Ecosystems
An Ecosystem contains all the living things plants, animals, and micro-organisms in a particular area as well as the non livings things and the way they interact with their environment to create a functional unit. An unbalanced Ecosystem will fail. It cannot support more organisms than the food, water, and shelter it provides. Unpredictable phenomena such as fire, disease, and the number of predators can either assist the balancing or destroy it. Each organism has its own niche to play in the Ecosystem community.
In general, human science has identified two different types of Ecosystems, Natural and Artificial. Natural Ecosystems can be further examined through Terrestrial Ecosystems and Aquatic Ecosystems.
Ecosystems provide services to inhabitants and ultimately to civilisations. These can include:
- Pollination
- Fulfilment of people's cultural spiritual and intellectual needs
- Regulation of climate
- Insect pest control
- Maintenance and provision of genetic resources
- Maintenance and regeneration of habitat
- Provision of shade and shelter
- Prevention of soil erosion
- Maintenance of soil fertility
- Maintenance of soil health
- Maintenance of healthy waterways
- Water filtration
- Regulation of river flows and groundwater levels
- Waste absorption and breakdown
The degradation of Ecosystems result in a change to the environment and can lead to the extinction of species and civilisations. Degradation can occur due to inside and outside influences.
Example of an Ecosystem
Type:
Artificial
Location:
Water Tank (Aquarium) - The tiny world of goldfish.
Fauna:
2 Turtles, 4 Gold Fish, 1 slug
Outside influences: Human, Cat
Flora:
Weeds, moss, coral, rocks
Other Structures:
Glass walls and ceiling Air-filter, coal, wool and some chemicals to change the different chemical levels in the water.
Observations of Interactions:
- Humans feed the turtles and gold fish with daily additions of manufactured flakes.
- Humans clean the tank every few months removing all the occupants of the environment and recreating it.
- Humans created the environment and will occasional clean, replace or add to it.
- Fish eat the flakes and some of the weed when hungry depositing their excrement into the water.
- Turtle eat the flakes and weed when hungry depositing their excrement into the water.
- The slug moves over the glass of the Aquarium cleaning it and the water of the excrement and moss that grows in the water.
- Moss grows as a result of the water pollution from the Fauna feeding.
- The weed uses the excrement as fertiliser.
- The man-made filter cleans the water and adds oxygen to the water.
- The rocks are useful for the turtle to sit on and both the turtle and fish use the rocks as cover.
- The cat occasionally swipes its claw into the water to scoop up a fish and eat it.
Questions for World Builders
- Where are your World's major natural Ecosystems located?
- Why do you consider these 'major' Ecosystems?
- Describe the services that are offered in each of the major natural Ecosystems. What support is offered and which fauna and / or flora are involved in its delivery?
- Are any of the services provided by natural forces on your World? How are these services provided?
- List the inside influences for your natural Ecosystems. Which of these influences threaten the balance of the Ecosystem?
- List the outside influences for your natural Ecosystems. Which of these influences are a major threat to the Ecosystem?
- What is the influence that will hasten degradation the most? Are there any obstacles or predators that may change the outcome of the influence?
- Does your world have any artificial Ecosystems? Where are these located?
- Describe how the artificial Ecosystems work and Identify the internal and external influences listing their benefits and any significant degradation caused by the influences.
- Do any of your Ecosystems depend upon another Ecosystem?
- How do the Ecosystems interact?
- How have your Ecosystems adapted to their changing Environment?
- What is the longest surviving Ecosystem? Why has it survived this long?
- What are the biggest threats to your Ecosystems in your world's future?
Links of Interest
Holly Lisle - Worldbuilding Rollicking rules of Ecosystems
Science in my Fiction - Worldbuilding with Real Worlds
World Cultural Pictorial Blog - Air pollution lethal to Earth ecosystem
Dams and Development: An Overview
CSIRO: Sustainable Ecosystems