Get premium membership and access questions with answers, video lessons as well as revision papers.
The ecosystem provides an appropriate framework for the investigation of the distributional patterns of organisms because of its attributes. As the organic and inorganic components of an ecosystem are integrated within it, they can be described and analysed at any scale desired, up to that of the entire biosphere. Ecosystems are also structured and consist of a number of levels of organisation associated with the feeding habits of their plant and animal members. They function by means of a continuous
exchange of energy and matter between all parts of the system. Both energy and matter exchange may be identified and to some extent quantified.
As a type of general system, ecosystems are ‘open’ systems as opposed to ‘closed’ ones and thus conform to the relevant laws of thermodynamics. Ecosystems posses the property of self-regulation or feedback and the quality of dynamic equilibrium, that is, they tend towards a steady state when inputs equal outputs. All parts of this natural system interact, and many of the components may be said to be in a state of dynamic equilibrium. In natural ecosystem, operating without human interference, there is a
tendency towards self-regulation or homeostasis. Entropy is a thermodynamic concept, which relates to disorder in systems. Unstable ecosystems possess a high entropy level or high disorder, while more stable ones are characterized by lower entropy.
Each species contains one or more groups of individuals that are called populations. Communities’ make living organisms, together with non-living environment, makes up ecosystems whose chief characteristic is interdependence. Every ecosystem has its own composition, structure and function and possesses boundaries that are usually transitional rather than sharp. Ecosystems are therefore identifiable within the biosphere where they assume responsibility for the maintenance of life in both space and time.
Ecosystems do not undergo biological evolution as entities, but the process of natural selection acts upon their organisms, either individually or in groups, so that those best fitted to survive the prevailing circumstances are maintained. Changes in ecosystem over time are a response to a combination of external principally abiotic and internal mainly biotic factors, such as climatic modifications and competition for resources, respectively. There are two fundamental ideas, which underlie the ecosystem concept; these are: energy flow and nutrient cycling.
francis1897 answered the question on October 5, 2022 at 13:07
- What are the factors the productivity of the ecosystem varies in space and time and is dependent upon?(Solved)
What are the factors the productivity of the ecosystem varies in space and time and is dependent upon?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- With the aid of a diagram, describe the geosystem(Solved)
With the aid of a diagram, describe the geosystem
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Discuss the role of human in the context of Physical Geography(Solved)
Discuss the role of human in the context of Physical Geography
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- What is the biosphere?(Solved)
What is the biosphere?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Discuss the scope and growth of Biogeography(Solved)
Discuss the scope and growth of Biogeography
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- What is biogeography?(Solved)
What is biogeography?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Discuss the divisions of the theories of climatic change(Solved)
Discuss the divisions of the theories of climatic change
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- What are the divisions of the theories of climate change?(Solved)
What are the divisions of the theories of climate change?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Deliberate modifications of climate also take place on a local scale. Explain this statement(Solved)
Deliberate modifications of climate also take place on a local scale. Explain this statement
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- What are the factors creating local or microclimates?(Solved)
What are the factors creating local or microclimates?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Discuss these terms as used in physical Geography (a) Micro-Climates or Local Climates (b) Man made climates (c) Cloud seeding(Solved)
Discuss these terms as used in physical Geography
a) Micro-Climates or Local Climates
b) Man made climates
c) Cloud seeding
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- What is the purpose of studying the climatic regions of the world?(Solved)
What is the purpose of studying the climatic regions of the world?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Describe the Thornthwaite’s rational classification of climates(Solved)
Describe the Thornthwaite’s rational classification of climates
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Discuss in details the Koppen’s climatic classification scheme(Solved)
Discuss in details the Koppen’s climatic classification scheme
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Explain Budyko’s classification as discussed in genetic classification schemes(Solved)
Explain Budyko’s classification as discussed in genetic classification schemes
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Describe the Strahler’s classification as used in genetic classification schemes(Solved)
Describe the Strahler’s classification as used in genetic classification schemes
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- Describe the Flohn’s classification scheme in climate classification(Solved)
Describe the Flohn’s classification scheme in climate classification
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- State the two fundamental approaches to classifications of climates(Solved)
State the two fundamental approaches to classifications of climates
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- What is the purpose of climatic classification?(Solved)
What is the purpose of climatic classification?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)
- What is Atmospheric Stability?(Solved)
What is Atmospheric Stability?
Date posted: October 5, 2022. Answers (1)