The disappearance of one group of living things can really upset an ecosystem. This affects both the living things (biotic) and non-living parts (abiotic) of the environment. Each group of organisms has a special job to do:
Producers (like plants): These organisms use sunlight to make energy through a process called photosynthesis. They are the starting point of the food chain. If plants go missing, then the animals that eat them (called primary consumers or herbivores) would have nothing to eat and would start to die off.
Consumers (like herbivores and carnivores): If there aren’t enough primary consumers, the plants may grow out of control. This can lead to problems because the plants will use up all the resources, like nutrients in the soil. For example, if we remove big herbivores like deer, the plants can grow too much, sometimes by 10-30%. This can upset the balance of the ecosystem.
Decomposers (like fungi and bacteria): Decomposers are important because they break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients back to the soil. If they disappear, waste will pile up, and nutrients won’t cycle back into the earth. Over time, this could make the soil much less fertile, reducing plant growth by up to 50%.
All these roles are connected in a big way. If one species disappears, it can cause a chain reaction. Studies show that losing just 10% of a food web can put the ecosystem at a 50% risk of collapsing.
In the end, an ecosystem needs a variety of organisms to stay balanced. Each group helps with cycling nutrients, moving energy around, and keeping everything in harmony. So, it’s really important to protect the different kinds of living things. This is crucial for the health and strength of the ecosystem.
The disappearance of one group of living things can really upset an ecosystem. This affects both the living things (biotic) and non-living parts (abiotic) of the environment. Each group of organisms has a special job to do:
Producers (like plants): These organisms use sunlight to make energy through a process called photosynthesis. They are the starting point of the food chain. If plants go missing, then the animals that eat them (called primary consumers or herbivores) would have nothing to eat and would start to die off.
Consumers (like herbivores and carnivores): If there aren’t enough primary consumers, the plants may grow out of control. This can lead to problems because the plants will use up all the resources, like nutrients in the soil. For example, if we remove big herbivores like deer, the plants can grow too much, sometimes by 10-30%. This can upset the balance of the ecosystem.
Decomposers (like fungi and bacteria): Decomposers are important because they break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients back to the soil. If they disappear, waste will pile up, and nutrients won’t cycle back into the earth. Over time, this could make the soil much less fertile, reducing plant growth by up to 50%.
All these roles are connected in a big way. If one species disappears, it can cause a chain reaction. Studies show that losing just 10% of a food web can put the ecosystem at a 50% risk of collapsing.
In the end, an ecosystem needs a variety of organisms to stay balanced. Each group helps with cycling nutrients, moving energy around, and keeping everything in harmony. So, it’s really important to protect the different kinds of living things. This is crucial for the health and strength of the ecosystem.