What is ecological balance?

Lately the words "badecological situation "," violation of ecological balance "," ecological catastrophe ". Before to argue, whether such a catastrophe threatens the world, it is necessary to find out what the concept of "ecological balance" means. Despite the fact that the term is introduced for the first time in high school, many people do not understand the meaning of this phrase.

Environmental dictionaries explain that the environmentalbalance is the ratio (both qualitative and quantitative) of all natural processes, ecological components, factors of human activity that ensure the long-term and sustainable existence of biogeocenosis. Biogeocenosis is an integral system consisting of a complex of plants, animals, other living organisms, densely connected with each other by abiotic factors (atmosphere, environment, geostructures, illumination, climate, etc.)

In other words, ecological balance is the relative stability of biological processes, climate, the community of living organisms inherent in a certain territory.

Sustainability of the ecosystem provides a combination ofautotrophs and heterotrophs. The first (they are also called producers) are organisms capable of processing inorganic substances into organic compounds. Heterotrophs for their livelihoods need these organic products. Such organisms are also called consumers or decomposers.

Ecological balance can be measured. Typically, a measure is the diversity of species, as well as their resistance.

If the changes go beyond the usual forenvironmental standards, there is a violation of environmental balance. Its result is a sharp reduction of some species and reproduction of others. An example of an environmental disaster: a story of the extermination of sparrows in China or the reproduction of rabbits in Australia. Illiterate human intervention in these cases led to the death of rivers, the disappearance of many species of animals.

Disrupt the ecological balance can the gas composition of the atmosphere (both dependent and not dependent on human activity), water pollution, global pollution of the environment.

The balance is most often disturbed because of the results of human activity.

A man more and more lands takes under his activity, displacing living organisms from their habitual habitats.

The development of industry contributes to the depletion of natural resources, the growth of cities pollutes the atmosphere, natural reservoirs.

Violation of ecological balance in placessome scientists believe, can become a real "end of the world". Their example: the Aral Sea, which as a result of human activity from the fourth largest reservoir in the world turned into a fetid waste water collector.

Other scientists are not so pessimistic, theybelieve that changing the ecological situation leads not to a violation, but to a change in the ecological system, forcing people and animals to adapt to new conditions. But even experts do not doubt: pollution of the environment can lead to the fact that a person will be outside the system where he is able to survive.

In order to avoid this, it is necessary from the very beginningearly childhood to educate the ecological consciousness. It's not that hard. A conscious attitude to nature begins with a small one. If a child learns not to break branches, not to trample on lawns and not to destroy grass, then becoming an adult, he can at least think about how much harm his activity brings to the surrounding world. And the one who knows how to think, will never destroy his own home, will not destroy the world in which his children live.