Functionalism in Ecosystems
Every single automobile has about 30,000 parts, ranging from the largest pieces to the smallest screws. This is all to ensure that the car runs properly and provides services for any individual to get to any location. The function of a car is a complex system with parts that work together. Society works in a similar form, interrelated parts that work together to promote stability and solidarity. Sociologist call this a Functionalist perspective. This approach looks at society from a macro point of view that focuses on broad structures that shape society as a whole.
Now take that idea and place it into an ecosystem. The role of an ecosystem regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and renders stability. It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic components. Overall, it maintains balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem.
While the science of society is different than the study of the environment, there is a similarity between the two. The functional attributes of the ecosystem keep the components running together.
The ecosystems functions are natural process energy or exchange of energy. This occurs in various plants and animal communities. Nature is a complex system that even today no scientist has full knowledge of everything. In the 1970s, there were four laws of ecology that were formulated for the functions of the environment. The first law,Everything is connected to everything else. This law supports the natural process energy, when green leaves prepare food and the roots absorb the nutrients from the soil, the herbivores feed on the leaves and the roots, then in return the herbivore become prey for a predator. This follows the food chain and when there is a disturbance in the food chain, every single organism experiences that stress.
Take a shooting for example, they are common in the US unfortunately. In March of 2021, two shootings took place in: Colorado and Georgia. Both of these shootings took place in public areas that affected other people. The deaths of those innocent, affected a chain of family members, friends and workers. It is a chain that involves everyone and everyone experiences the same stress.
When the parts of society fail, we are alerted to take action, seek improvement and find stability. When an area of the ecosystem fails, it haves to adapt and stabilize itself. Stabilizing comes through dynamic self compensating properties and these same properties if overstressed can lead to a collapse.
Some elements that keep an ecosystem running include:
Food Chain
Within ecosystems there are communities. There is an order of living organisms in a community in which one organism consumes the other and then itself is consumed. This is the transfer of energy.
Food Web
This web is a network of interconnected food chains. This network depicts the relationships among different organism. A food chain cannot stand isolated in an ecosystem. It may not be too appealing to learn that some species only exists to be food, however their purpose is beyond magnificent.
Healthy terrestrial ecosystems are vital for human welfare and survival, as they provide us with essential products and benefits. Over 90% of our food comes from terrestrial ecosystems. These areas also provide service's of energy, building, materials, clothes, medicines, fresh and clean water, and clean air.
