Ecological Balance | Factors affecting it and it's conservation | Jankari Store

Ecological Balance

Ecology is the study of the science of ecosystems. Ecological balance is the state of mutually dynamic civilization in a community of different organisms in an ecosystem, i.e. the relationship between different types of animals, plants and humans in the environment is called ecological balance. . The term ecology was introduced by Ernst Harkel in 1869 and the term ecosystem was introduced by AG Tansley in 1935.

How is ecological balance maintained?

• Ecological balance is achieved by balancing the number of each species in the ecosystem. The numbers are naturally balanced through the food chain and food web.

• Example: - If the number of herbivorous animals (eg: - deer) increases due to non-vegetarianism (eg: - tiger), then the number of plants dependent on them soon decreases, causing other animals , there is a shortage of food for humans and their own.

• If there is any disruption in the food chain, the entire ecology of the region will be disturbed.

• This equilibrium occurs through competition and mutual cooperation among certain species, where the population becomes stable.

• This balance also depends on the fact that some species depend on other species for their food and survival, due to which the number of different species remains fixed and the balance is maintained.

•Ecological balance is closely related to the stability of the ecosystem, it is the balance between production and consumption, input and output energy and the normal functioning of various biogeochemical cycles.

Factors that increase ecological balance:-

1.Ecosystem diversity (i.e Biodiversity) and complexity increase the ecological balance by:-

• The food web increased as a result of which the system became more resilient to external invasions of alien species.

• A large number of interacting feeding links provide alternative channels for energy flow and generate a wide variety of population adjustments to environmental change and stress within the ecosystem.

• The high species diversity of a mature ecosystem represents a climax community that has greater protection against environmental change.

2.Natural or primary sequence is an important component of ecological balance:-

• Due to the dynamic nature of ecosystems, plants and animals change over time.  It is progressive in nature and leads to a more stable and mature community.

• When succession occurs through natural processes, it leads to greater sustainability, and this is achieved through greater ecosystem productivity.

• It enhances the gradual increase in diversity, niche evolution and complexity of food webs.

Factors disturbing the ecological balance:-

There are many factors that disturb the ecological balance. some of them are:-

 i.) Introduction of Invasive Alien Species:-

• When alien species are introduced into new areas, they can disturb the food chain, creating ecological imbalances.

•Example:- Eucalyptus, pine and cattle brought to Shola forest are causing forest fires.

 ii.) Natural Calamity:-

•Natural disasters cause destruction of plants and animals thereby affecting the food chain.

• Example:- Flood, Drought, Landslide etc.

iii) Anthropogenic Activities:-

• Deforestation, urbanization, industrialization are destroying the natural habitat of a variety of plants and animals, leading to environmental degradation and ecological imbalance.

• Removal of natural vegetation and grasslands and converting them into agricultural land causes ecological imbalance.

 iv.) Pollution and global warming.

 v.) Increase in greenhouse gases.

 vi.) Soil erosion.

 vii.) Ozone layer depletion and acid rain.

Benefits of ecological balance:-

• Ecological balance makes the existence of all organisms real.

• It maintains the entire biosphere which in turn establishes a healthy environment on earth for survival.

Major causes of ecological imbalance:-

•The main cause of ecological imbalance is human activities, due to which different types of animals and plants are becoming extinct.  •Natural resources are being over-exploited by humans to meet their needs, due to which the habitats of animals and plants are being reduced and fragmented. Many species have become extinct in the last 500 years due to overexploitation by humans.

•When animals or plants of exotic species are introduced into a natural area, some of those species become invasive and cause the reduction or extinction of endemic species.  •For example, African catfish were introduced into our rivers for fishing purposes, but now this fish is posing a threat to the native non-alcohol fishes of our rivers.

•Co-extinction is also a major cause of ecological imbalance. When one species becomes extinct, other animals and plants dependent on it also become extinct.

•Natural calamities like floods, forest fires, cyclones and volcanoes also promote ecological imbalance in some area.

Conclusion:-

 Since human beings are getting all the benefits from the ecological balance and biodiversity and their anthropogenic activities are badly affecting the ecological balance and loss of biodiversity, they have to take proper care for the maintenance of ecological balance and conservation of biodiversity. . Since this balance is important as it ensures the survival and sustainability of the environment, the ecological balance must be maintained at any cost. It can be described as a stable equilibrium of the numbers of each species in the ecosystem. Environmental balance is also achieved through the struggle for survival of some species.