Flow of An Ecosystem

Author's Note: The purpose of this piece was to explain how humans interact with ecosystems around us and how we do it, in addition to showing how one of our action's can affect the environment around us both positively and negatively.

Interaction. It’s a key word that we use when talking about human and environmental relationship. Without even knowing it, every day we affect ecosystems in our area and they affect our lives too. Doing something as simple as plopping down a new highway or street could lead to so many other problems in an ecosystem that may have never crossed our mind. In our eyes, an idea of a shortcut to work or a quicker drive to school could possibly lead to a disastrous chain of events for an ecosystem in our area.

Behind the scenes, nature has its own hidden order apart from us. In an ecosystem, there’s a continuous cycle that keeps everything in order, working through the things we don’t have to worry about. In an ecosystem, there are four types of organisms: the Producers, the Consumers, the Decomposers, and the Inorganic material. In this cycle of organisms, everything is constantly being recycled, and it all starts with the producers.

Producers (plants,) are known as autotrophs. Autotrophs are the plants who make their own food, and in the process give off oxygen. When plants make their own food it is called Photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is when C02, sunlight, and water is combined. This makes glucose (sugar) and oxygen at the same time.

Next is the Consumers. The consumers eat producers or even other consumers. That’s when the decomposers come in to break down the  producers and consumers. Once the organisms have been broken down, they basically become a part of the ground, or non-life. These ‘non-life things,’ are categorized into Inorganic Material.

Just like how there is a constant cycle of life through the Producers, Consumers, Decomposers, and Inorganic Material, we can’t forget about the energy flow.  Energy flow through an ecosystem is a bit different than the life cycle. There is a law called, ‘The Law of Conservation of Energy.’ This law states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, and can only change form.

The main source of energy is the sun. The sun’s rays are classified into the Electro Magnetic Spectrum, which orders the amounts of speed and energy each wave gives off from the sun. Right in the middle of the Spectrum is the UV Rays. The UV rays are what the organisms receive from the sun in the form of energy, along with radiation.

Once an organism receives energy, it can be transferred from Producers to Consumers, Consumers to Decomposers, and Producers to Decomposers. That may sound confusing but basically it means that in the end, all of the energy is given to the Decomposers and nothing comes out of or transfers to the Inorganic Material. When any energy is transferred from the Producers, Consumers, or Decomposers, excess energy is given off as heat into the atmosphere.

It’s hard to imagine how any of this could be linked into our lives but when you break certain scenarios down, what may just be a small road construction could lead to major disaster someplace that’s meaningful to you. In the event of a highway build into a State Park, actions would have to be taken to make the site ready for construction. This could very well mean deforestation and other negative domino effects on the environment.

What may seem like, ‘starting fresh,’ is actually very harmful to the complex ecosystem of the area I’m focusing in on, Peninsula State Park in Door County. Annually, my family takes a trip to Peninsula State park to enjoy its beauty and gorgeous bike trails. None of this would be there if a highway project was approved.  

One of the first jobs done on a road or highway construction is clearing the area. Deforestation itself is destructive, but along with clearing out the trees comes other issues such as less coverage and lower oxygen levels. Along with that is the fact that when the trees are rooted up, out comes the roots with it. All of the trees roots hold the soil in place but when the roots get ripped out, the ground around it becomes loose. When the earth is loose and it rains, all of that washes away and usually into some sort of body of water like a river or stream, causing that to then clog.

More and more problems seem to accumulate from one simple idea a shortcut to work or more efficient travel for everyone. In reality, things and projects like this happen every day. Carelessness is one thing that we could easily fix if we would take a minute to determine the effects our intentions may have on the ecosystem short and long term. With the combination of rethinking and possibly redesigning a build, projects like this one could continue without the harmful effects on the environment around us.

     "Energy Flow in Ecosystems." CINCH Learning. McGraw/ Hill, n.d. Web. 11 June 2013. <https://www.cinchlearning.com/se_search.html?rid=7>.