Ecosystem control, Biology

Assignment Help:

Ecosystem Control

Another important aspect of ecosystem functioning that is how it maintains its ecological balance. By now, it must be obvious to you that an ecosystem is a dynamic system, wherein a lot of events take place. For example, animals eat and in turn are eaten, moisture and nutrients flow in and out of the system, and weathers change. In spite of all these happenings the ecosystems persist and recover from the slight disturbances. This capacity of an ecosystem to self-regulate or self-maintain is called homeostasis. Isn't this ability of ecosystems to recover from certain perturbations remarkable? Let us take a simple example to see that how is this balance maintained in spite of the fight disturbances in the ecosystem.

Consider a grassland, when there is a drought, do not grow well. The mice that eat the grass become malnourished. When this happens, their birth rate decreases. And also the hungry mice retreat to their burrows and sleep. By doing so, they need less food and are less exposed to predators, so their death rates decrease. Their behaviour protects their own population balance as well as that of the grasses which are not being consumed while the mice hibernate. Such a mechanism is known as feedback regulation and is very important to maintain the ecological balance. It is the prime regulatory mechanism for the ecosystem as a whole. You may know that there are several kinds of organisms comprising an ecosystem. So all the organisms in an ecosystem are part of several different feedback loops. A feedback loop may be defined as relationship in which a change in some original rate, alters the rate of direction of further change. In the above example, we had deliberately taken a very small group of living beings that has primarily the mice and the plants.


Related Discussions:- Ecosystem control

What is isotope switching, It is conversion of antibody class to another re...

It is conversion of antibody class to another resulting from genetic rearrangement of heavy chain same region genes in B cells. Isotope switching is also known as class switching.

Poisoning - pesticide toxicity, P o i s on i n g P e sticide ...

P o i s on i n g P e sticide toxicity Chemical pesticides were introduced as an important tool for pest control and have been used extensively in human health ope

What does genetics have to do with biology, What does genetics have to do w...

What does genetics have to do with biology? Genetics is the study of the genes found in genetic material (ex. DNA). DNA is found in the nucleus of your cells. The most signific

Fossils formed by organisms that resemble modern, The oldest fossils look a...

The oldest fossils look as though they were formed by organisms that resemble modern?

Gregor mendel''s law of independent segregation, Gregor Mendel's Law of Ind...

Gregor Mendel's Law of Independent Segregation referred to which of the following genetic elements? A. Alleles of two genes that reside on the similar chromosome B. Alleles

Explain the estimated average intake (ear), Explain The Estimated Average I...

Explain The Estimated Average Intake (EAR)? Considering that the nutrient requirements follow a normal distribution, the EAR is defined as 'the median usual intake that meets t

Define molisch's test or alpha naphthol reaction, Define Molisch's Test or ...

Define Molisch's Test or alpha naphthol reaction? The Molisch test is a common test for the existence of carbohydrates. Principle The reaction is due to the formation of

State the layers of retina, State the Layers of retina The retina is c...

State the Layers of retina The retina is coil~posed of ten layers: a) Pigmented epithelium (outermost layer), b) Neusoepithelium, rods and cones (photoreceptors), c) Exte

What is fluoride inhibitor, Fluoride Inhibitor Fluoride inhibits  enola...

Fluoride Inhibitor Fluoride inhibits  enolase enzyme involved in the conversion of 2-phosphoglerate  to phosphoenol pyruvate.

Dehydration reaction between both molecules, Draw decanol, plamitic acid (C...

Draw decanol, plamitic acid (C16:0 fatty acid) and the resulting wax ester generated by a dehydration reaction between both molecules

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd