Ecology and Biodiversity

Ecology: the scientific study of the processes influencing natural life and habitats. Ecology is the study of the environment, and helps us understand how organisms live with each other in unique physical environments.

Ecosystem: a natural environment which includes the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) that live and interact within that environment.

Biodiversity: the variety of natural life and habitats on Earth. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. While Earth’s biodiversity is so rich that many species have yet to be discovered, many species are being threatened with extinction due to human activities, putting the Earth’s magnificent biodiversity at risk.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans. Scientists have estimated that there are around 8.7 million species of plants and animals in existence. However, only around 1.2 million species have been identified and described so far, most of which are insects. This means that millions of other organisms remain a complete mystery.

Over generations, all of the species that are currently alive today have evolved unique traits that make them distinct from other species. These differences are what scientists use to tell one species from another. Organisms that have evolved to be so different from one another that they can no longer reproduce with each other are considered different species. All organisms that can reproduce with each other fall into one species.

Scientists are interested in how much biodiversity there is on a global scale, given that there is still so much biodiversity to discover. They also study how many species exist in single ecosystems, such as a forest, grassland, tundra, or lake. A single grassland can contain a wide range of species, from beetles to snakes to antelopes. Ecosystems that host the most biodiversity tend to have ideal environmental conditions for plant growth, like the warm and wet climate of tropical regions. Ecosystems can also contain species too small to see with the naked eye. Looking at samples of soil or water through a microscope reveals a whole world of bacteria and other tiny organisms.

Some areas in the world, such as areas of Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, the southwestern United States, and Madagascar, have more biodiversity than others. Areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity are called hotspots. Endemic species—species that are only found in one particular location—are also found in hotspots.

All of the Earth’s species work together to survive and maintain their ecosystems. For example, the grass in pastures feeds cattle. Cattle then produce manure that returns nutrients to the soil, which helps to grow more grass. This manure can also be used to fertilize cropland. Many species provide important benefits to humans, including food, clothing, and medicine.

Much of the Earth’s biodiversity, however, is in jeopardy due to human consumption and other activities that disturb and even destroy ecosystems. Pollution, climate change, and population growth are all threats to biodiversity. These threats have caused an unprecedented rise in the rate of species extinction. Some scientists estimate that half of all species on Earth will be wiped out within the next century. Conservation efforts are necessary to preserve biodiversity and protect endangered species and their habitats.

Ecology

Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them. An ecologist studies the relationship between living things and their habitats. In order to learn about the natural world, ecologists must study multiple aspects of life ranging from the moss that grows on rocks to the wolf population in Yellowstone National Park. In order to research the environment, scientists ask questions, such as: How do organisms interact with the living and nonliving factors around them? What do organisms need to survive and thrive in their current environments? To find the answers to these questions, ecologists must study and observe all forms of life and their ecosystems throughout our world.

In addition to examining how ecosystems function, ecologists study what happens when ecosystems do not function normally. Changes in ecosystems can result from many different factors including diseases among the organisms living in the area, increases in temperature, and increased human activities. Understanding these changes can help ecologists anticipate future ecological challenges and inform other scientists and policymakers about the challenges facing their local ecosystems.

Ecology first began gaining popularity in the 1960s, when environmental issues were rising to the forefront of public awareness. Although scientists have been studying the natural world for centuries, ecology in the modern sense has only been around since the 19th century. Around this time, European and American scientists began studying how plants functioned and their effects on the habitats around them. Eventually, this lead to the study of how animals interacted with plants, other animals, and shaped the ecosystems in which they lived. Today, modern ecologists build on the data collected by their predecessors and continue to pass on information about the ecosystems around the world. The information they gather continues to affect the future of our planet.

Human activity plays an important role in the health of ecosystems all around the world. Pollution emitted from fossil fuels or factories can contaminate the food supply for a species, potentially changing an entire food web. Introducing a new species from another part of the world into an unfamiliar environment can have unintended and negative impacts on local lifeforms. These kinds of organisms are called invasive species. Invasive species can be any form of living organism that is brought by humans to a new part of the world where they have no natural predators. The addition or subtraction of a single species from an ecosystem can create a domino effect on many others, whether that be from the spread of disease or overhunting.

Why is biodiversity important?

An environment rich in biodiversity is essential for supporting human life. Due to an ever-increasing population, the demand for food and energy production is also increasing, leading to a degradation, fragmentation and loss of natural habitats. With this decrease in biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems, the natural environment becomes less productive, less resilient and adaptable, and is at real risk of sustaining long term damage or collapse.

Nature also plays a significant role in reducing the effect of climate change. Many human processes such as energy production, manufacturing and transport all release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. There are various natural processes that sequester (store) carbon naturally, in plants and in our oceans. The degradation of natural habitats would hinder these processes and then accelerate the effect of climate change.

