Ekosistem: Food Chain, Biodiversity, and Conservation

Ekosistem

Food Chain

• A series of organisms that eat other organisms, with each level being consumed by the level above
• Consists of:
  • Producers (plants, algae): convert sunlight into energy
  • Primary consumers (herbivores): consume producers
  • Secondary consumers (carnivores): consume primary consumers
  • Tertiary consumers (apex predators): consume secondary consumers
  • Decomposers (bacteria, fungi): break down dead organic matter
• Energy is transferred from one level to the next, with some energy lost as heat

Biodiversity

• The variety of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in an ecosystem
• Types of biodiversity:
  • Species diversity: number of different species in an ecosystem
  • Genetic diversity: variety of genes within a species
  • Ecosystem diversity: variety of ecosystems in a region
• Importance of biodiversity:
  • Maintains ecosystem services
  • Supports human livelihoods (food, medicine, recreation)
  • Provides resilience to environmental changes

Conservation Biology

• The practice of preserving and protecting ecosystems, species, and their habitats
• Goals:
  • Preserve species and ecosystems
  • Restore degraded ecosystems
  • Promote sustainable use of natural resources
• Strategies:
  • Habitat preservation and restoration
  • Species reintroduction and translocation
  • Ex situ conservation (e.g., zoos, seed banks)
  • Community-based conservation (involving local communities)

Ecosystem Services

• The benefits that humans derive from functioning ecosystems
• Types of ecosystem services:
  • Provisioning services: food, water, timber, medicine
  • Regulating services: climate regulation, air and water purification, pollination
  • Cultural services: recreation, tourism, spiritual values
  • Supporting services: soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production
• Importance of ecosystem services:
  • Supports human well-being and livelihoods
  • Maintains ecosystem resilience and stability
  • Provides opportunities for sustainable development