Editing Ecosystem diversity

{{Short description|Diversity and variations in ecosystems}} 
[[File:BlueMarble-2001-2002.jpg|thumb|right|300px|alt=Two views of the Earth from space.|The [[Earth]] has many diverse [[ecosystems]] and ecologicalsystem diversity. These are NASA composite images of the Earth: 2001 (left), 2002 (right), titled ''[[The Blue Marble]]''.]]

'''Ecosystem diversity''' deals with the variations in [[ecosystem]]s within a [[geographical location]] and its overall impact on human existence and the [[environmental impact|environment]].

Ecosystem diversity addresses the combined characteristics of [[Biotic component|biotic]] properties which are living organisms ([[biodiversity]]) and [[Abiotic component|abiotic]] properties such as nonliving things like water or soil ([[geodiversity]]). It is a variation in the [[ecosystems]] found in a region or the variation in ecosystems over the whole planet. Ecological diversity includes the variation in both [[Terrestrial ecosystem|terrestrial]] and [[aquatic ecosystem]]s. Ecological diversity can also take into account the variation in the [[complexity]] of a [[biological community]], including the number of different [[ecological niche|niches]], the number of and other ecological processes. An example of ecological diversity on a global scale would be the variation in ecosystems, such as [[desert]]s, [[forest]]s, [[grassland]]s, [[wetland]]s and [[ocean]]s. Ecological diversity is the largest scale of biodiversity, and within each ecosystem, there is a great deal of both [[Species diversity|species]] and [[genetic diversity]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Margaret|last= Cunningham|url=http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-biodiversity-definition-and-relation-to-ecosystem-stability.html|website=study.com|series= DSST Environment & Humanity: Study Guide & Test Prep |title=What is Biodiversity? - Definition and Relation to Ecosystem Stability|access-date=29 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|year=2009|chapter=Ecosystems|chapter-url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3233900080&asid=ece573364e176588534845e3350339a7|title=Environmental Science: In context|series=In Context Series |volume=1|pages=242–246|publisher=Gale|location=Detroit|oclc=277051356|isbn=978-1-4103-3754-2
|editor=Brenda Wilmoth Lerner |editor2=K. Lee Lerner
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Purdy|first=Elizabeth|year=2012|chapter=Ecosystems|chapter-url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX4195600251&asid=1b9f7d7c752292d2c015aaaa651455a9|title=Encyclopedia of Global Warming & Climate Change|doi=10.4135/9781452218564 |pages=485–487|isbn=978-1-4129-9261-9|editor=S. George Philander|volume= 1|edition= 2nd|location= Thousand Oaks, CA|publisher=SAGE Reference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|year=2009|chapter=Ecosystem Diversity|chapter-url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T003&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R4&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=7&userGroupName=colu91149&inPS=true&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=&prodId=GVRL&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3233900079&docId=GALE%7CCX3233900079&docType=GALE&authCount=1#|title=Environmental Science: In Context|series=In Context Series |volume=1|pages=239–241|publisher=Gale|location=Detroit|oclc=277051356|isbn=978-1-4103-3754-2|editor=Brenda Wilmoth Lerner |editor2=K. Lee Lerner}}</ref>

== Impact ==

Diversity in the ecosystem is significant to human existence for a variety of reasons. Ecosystem diversity boosts the availability of [[oxygen]] via the process of [[photosynthesis]] amongst plant organisms domiciled in the habitat. Diversity in an aquatic environment helps in the [[water purification|purification of water]] by plant varieties for use by humans. Diversity increases plant varieties which serves as a good source for medicines and [[herb]]s for human use.  A lack of diversity in the ecosystem produces an opposite result.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Naveh|first=Z.|date=1994-09-01|title=From Biodiversity to Ecodiversity: A Landscape-Ecology Approach to Conservation and Restoration|journal=Restoration Ecology|language=en|volume=2|issue=3|pages=180–189|doi=10.1111/j.1526-100x.1994.tb00065.x|issn=1526-100X|doi-access=free|bibcode=1994ResEc...2..180N }}</ref>

== Examples ==
Some examples of ecosystems that are rich in diversity are:
* [[Desert]]s
* [[Forest]]s
* [[Large marine ecosystem]]s
* [[Marine ecosystem]]s
* [[Old-growth forest]]s
* [[Rainforest]]s
* [[Tundra]]
* [[Coral reef]]s
* [[Marine biology|Marine]]

== Ecosystem diversity as a result of evolutionary pressure ==
Ecological diversity around the world can be directly linked to the evolutionary and [[Evolutionary pressure|selective pressures]] that constrain the [[Diversity index|diversity]] outcome of the ecosystems within different [[Niche segregation|niches]]. [[Tundra]]s, [[Rainforest]]s, coral reefs and [[deciduous forests]] all are formed as a result of [[evolutionary pressure]]s. Even seemingly small evolutionary interactions can have large impacts on the diversity of the [[ecosystem]]s throughout the world. One of the best studied cases of this is of the honeybee's interaction with [[Flowering plant|angiosperms]] on every continent in the world except [[Antarctica]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dray |first=Tammy |title=On What Continents Are Bees Not Found? |language=en |work=Pets on mom |url=https://animals.mom.me/continents-bees-not-found-5374.html |access-date=2018-10-31}}</ref>

