- Published: September 18, 2022
- Updated: September 18, 2022
- University / College: The Australian National University
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 22
Ecological Niche and Biodiversity
Ecological niche is a term used to describe the position of a species within an ecosystem. It, therefore, describes both the ecological role of the species in the ecosystem and the range of conditions necessary for the persistence of the species. It subsumes all of the interactions between the species and the biotic and abiotic environments (Alcamo, 1998).
Ecological niche relates the effects that the environment has on species and the effects the species has on environment. It describes how an organism responds to the distribution of resources and competitors and how it, in turn, alters those factors. Biodiversity, on the other hand, is the variation of life forms and species within a given ecosystem (Spicer, 2009) If the need for biodiversity is not met there will be an imbalance on the environment.
Environmental Impact
Mineral and Energy Resources
The extraction of minerals has negative impacts on the environment in that it destroys the natural beauty of the environment. Extraction of minerals leaves behind large pits that act as water collection points which turn out to be breeding grounds for disease-causing organisms according to Spicer (2009). Also during mining, there is a lot of pollution from dust and bad smell. Energy resources may pollute the environment like it was the case in oil mining by the BP Company.
Meat Production
Meat production involves the rearing of animals and subsequent slaughter. The waste products from the animals if not dumped correctly leads to pollution of the environment. The slaughterhouses produce an awful smell that is not friendly to the environment.
Aquaculture
The environmental impact of aquaculture is the awful smell emanating from the fish ponds leading to air pollution. But the fish ponds create a cooling atmosphere in the neighborhood.
