Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation

All submissions of the EM system will be redirected to Online Manuscript Submission System. Authors are requested to submit articles directly to Online Manuscript Submission System of respective journal.
Reach Us +44-1518-081136

Perspective - Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (2023) Volume 7, Issue 3

The importance of ecosystems for life on earth

Stefan Langenheder*

Department of Ecology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands

Corresponding Author:
Stefan Langenheder
Department of Ecology
Wageningen University
Wageningen, Netherlands
E-mail: stefan@lang.nl

Received: 01-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. AAERAR-23-90529; Editor assigned: 02-Mar-2023, PreQC No. AAERAR-23-90529(PQ); Reviewed: 17-Mar-2023, QC No.AAERAR-23-90529; Revised: 22-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. AAERAR-23-90529(R); Published: 29-Mar-2023, DOI:10.35841/2529-8046-7.3.174

Citation: Langenheder S. The importance of ecosystems for life on earth. Environ Risk Assess Remediat. 2023;7(3):174

Visit for more related articles at Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation

Ecosystems are complex networks of living and non-living things that interact with each other to create the conditions necessary for life on Earth. They include everything from forests and oceans to deserts and grasslands, and they provide a variety of essential services that are critical to the survival of all living things. In this article, we will explore the importance of ecosystems and the ways in which they support life on our planet. The term "ecosystem" was first coined in 1935 by British ecologist Sir Arthur Tansley. He defined an ecosystem as "a system that includes all living things in an area, as well as their physical environment". This definition remains valid today, and it highlights the interconnectedness of all living and non-living things in an ecosystem [1].

Ecosystems are made up of two main components: biotic and abiotic. Biotic components include all living things, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Abiotic components, on the other hand, include all non-living things, such as air, water, soil, and rocks. Both biotic and abiotic components are essential to the functioning of ecosystems. One of the most important functions of ecosystems is the production of oxygen. Plants are the primary producers of oxygen through the process of photosynthesis, which involves the conversion of carbon dioxide and sunlight into oxygen and organic matter. This oxygen is essential for the survival of all living things, as it is necessary for cellular respiration, which is the process by which living organisms produce energy [2].

Ecosystems also play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. The Earth's climate is primarily determined by the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Ecosystems help regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the process of carbon sequestration. This process involves the uptake of carbon dioxide by plants during photosynthesis, as well as the storage of carbon in soil and vegetation. In addition to producing oxygen and regulating the Earth's climate, ecosystems provide a variety of other services that are essential to life on Earth. For example, ecosystems provide food, water, and shelter for a wide range of plant and animal species. They also provide important resources for human use, such as timber, fuel, and medicine [3].

Ecosystems also play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, and it is essential for the functioning of ecosystems. Ecosystems with high levels of biodiversity are more resilient to environmental stressors, such as climate change and pollution. They are also more productive and provide a wider range of ecosystem services. Despite their importance; ecosystems are under threat from a variety of human activities. Climate change, pollution, deforestation, and overfishing are just a few examples of the ways in which humans are impacting ecosystems. These activities can disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems and have far-reaching consequences for the health of the planet. Fortunately, there are steps that we can take to protect ecosystems and ensure their long-term survival. One of the most important steps is to reduce our carbon footprint. This can be done by using renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and by reducing our consumption of fossil fuels [4].

Another important step is to reduce our impact on ecosystems through sustainable practices. This can involve reducing our use of pesticides and fertilizers, using sustainable fishing practices, and practicing responsible forestry. In addition to these steps, it is also important to protect and restore ecosystems that have already been impacted by human activities. This can involve restoring degraded lands, conserving biodiversity, and protecting endangered species [5].

References

  1. Keith DA, Ferrer-Paris JR, Nicholson E, et al. A function-based typology for Earth’s ecosystems. Nature. 2022;610(7932):513-8.

    2. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  2. Díaz S, Settele J, Brondízio ES, et al. Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change. Science. 2019;366(6471):eaax3100.

    3. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  3. Davies PC. Searching for a shadow biosphere on Earth as a test of the ‘cosmic imperative’. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 2011;369(1936):624-32.

    4. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  4. Falkowski PG, Fenchel T, Delong EF. The microbial engines that drive Earth's biogeochemical cycles. Science. 2008;320(5879):1034-9.

    5. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

  5. Lewin HA, Robinson GE, Kress WJ, et al. Earth Bio Genome Project: Sequencing life for the future of life. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2018;115(17):4325-33.

    6. Indexed at, Google Scholar, Cross Ref

Get the App