In 2010, Robert Brodschneider and Karl Crailsheim conducted a study on the health and nutrition in honeybee colonies. The study focused on overall colony health, adult nutrition, and [[larva]] nutrition as a function of the effect of [[pesticide]]s, [[monoculture]]s and [[genetically modified crop]]s to see if the anthropogenically created problems can have an effect pollination levels.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Brodschneider|first=Robert|date=2010|title=Nutrition and health in Honey bees|url=https://www.apidologie.org/articles/apido/pdf/2010/03/m09120.pdf|journal=Apidologie|volume=41|issue=3|pages=278–294|doi=10.1051/apido/2010012|s2cid=40046635}}</ref> The results indicate that human activity does have a role in the destruction of the fitness of the bee colony. The extinction or near extinction of these pollinators would result in many plants that feed humans on a wide scale needing alternative pollination methods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bee Pollination and Technology |url=http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2015/2015/bee_tech.html |access-date=2018-11-30 |website=Mission 2015: Biodiversity |publisher=MIT}}</ref> Crop pollinating insects are worth annually $14.6 billion to the [[Economy of the United States|US economy]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goulson |first=Dave |date=2 October 2012 |title=Decline of bees forces China's apple farmers to pollinate by hand |url=https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/5193-Decline-of-bees-forces-China-s-apple-farmers-to-pollinate-by-hand |access-date=2018-10-31 |website=China Dialogue |language=en}}</ref> and the cost to hand pollinate over insect pollination is estimated to cost $5,715-$7,135 more per hectare. Not only will there be a cost increase but also an decrease in colony fitness, leading to a decrease in genetic diversity, which studies have shown has a direct link to the long-term survival of the honeybee colonies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 June 2013 |title=Genetic diversity key to survival of honey bee colonies |language=en |work=ScienceDaily |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130617111341.htm |access-date=2018-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tarpy |first1=David R. |last2=vanEngelsdorp |first2=Dennis |last3=Pettis |first3=Jeffrey S. |date=2013 |title=Genetic diversity affects colony survivorship in commercial honey bee colonies |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00114-013-1065-y |journal=Naturwissenschaften |language=en |volume=100 |issue=8 |pages=723–728 |doi=10.1007/s00114-013-1065-y |pmid=23728203 |bibcode=2013NW....100..723T |s2cid=253636199 |issn=0028-1042|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

According to a study, there are over 50 plants that are dependent on bee pollination, many of these being key staples to feeding the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998 |title=Pollination and Bee Plants |url=http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/beeclass/Pollination.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020735/http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/beeclass/Pollination.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2007 |access-date=31 October 2018}} Excerpted from Beekeeper's Handbook, Sammataro/Avitabile</ref> Another study conducted states that a lack of [[plant]] diversity will lead to a decline in the bee population fitness, and a low bee colony fitness has impacts on the fitness of plant ecosystem diversity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hays |first=Brooks |date=22 August 2018 |title=Plant biodiversity essential to bee health |language=en |work=UPI |publisher=United Press International |url=https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2018/08/22/Plant-biodiversity-essential-to-bee-health/7391534949396/ |access-date=2018-10-31}}</ref> By allowing for bee pollination and working to reduce [[Human impact on the environment|anthropogenically]] harmful footprints, bee pollination can increase genetic diversity of flora growth and create a unique ecosystem that is highly diverse and can provide a habitat and niche for many other organisms to thrive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tucker |first=Jessica |date=2014-06-17 |title=Why Bees Are Important to Our Planet |url=http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-bees-are-important-to-our-planet/ |access-date=2018-10-31 |website=One Green Planet |language=en-US}}</ref> Due to the evolutionary pressures of bees being located on six out of seven continents, there can be no denying the impact of [[pollinator]]s on the ecosystem diversity. The [[pollen]] collected by the bees is harvested and used as an energy source for wintertime; this act of collecting pollen from local plants also has a more important effect of facilitating the movement of genes between [[organism]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Liu|first1=Min|last2=Compton|first2=Stephen G.|last3=Peng|first3=Fo-En|last4=Zhang|first4=Jian|last5=Chen|first5=Xiao-Yong|date=2015-06-07|title=Movements of genes between populations: are pollinators more effective at transferring their own or plant genetic markers?|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume=282|issue=1808|pages=20150290|doi=10.1098/rspb.2015.0290|issn=0962-8452|pmc=4455804|pmid=25948688}}</ref>

The new evolutionary pressures that are largely [[Human impact on the environment|anthropogenically]] catalyzed can potentially cause widespread [[Ecosystem collapse|collapse of ecosystems]]. In the north Atlantic Sea, a study was conducted that followed the effects of the human interaction on surrounding ocean habitats. They found that there was no [[habitat]] or [[trophic level]] that in some way was affected negatively by human interaction, and that much of the diversity of life was being stunted as a result.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lotze|first1=Heike K.|last2=Milewski|first2=Inka|title=Two Centuries of Multiple Human Impacts and Successive Changes in a North Atlantic Food Web|date=October 2004|journal=Ecological Applications|language=en|volume=14|issue=5|pages=1428–1447|doi=10.1890/03-5027|bibcode=2004EcoAp..14.1428L |issn=1051-0761}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Environment|Ecology|Earth sciences}}
* [[Bioregion]]
* [[Disparity (ecology)]]
* [[Ecology]]
* [[Evolutionary biology]]
* [[Genetic diversity]]
* [[Nature]]
* [[Natural environment]]
* [[Species diversity]]
* [[Sustainable development]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Loreau |first=Michel |date=2010-01-12 |title=Linking biodiversity and ecosystems: towards a unifying ecological theory |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=365 |issue=1537 |pages=49–60 |doi=10.1098/rstb.2009.0155 |issn=0962-8436 |pmc=2842700 |pmid=20008385}}</ref>{{modelling ecosystems|expanded=other}}

[[Category:Biodiversity]]
[[Category:Systems ecology]]