dellecosistema

Dellecosistema (usually written dell'ecosistema) is the term used in Italian to denote the ecosystem as a unit of study. An ecosystem is a complex, dynamic network of living organisms—plants, animals, microorganisms—and their physical environment, interacting through the exchange of energy and matter. These interactions produce characteristic structures, functions, and patterns that define a particular environment.

Biotic components include producers, consumers, and decomposers, forming food webs and biogeochemical cycles. Abiotic factors such as climate, water, soil, and nutrients shape which organisms can live there and how they interact. Energy flows from primary producers through trophic levels, while elements like carbon and nitrogen cycle continually within and between the system and its surroundings.

Ecosystems vary in size and type, from forests and grasslands to rivers, lakes, and coastal seas. They are characterized by attributes such as productivity, biodiversity, connectivity, and resilience — the capacity to absorb disturbances and recover.

Ecosystem services are the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems, including food, clean water, flood mitigation, pollination, climate regulation, cultural and recreational values.

Human activities can alter ecosystems through habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change. Conservation and restoration efforts aim to maintain or restore ecosystem structure and function, often through protected areas, sustainable management of resources, habitat restoration, and policy measures. Studying ecosystems uses field observations, monitoring, modeling, and Geographic Information Systems to understand dynamics and guide decision-making.