marine ecosystem is vast and diverse, encompassing several zones, such as the coastal zone, coral reefs, abyssal zones, and pelagic areas. Within it, we find a wide variety of species, including fish, sharks, whales, corals, and plankton.
Savannah: Savannas are open landscape ecosystems with low vegetation and sparse trees, found in tropical and subtropical regions. They are home to a variety of animals, including lions, elephants, and giraffes.
Tundra: Polar ecosystems have low temperatures and sparse vegetation due to extreme climatic conditions. They are home to cold-adapted mammals such as polar bears and reindeer.
Estuary: The estuary is a transitional ecosystem between freshwater and saltwater, and is rich in nutrients and home to a diversity of birds, fish, and marine organisms.
Each of these ecosystems has unique characteristics and, in addition, plays an essential role in maintaining biodiversity and the balance of global ecosystems.
Therefore, the preservation of all these regions is crucial for the health of our planet and, consequently, for the sustainability of future generations.
The Importance of Ecosystems for Environmental Balance
You ecosystems play a fundamental role in environmental balance of the planet. They are responsible for maintaining natural processes essential for life, such as nutrient cycling, the water filtration, and the climate regulationWithout these processes, it would be impossible to sustain life as we know it. Furthermore, ecosystems act as carbon reservoirs, helping to mitigate climate change.
Each ecosystem, whether terrestrial or aquatic, interacts with its surroundings in unique ways, creating a complex cycle of energy and nutrients. For example, tropical forests as the Amazon are responsible for storing large amounts of carbon, contributing to the reducing the effects of global warming. Already the corals, which form marine ecosystems, perform the function of protect your back and provide shelter for a wide variety of marine species.
In terms of biodiversity, the preservation of these ecosystems is crucial to ensuring the survival of several species, many of which have yet to be discovered. The disappearance of a single ecosystem can lead to the extinction of several of these species, compromising the health of the planet.
Threats to Ecosystems and How to Mitigate Them
Unfortunately, the ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human activities, such as logging, the pollution, the intensive agriculture and the urban expansion. The destruction of natural habitats compromises the biodiversity and affects the global ecological balance. The Closed and the Amazon, for example, are being rapidly degraded, with serious consequences for fauna, flora and climate.
THE pollution of water and air from industries, transportation, and agriculture also affects the quality of life in ecosystems, altering natural cycles and the health of species. In the case of ocean, the plastic pollution is one of the main threats, directly affecting marine life.
To mitigate these impacts, it is necessary to invest in practices sustainable and in public policies aimed at protecting and restoring ecosystems. In addition, environmental education and the awareness of the population about the benefits of preservation are fundamental to ensuring that future generations can enjoy ecosystems in a balanced and responsible manner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ecosystem is essential for environmental development and encompasses living organisms and their physical and chemical environments.
There are terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, such as the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal in Brazil, and several examples throughout the world, such as deserts, oceans and savannas.
Therefore, the preservation of these regions is crucial for biodiversity and global balance, ensuring a sustainable future for future generations.