Ecological homeostasis is known as the exchange that occurs between various natural environments that allow maintaining a balance within an ecosystem. These adjustments are considered necessary to achieve survival.
Generally these homeostatic equilibria can be understood by observing populations or systems that depend on each other. In fauna it is observed in the relationship between the hunter and his prey, or between herbivores and their natural food source.
In the case of the planet in general, homeostatic balance is reflected in the relationship between an ecosystem and the climatic changes that occur.
Ecological homeostasis, also known as ecological equilibrium, began to be questioned around 1950, considering that radical and constant changes in populations are quite frequent, and that equilibrium is not a constant.
Some estimate that this theory will be replaced by the Catastrophe Theory and the Chaos Theory.
When it occurs?
The mechanism for an ecosystem to be in perfect ecological balance is relatively simple.
There are two causes that must converge: the first is that all the individuals of the species of an ecosystem are preserved and remain.
The second is that the ecosystem is large enough so that it can withstand the negative factors, and life can converge again.
An illustrative case is that which occurs in puddles or small wells. These form an ecosystem so small that a simple drought eliminates the chances of subsistence, completely disrupts the balance and causes the death of its inhabitants: fish, frogs and plant life.
The success of this theory is best seen when forests or jungles are analyzed. They are ecosystems so large that homeostasis is established even if some individuals that live there disappear or migrate.
Factors influencing ecological homeostasis
When some ecological or artificial factor negatively alters an ecosystem, an imbalance immediately arises.
The most common ecological factors that have a negative impact are floods, droughts, earthquakes, storms and climate changes such as heat waves or cold.
The hand of man also interferes in ecosystems, for this reason we speak of artificial factors.
Some of the causes of ecological imbalance are deforestation, arson, and air and water pollution with toxic gases.
Man and the new ecosystems
Human intervention may be one of the main factors in the loss of homeostasis, but man has also been a participant in the creation of new ecosystems.
In South America, jungles have been developed from human plantations. In Africa the great fires caused helped the formation of savannas, leading to an increase in grazing animals.
Despite the fact that an ecosystem is damaged, the theory states that they tend to become more complex, resistant and stable as time passes. This leads to the reproduction of a new flora and fauna in that sector.
References
- Pimm, S. (1991). The Balance of Nature? Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Retrieved on October 12, 2017, from: books.google.es
- Wood, D. (nd). Ecosystem Homeostasis: definition & examples. Retrieved on October 12, 2017, from: study.com
- How to maintain ecological balance. (October 6, 2014). Retrieved on October 12, 2017, from: thenewecologist.com
- Marten, G. (2001) Human Ecology. New York: Earthscan. Retrieved on October 12, 2017, from: gerrymarten.com
- Daniels. R. (2017). Ways to maintain Ecological Balance. Retrieved on October 12, 2017, from: sciencing.com