Principles

of Ecosystem
Ecosystem
-a system, or a group of
interconnected elements, formed
by the interaction of a community
of organisms with their
environment.
The interaction of living things
depending on each other and
relating to their environments has
immense benefits in terms of the
health and spiritual wellbeing of
humans, the health of members of
the ecosystem themselves, as well
as the environment.
Ecosystems provide a supporting role
for all its members. In this role, living
members serve as food for others,
and their produce and residue serve
as nutrients to soils and gases to the
atmosphere. This makes soil nutrient
cycle, carbon and oxygen cycle and
water cycle possible and also for
living things to continue procreation.
Ecosystems are also the source
of all foods, store of all energy,
fibre, genetic resources,
medicines, fresh water and
minerals. All natural resources
that humans depend on, has its
source from ecosystems.
For any organism to survive, it
must have all its basic needs met.
An organism will only live in an
ecosystem that provides it with all
its basic needs. The space where
a certain species lives is called a
habitat.
The survival needs of all
organisms are:
Sunlight
-Plants need sunlight to
make their food and both
plants and animals need
sunlight for heat.
Food
-Although plants can make
their own food using sunlight,
animals need to eat other
organisms to survive.
Air
-Plants need the carbon
dioxide in the air in order to
make food and animals need
oxygen to breathe.
Water
-All living things need water to
properly function and live. In
fact, the average adult human is
approximately 60% water.
Shelter
-Some organisms make their
own shelter while others find
shelter in their habitat. For
example, humans build their own
houses and other creatures such
as bears find caves or other forms
of shelter in their environment.
 The main characteristic
that helps organisms survive
is adaptation. In order for
an organism to survive, it
must struggle.
According to Darwin's theory of
evolution, those that possess
characteristics that allow them to
survive are more likely to
reproduce and pass them on to
the next generation.
 Depending on the type of
organism, adaptation can be
rapid, or it may take hundreds
of years. Microorganisms
reproduce rapidly, which
allows them to adapt quickly.
 Mammals, on the other hand,
are much slower due to their
longer lifespan. Organisms may
adapt their physiology,
behavior or structure to adapt
to their environment.
 For example, when there is
not enough food in a
population, those that are fast
enough to catch prey are more
likely to survive through the
struggle, leading to a faster
generation.