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

Explain process to maintain the quality of frying oil, Maintaining the qual...

Maintaining the quality of frying oil  As frying continues, the level of oil in the fryer depletes. There are two beneficial frying fat quality factors affected during the fryi

Explain haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Hi...

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Hib is endemic worldwide. Previously unvaccinated infants

Explain phylum cyanobacteria, Phylum Cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria  are p...

Phylum Cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria  are prokaryotes,  but  they are not  like bacteria  in  the usual  sense of  the word.  The cyanobacteria  lack chloroplasts,  and  their  l

Indications for surgery-aortic valve disease, Indications For Surgery :...

Indications For Surgery :  The normal aortic valve area in the adult is about 3-4 cm2. Significant symptoms occur when the valve area is seduced to 1/4"' the normal area

What vector force does particle b then exert on a, A charged particle A exe...

A charged particle A exerts a force of 2.39uN to the right on charged particle B when the particles are 12.3 mm apart. Particle B moves straight away from A to make the distance be

Name two forms of respiration gives more energ, Which of the two forms of ...

Which of the two forms of respiration (aerobic and anaerobic) gives more energy from a given quantity of food? Aerobic respiration gives more energy than anaerobic respiration

Animal physiology, what are the animals with respiratory organs?

what are the animals with respiratory organs?

Difference between type ii and type i diabetes mellitus, Q. What is the dif...

Q. What is the difference between type II diabetes mellitus and type I diabetes mellitus? Type I diabetes also known as insulin-dependent diabetes (as this name is not adequate

Oxidation of succinate to fimarate, Oxidation of  succinate  to  fimarat...

Oxidation of  succinate  to  fimarate:  This reaction is catalyzed  by succinate dehydrogenase and FAD'  is needed as a cofactor. Malonate, structural of succinate, competitively

How many cc of basaljel in the medicine cup, The doctor ordered 3 teaspoons...

The doctor ordered 3 teaspoons of Basaljel suspension in water or juice. How many cc of Basaljel (aluminum carbonate) should the nurse place in the medicine cup?

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