In recent years there have been more and more documented examples of economic and environmental benefits that have been demonstrated when we take into consideration the natural environment, working and living alongside nature instead of simply using it for our own gains.

Humans and their activities are behind the current rate of species extinction, which is at least 100–1,000 times higher than nature intended. We’ve seen an astonishing 60% decline in the size of populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians in just over 40 years, according to Living Planet Report 2018 on the World Wildlife Fund website. The United Kingdom is one of the most nature depleted countries in Europe, with 15% of UK species threatened with extinction according to a study by the Natural History Museum.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

BNG is defined as, "Development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than before, and an approach whereby developers work with stakeholders to support their priorities for nature conservation."

This concept has been developed by the UK government to ensure that every new development will improve natural habitats and protect wildlife, plants and ecosystems from further losses. BNG requires a 10% increase in biodiversity after development compared to the level of biodiversity before the development. This concept has been nationally mandated for all Local Planning Authorities.

Changing the way we act and use our environment is becoming increasingly urgent. However, it is also an exciting opportunity for us to increase our understanding of the landscape of Eden; reconnecting people to its landscapes, natural habitats and ecosystems will inspire us to become more sustainable. Conservation projects, such as wildlife bridges, re-wilding, habitat creation and maintenance can result in better social and economic outcomes too. We must become a force within nature, rather than against it, taking only what we need and living alongside our biological neighbours. It is time to rebuild the garden of Eden.

Plants

Plants are important as they store energy from the sun, which is then passed on to other animals (including us!) when they are eaten. We use them for food, fuels, clothing and building materials and they are also absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. Trees, mosses and wild plant habitats are important for biodiversity and can also be effective at controlling flooding and erosion when they are properly maintained and managed. Climate change affects many wild plants and their habitats, causing them to decline often to the point of extinction. This has a knock-on effect across the ecosystem. For example, the netted carpet moth relies completely on touch-me-not balsam to survive. This native moth is one of the rarest in the Lake District, but due to conservation efforts, its population is now increasing. The introduction of invasive and non-native species is one the main causes of the moth's decline. Other causes of habitat destruction include the growing of bio-fuels and afforestation programmes and while these are part of the solution to replacing fossil fuels, we need to be mindful of their location and the impact on surrounding areas.

Animals

The climate and ecological crisis is not only affecting us, but all the creatures we share our planet with. Human disruption and destruction of animal habitats across the globe is causing mass extinction on an extreme level. It is possible to rebuild the resilience of the ecosystems surrounding us through education, improved decision making and action.

Healthy ecosystems have features that protect them against environmental change. These features include genetic diversity, ecosystem connectivity, and widespread geographical distribution of populations. A diverse gene pool ensures that some members of a species will have traits that will allow them to survive change. Habitat connectivity ensures that relocation is in reach for distressed individuals. A wide-spread population is less vulnerable to local disturbance.

In Britain, we have already seen the extinction of many animals, such as lynx, wolves and even bears. Beavers and sea eagles are a recent success story of reintroduction. The positive effects of this on our ecosystem are tremendous. Owls, pine martins and dormice are some of the animals that now face extinction. Water voles, red squirrels and great crested newts in particular are something we can focus on local to Eden. We can make a difference and improve the biodiversity of our area.

Groundwater depletion

Groundwater is water found underground in aquifers, which are geological formations of rocks, sands and gravels that can hold water. Almost all of the liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater, supporting drinking water supplies, sanitation systems, farming, industry and ecosystems. We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource as it is being over-used in many areas, where more water is abstracted from aquifers than is recharged by rain and snow. Groundwater pollution is a particular problem that can take decades or even centuries to recover from. Exploring, protecting and sustainably using groundwater will be central to surviving and adapting to climate change and meeting the needs of a growing population.

Soil degradation

Soil is an extremely important part of our landscape. It holds 3 times as much carbon as the atmosphere, reduces the risk of flooding by absorbing water, it is a wildlife habitat, and it delivers 95% of global food supplies. Unfortunately, it is a limited resource due to pressure from climate change, population growth, urban development, waste, pollution, and the demand for more (and cheaper) food. Issues faced by land managers and farmers affecting soil quality include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity as a result of rising sea levels. Farmers manage 70% of the land in the UK, and poor soil quality affects their income and way of life. The Environment Agency works closely with farmers, providing advice, guidance and practical support. In Eden, they are supporting a peer group learning about best practice. UK soil contains about 10 billion tonnes of carbon, roughly equal to 80 years of annual greenhouse gas emissions. However, intensive agriculture has caused arable soils to lose 40 to 60% of their organic carbon, and the impacts of climate change pose further risks.