Our ecosystem consists of a delicate balance between
animals, plants, land, atmosphere and bodies of water. We now study
each as below:
Atmosphere
We breathe oxygen to live. Air can be used to do many different things. Air is needed for the survival of all living things. Oxygen that is in the air is needed to start a fire. Without oxygen, the fire wouldn’t light. This is why firefighters try to make the oxygen go away from the fire by spraying water. The atmosphere and ozone on Earth is needed in order for us to survive. It is a very
important part of life. The ozone layer is 19 - 48 kilometers above the earth. The ozone layer prevents ultra-violent rays that come from the sun from reaching the surface. Air pollution is a major problem, not just in big cities.
Animals Animals are an important part of our ecosystem. Many animals are now endangered. Animals are very important to plants. Many species eat seed off of flowers or trees. Apple seeds are rejected by the body and let out of the body in the form of solid waste. The solid waste becomes part of the ground. The seeds grow and sprout into a new tree. An animal’s solid waste is also good for the plants as fertilizer. Animals also pollinate the flowers when pollen is stuck to the fur and it touches another flower or plant. Many birds are very helpful for farmers. Some birds will eat pests that damage the crops of a farmer. A sheep's wool can also be woven into cloth. The wool can be made into clothes. Fur from other animals is also used as clothes. Some animals, like the blue whale gives us oil. Animals are constantly being hunted for their furs, skin, and feathers. Many have become endangered because of this. People don't realize how important animals really are to nature and us.
Land
Landfills leak dangerous chemicals into the ground, and illegal dumping can make land useless. Land is very important for animals and plants alike. Land, in the law of real property is the term including the surface of the earth, the land beneath the surface to the center of the earth, and the air above. The term also includes property permanently affixed to the soil, such as water collected in wells, houses, and fences. The ownership of land may be classified according to the various types of interests, the principal of which are estates in fee simple, life estates, reversions, remainders, and leaseholds. We are standing on it, and live off of it by means of our agriculture. But land can be destroyed in many ways.
Erosion is a major problem for farmers, because when soil is washed away, the crops cannot be planted on it anymore. Landfills take up lots of space and leak dangerous chemicals into the ground and water supply.
Trees
Erosion can happen when nothing holds soil together, so trees are very important. Trees are a very important part of nature. Trees do many things that are needed for our survival, yet we destroy a lot of trees. One of the things they do is they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Oxygen is a main part of our survival. Another thing trees provide for us is food. Syrup and many varieties of fruit and nuts come from trees. Most of the fruits we eat come from trees. Peanuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts, and all types of other nuts come from trees. Humans also use trees for many things. Trees can be made into paper, tables, desks, and many other things. Humans also use trees for decoration. Trees are also planted around a piece of land. This way, the wind won't blow away the soil. When we invade part of the ecosystem we are unfamiliar with, we run the risk of meeting diseases our immune system have not encounter. By disturbing these habitats (i.e. changing them & destroying them), we have exposed ourselves to new viruses, such as Ebola and hantaviruses.
Water
All life needs water to live, so water pollution is a serious problem. Water is the major constituent of living matter. From 50 to 90 percent of the weight of living organisms is water. Protoplasm, the basic matal of living cells, consists of a solution in water of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, salts, and similar chemicals. Water acts as a solvent, transporting, combining, and chemically breaking down these substances. They provide a home for creatures such as the whale, otter, etc. These sea-creatures depend on the water to live. One thing important to us is hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power is power derived from the fall of water from a higher to a lower level, and extracted by means of waterwheels or hydroelectric turbines. Water is something vital for our survival. It is the major constituent of living matter.
We need to conserve our Ecosystem for the good of all and maintain a proper balance among them.