What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem can vary in size, from the Sahara desert to a puddle, ecosystems are dynamic interactions between plants, animals and micro organisms and their environment working together as a whole. If ecosystems do not remain in balance then it is likely that they will fail. In all, an ecosystem has its own niche an role to play.

Ecosystems can be somewhat resilient to sudden change and each species would respond individually

How have humans affected the ecosystems?

All of us at some point have affected an ecosystem by simply walking in the wilderness or destroying the land for a new car park or building but a more important factor is that throughout the world, climate change is already showing a significant impact on a range of ecosystems. Glaciers, coral reefs, mangroves, tropical forests, colour and alpine regions, prairie wetlands and atolls are all particularly vulnerable to irreversible damage.

Facts

 Over the past few decades, the world has lost approximately 20% of its coral reefs with a further 20% significantly degraded. Changes in the temperature of oceanic waters, alterations in its salinity and increases in its concentrations of carbon dioxide will all place a great deal of stress on world fish stocks. Many people rely on fish as their primary source of protein (around 1 billion people) and the consequences of these changes within the waters will also have a significant impact on the human race.

This is just one factor, we also have to consider what effect it would have by degrading the land ecosystem; without any resources, animals such as sheep and cows will be without their vital needs which again, related back to a major impact on the human race.