What is Ecological Balance?

This term is used a lot in discussions about the environment, but what does it really mean? Ecology is the science that studies ecosystems. Ecological balance, on the other hand, can be briefly explained as a stable balance in the number of each species in an ecosystem. In short, “ecological balance” is a biological term used to define an ecosystem in which species coexist with other species to create a sustainable environment.

Definition of Ecological Balance

Every living species on the planet is important and helps to keep the ecosystem in balance. Ecological balance is a term that describes the state of decisiveness in which species coexist with other species and their environment and how the ecosystem is organized. 

Similarly, there are many business lines in a society that help the system run smoothly. A doctor, a postman, a cleaner, a waiter and a farmer all play an important role in our society. Just as there is a system of order in society, each of the species also has an important role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the ecosystem. For example, predators contribute to keeping the mouse population under control, insects to the reproduction of plants, worms to decompose leaf litter. 

Each species is necessary to keep the ecosystem balanced and the removal of one species can cause a chain reaction that is felt throughout the ecosystem. Even if an ecosystem is balanced, the system may suffer a loss of balance due to external factors. A hurricane can raze the forest, a predator species can be overfished or a drought can reduce the availability of food resources. These ecological changes are called ecological degradation. Ecological degradation is any change that causes a disturbance in the balance of an ecosystem. 

The good news is that an ecosystem will typically return to a balanced state after a degradation has occurred.

How is the Ecological Balance Disturbed?

It is vital to maintain the natural balance in an ecosystem, but this balance can be disrupted by the emergence of new species, the unexpected death of some species, natural disasters or human related causes. For example, the bombardment of lush green forests during the Vietnam War led to the loss of habitats for many species.

Today, the elimination of trees and vegetation in the name of industrial development, the change in the way we use land and the expansion of paved areas cause great damage to the ecosystem. All this affects not only the ecology of the soil, but also the water balance. Due to increasing urbanization, more water is needed to feed the city's population and industry, causing deeper wells to be drilled or water to be transported from more distant places.

The increase in the covering area of the urban population leads to a decrease in vegetation therefore the amount of water vapor returning from plants decreases. In addition, groundwater pollution occurs when salt used to melt ice on urban roads flows into the drainage system.
In short, it is enough to look anywhere in the world to understand how the human population and increasing development activities affect the ecosystem. Over the past 1000 years, the effects of humans on land, water and air have steadily increased with the increase in deforestation and pasture use.

Such problems, which peaked in recent years with unprecedented population growth and urbanization since 1920, and not only on individual species, but also on entire ecosystems, have caused damage as a result of human influences.

The rapid pace of the development of human society leads to undesirable consequences. Exotic species are disappearing faster than we can discover them, and ancient ecosystems are deteriorating.

Can It Affect Only One Kind of Balance?

Each of the species in an ecosystem plays an important role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the ecosystem. You can think of the ecosystem like a cardboard house, where each card represents a different species. When you draw one species, the whole house can collapse. In short, the elimination of a species can cause a chain reaction in the entire ecosystem.

Examples of Ecological Balance

If we look closely enough at the perfect balance of nature, we see that it exists in the most unlikely places. We need different species in order not to disrupt the perfectly functioning nature, the ecosystem. Ecological balance is the balance of such different concepts as predator-prey, herbivorous-carnivores. 

To give a good example of the concept of ecological balance, we should look at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. In the 1920s, the US government authorized the extermination of the gray wolf. The decline of grizzly wolves has led to a rapid increase in deer populations. When they had no primary predators, the deer plundered and overgrazed the poplar and willow trees that other animals needed to thrive. Since various species suffered from an overpopulation of deer, it caused a chain reaction in all animals. When the gray wolf population declined, the local ecosystem collapsed and became unstable. In 1995, ecologists and environmentalists realized the harmful effects of removing the grizzly wolf from the ecosystem and began to reintroduce the species into nature. 

Today, the biodiversity of Yellowstone National Park is being enriched, allowing for a balanced ecosystem in which all types of plants and animals can develop.

Climate Change and Ecological Balance 

Climate change has a detrimental effect on the preservation and stability of the ecological balance. Due to disturbances in the stability of various ecosystems around the world, both the health of ecosystems and diversity suffers.

NASA measured the increased competition for survival from human-caused greenhouse gases, the impact of climate change on vegetation, organisms and animals in a scientific study in 2011. Data from this NASA study predicted; "The Earth's land that is not covered with ice or desert will undergo a change in vegetation of at least 30 percent, there will be changes that will require frequent relocation of people and animals that cannot adapt to the situation..."

How Can We Work to Maintain the Ecological Balance?

Many people do not know the significant role that ecological balance plays in our lives. We live in a society that is completely dependent on natural resources for survival, but we cannot preserve them. There are many phenomena that contribute to an imbalance. So, how can we work to maintain ecological balance?
There are some ways to help make the world a more ecologically balanced place; 

1. Maintaining the Ecological Balance in Ecosystems 

Sewage and agricultural runoff can lead to the formation of algae in lakes and streams. The growth of algae blocks sunlight, depletes oxygen in the water and kills the animals in it. According to the World Institute for Environmental Research, reducing pollution from some critical sources, such as streets and farms, will help maintain the balance of the ecosystem. 

Overfishing and destruction creates a loss of biodiversity. Excessive use or destruction of these habitats threatens the species with extinction. John Defterios, marine ecologist and author, writes that efforts to use natural resources sustainably will help preserve and maintain ecological balance. 

2. Achieving Ecological Balance by Controlling the Population

Between 1927 and 1987, world population raised to 5 Billion. In 1999, the total population reached 6 Billion, and by 2050, it is estimated that about 9 Billion people will live on Earth. Just like too many fish polluting your aquarium, too many people on the planet can disturb the ecological balance. Controlling the birth rate through family planning will reduce the burden on the ecosystem by reducing the rate at which people consume natural resources such as food and water.

Taking Action to Restore Balance

The ecological balance is delicate and the Earth's ecosystems are fragile. The goal of an ecological balance is to preserve as many species as possible while avoiding extinction. People should take care of the natural world that they live in by recycling more, using less electricity and water and reducing pollution that damages wildlife habitats.

Holistic ecological balance is achieved in the absence of any negative impact on the planet. This means that each organism must have enough resources to survive and reproduce. 

To maintain the balance that keeps our planet healthy, we have to work together - for ourselves and for future generations... Please share this blog post so that more and more people can join us on this journey!