What are the three major functions of an ecosystem?

The three major functions of the ecosystem are: 1. Energy flow, which has two major characteristics: energy flow is one-way and energy decreases step by step; 2. Material circulation refers to the energy flow of the ecosystem. Various substances circulate between the biological community and the inorganic environment; 3. Information transmission refers to physical information, which refers to the information transmitted through physical processes. It can come from the inorganic environment or the biological community.

The operating environment of this tutorial: Windows 7 system, Dell G3 computer.

Ecosystem, referred to as ECO, is the abbreviation of ecosystem, which refers to the unified whole composed of organisms and the environment in a certain space in nature. In this unified whole, organisms and the environment interact and restrict each other. , and is in a relatively stable dynamic equilibrium state within a certain period of time. The scope of ecosystems can be large or small, and they are intertwined with each other. The solar system is an ecosystem, and the sun is like an engine, continuously providing energy to the solar system.

The three major functions of the ecosystem

Energy flow, material circulation, and information transmission are the three major functions of the ecosystem. The main functions of the ecosystem are material circulation and energy flow. In a stable ecosystem, the material circulation and energy flow will be in a dynamic and stable state, and the number of organisms (producers, consumers, decomposers) at each trophic level will be stable at the same level. superior.

#1. Energy flow has two major characteristics: energy flow is one-way and energy decreases step by step.

2. Material cycle refers to the energy flow of the ecosystem that drives various materials to circulate between biological communities and the inorganic environment. The substances here include the basic elements that make up living organisms: carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, as well as toxic substances represented by DDT that can exist stably for a long time

3. Information transfer refers to physical Information (physical information) refers to information transmitted through physical processes. It can come from the inorganic environment/or from biological communities, mainly including: sound, light, temperature, humidity, magnetism, mechanical vibration, etc.

Extended information:

## 1. Ecological value

1. Potential value

Potential value refers to the value that humans do not yet know.

2. Direct value

Direct value includes non-practical value to human beings such as medicine, bionics, literature and art, and tourism.

3. Indirect value

Indirect value is also called "ecological function", which refers to the function that stabilizes and regulates the ecological environment. Common ones include: the flood storage and drought prevention function of the wetland ecosystem. , forests and grasslands prevent soil erosion. The indirect value of biological diversity is much greater than the direct value. (Steady state and environment 125~126)

2. The composition of ecosystem

Non-biological matter and energy, producers, consumers, and decomposers. Among them, producers are the main ingredients. Different ecosystems include: forest ecosystem, grassland ecosystem, marine ecosystem, freshwater ecosystem (divided into lake ecosystem, pond ecosystem, river ecosystem, etc.), farmland ecosystem, tundra ecosystem, wetland ecosystem , urban ecosystem.

Among them, the inorganic environment is the foundation of an ecosystem, and the quality of its conditions directly determines the complexity of the ecosystem and the richness of the biological communities in it.

The biological community reacts on the inorganic environment. The biological community in the ecosystem is both adapting to the environment and changing the appearance of the surrounding environment. Various basic substances closely link the biological community with the inorganic environment.

The primary succession of biological communities can even turn a desolate bare land into an oasis with rich water and grass. The close connection between the various components of the ecosystem makes the ecosystem an organic whole with certain functions.

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