Species composition

“Species composition is defined as the number of different species present in an ecosystem, as well as the relative abundance of each of those species,” according to the National Wildlife Federation.

When all of the species present are equally abundant in the area, the level of diversity is at its highest. There are two components of species diversity: genetic diversity and geographic diversity.

Species richness is defined as the number of different species that exist in an ecosystem or ecosystem community. Tropical areas have greater species richness because the climate is conducive to the survival of a large number of species in these areas.
Species homogeneity: Individuals of each of those species were counted and their relative abundance was calculated. A species is said to have high evenness if the number of individuals within a species remains relatively constant across communities. Conversely, a species is said to have low evenness if the number of individuals varies from one species to another across communities. A high degree of evenness leads to a greater degree of specific diversity.

In an ecosystem, it is possible to have a high species richness but a low species evenness due to a variety of factors.

As an illustration:

In a forest, there may be a large number of different species (high species richness), but there may only be a few members of each species in the forest (low species diversity) (low species evenness)

When it comes to plant species, a forest may have only a few (low species richness), but a large number of each species (high species abundance) (high species evenness)

The Importance of Biological Diversity

It takes a diverse and balanced number of species to keep an ecosystem in balance, and this is achieved in a healthy ecosystem. All of the species in an ecosystem are dependent on one another, either directly or indirectly. It is therefore critical to maintain a high level of species diversity in order to create an ecosystem that is more efficient, productive, and long-lasting.

Ecosystems with greater diversity tend to be more productive. The ecosystem that supports a large number of producer species, for example, will produce a large amount of biomass that will support a larger number of consumer species.
An increase in the diversity and productivity of species makes an ecosystem more sustainable and stable.
The greater the diversity of an ecosystem, the greater its ability to withstand environmental stresses such as droughts or invasive species infestations.
The diversity of species in an ecosystem makes it more resilient to natural disasters.

In communities with a diverse range of species, each species can make use of a different proportion of the resources available to them, depending on their needs. Plants with smaller roots, for example, can absorb water and minerals from shallow soil, whereas plants with deeper roots can tap into deeper soil, for example.

The survival of mankind is dependent on a rich diversity of species.
It is well known that healthy biodiversity provides numerous benefits such as nutrients storage and recycling, soil formation and erosion prevention, absorption of harmful gases, climate stability and many others.
Nature provides humans with a variety of products such as fruits, cereals, meat, wood, fibre, raisins, dyes, medicine, antibiotics, and so on.
Photosynthesis in the Amazon forest is estimated to contribute to the production of 20 percent of the total oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere.
Pollinators, symbiotic relationships, decomposers, all of these species play a specific and irreplaceable role in the ecosystem.
Large-scale interactions among organisms, such as those found in the food web, are made possible by diversity in large numbers.
Bacteria and plants have a critical relationship in the nitrogen cycle, and earthworms play a role in improving soil fertility.

Each species contributes significantly to the functioning of an ecosystem. The “ecological niche” that a species occupies within its ecosystem is referred to as its ecological function. Species can be divided into two categories: generalist species and specialist species.

Generalist species: They occupy a wide range of ecological niches. These creatures can live in a variety of environments and eat a variety of foods. They are able to thrive in environments that are constantly changing in nature. Cockroaches, rats, mice, flies, white-tailed deer, raccoons, humans, and so on are examples of pests.

Examples of ecosystems that have a high level of Species Diversity

Rainforests of the tropics: They are home to more than half of the world’s species. There are approximately 5-10 million insect species on the planet. Tropical regions are home to nearly half of the world’s 2,75,000 flowering plant species, accounting for 40% of the total. Tropical forests are home to 30 percent of the world’s bird species population. The abundance of species in tropical forests is largely due to the relatively constant environmental conditions that prevail there.
Coral reefs are a type of reef that is found in the ocean. Colonies of tiny coral animals are responsible for the creation of the large coral reef ecosystem. Because of the clarity of the water in coral reef systems, sunlight can penetrate deep into the water, resulting in a high level of photosynthesis in the algae that live within the coral’s structure. The accumulation of species richness is a result of adaptation to various disturbances and niche specialisation.

Located off the coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, covering 349,000 kilometers2. About 400 species of coral, 1500 species of fish, 4000 species of molluscs, and six species of turtles can be found there, among other things. It serves as a breeding ground for approximately 250 different bird species. It only covers 0.1 percent of the ocean’s surface area, but it contains approximately 8% of the world’s fish species. There are thousands of species that have yet to be discovered and described, and this number is growing every day.

Conclusion

Species composition is defined as the number of different species present in an ecosystem, as well as the relative abundance of each of those species. All of the species in an ecosystem are dependent on one another, either directly or indirectly. It is therefore critical to maintain a high level of species diversity in order to create an ecosystem that is more efficient, productive, and long-lasting. Ecosystems with greater diversity tend to be more productive. The ecosystem that supports a large number of producer species, for example, will produce a large amount of biomass that will support a larger number of consumer species.