1. Ecosystem and You

Hey readers ! Welcome to the VOICEofप्रकृति :)
                                             (read : Voice of Prakriti)

Without further ado - lets talk about Ecosystems. 

To put it simply, when you look around you - you see and feel many things. You feel the warmth of sunshine, the softness of sand underneath your feet, the wind blowing hair away from your face. You see bright pink flowers pop against the paleness of the cloudy blue sky, lush greens, bees buzzing, something silently slithering by - minding its own business, maybe a puddle of muddy water. 

What I described are basically the two basic parts of an ecosystem - living and non living.
Flowers, bees, grass, worms or basically any living organism (including you) are called biotic components.  
Air, sun, water, soil are all non living parts of an ecosystem, and we will call them abiotic components. 

The scientific definition of Ecosystem would be put as -
dynamic and constantly changing systems, influenced by biotic (living organisms) and abiotic factors (physical and chemical environment), and human activities.

An ecosystem can vary in size and scale, ranging from small ecosystems like that puddle of muddy water or a tree; to large-scale ecosystems like an entire forest or a marine ecosystem (life in seas and oceans).

However, my previous example of an ecosystem cannot be considered the reality always. Our current world is a slightly different version. Our living conditions have modified the old ecosystem into a different landscape altogether. Therefore, ecosystems can also include both natural and human-altered environments, such as urban ecosystems or agricultural landscapes.

So let's describe our ecosystem. 

When you look around - the sky is lined with buildings and skyscrapers. The sky is occasionally dotted with planes flying overhead. Concrete roads, vehicles moving by left and right. Air feels heavy with smoke, sweat plastered on your forehead. A nearby ditch with sewage and trash, flies buzzing around - an unwelcome sight. 

I am quite sure the feelings associated with these two different ecosystems were different. One must've felt welcoming, one must've felt uncomfortable. We do not want the second ecosystem to become our new normal. We want to feel healthy, vigor, thankful for existence - not tolerating every second of life, fighting diseases and feeling a sense of dystopia. 

We are all victims of industrialization and economic development. But does that mean we have to give up our beautiful world (the very reason we are alive, btw.) ? 
Now let me paint a final picture of an ecosystem. 
When you look around - pretty stone and glass buildings, widely spaced roads, yet there are trees and flowers bursting from every corner. Dustbins placed methodically, waste segregated. A canopy of trees surround the road as you drive by in your vehicle. The wind blows faintly, tiny leaves falling on you as you drive along in planned urban roads and controlled traffic. Metro trains glide efortlessly overhead. The ditch has been converted into a stream. No litter. No stench. 

Do you know the only thing holding us back from making this a reality? Awareness. 

Awareness—that you, too, are part of an ecosystem.

Imagine if only a group of people followed simple rules of cleaning up their own mess. Your actions matter. Everybody's collective actions and decisions can make such a powerful difference that they can shape your entire life !

Drop by drop fills an ocean. One person not willing to litter the roadside vs. a thousand people not willing to litter - can you see the difference ? Whether you want a disease-infested ditch or an opportunity for both economic growth and natural recreation; is TOTALLY your choice, dear readers. 

 
And on that note, I'll see you next time, with a topic that many may not be aware of - Trophic levels.