Nature is...
The word “nature” belongs to the Old Russian language and consists of two parts - the prefix “pri” and the root “genus”.
In ancient Russian mythology, a deity named Rod is mentioned, who personified the unity of people belonging to the same clan. It was this god who created such words as birth, childbirth, woman in labor, newborn, etc.
Also, nature in colloquial language often means natural habitat. For example: birds living in natural conditions live longer than their relatives tamed by humans.
Children begin to study nature (find out what it is) in the elementary grades of school during the lesson “The World Around us.” A synonym for the term “nature” is the word “ nature ”.
It follows that nature is everything that exists on its own, in a natural way, which has not been touched by the hand of man. This is the external, material world, in front of which a person is powerless, but can still influence it.
For example, people are unable to control rainfall, earthquakes, wind, etc. But they can easily plant trees, creating entire parks, or, conversely, destroy an entire forest.
To simplify the definition completely, nature is the natural shell of the earth (what is also called the biosphere), which includes:
- bodies of water (oceans, seas, lakes, rivers);
- vegetation (flora);
- fauna (fauna);
- mountains, rocks, caves, sand, earth, deserts;
- weather and climate.
By the way, man himself is also part of nature. But what he invented and created is no longer there.
For example, a house built of wood is not a natural object, although it consists of natural material.
The study of the natural world is carried out by many sciences, which are called natural: physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and others.
Microorganisms
Microorganisms
Microorganisms can rightfully be considered the first living beings on the planet. They originated long before the appearance of humanity and even animals. This is the longest living form of life.
Microorganisms originated millions of years BC, however, having come such a long way, they are still the most common forms of life. They can be found in every ecosystem. Microorganisms are microscopic single-celled creatures found absolutely everywhere. They cannot be seen with the naked eye, but a microscope is used to study them. Among the wide variety are bacteria, fungi and viruses.
The survival rate of microorganisms is simply colossal - they do not care about almost all environmental conditions. These creatures can be found in hard rocks. The main feature of microorganisms is intensive reproduction in favorable conditions. Genes are transmitted horizontally - they do not need to pass on genetic data to descendants to spread their influence.
Development occurs thanks to other living beings. This factor is decisive in any habitat. Some types of microorganisms survive even in the vacuum of space.
There are dangerous and beneficial microorganisms. Thanks to the latter, life on the planet develops, but the harmful ones only worsen the situation, destroying everything around. Sometimes harmful microorganisms are beneficial - some viruses can cure serious illnesses in people.
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Natural phenomena
Metamorphoses are also called natural phenomena (what is this?). For example, in the spring leaves grow on trees, and in the fall they fall off. After the rain, a rainbow appears in the sky and mushrooms grow. In winter it snows, together with the wind forming a blizzard or blizzard.
All this and much more are natural phenomena, the totality of which is divided into classes :
- by origin (climatic, cosmic, geological, biogeochemical, geomorphological) - tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, precipitation, lightning, solar and lunar eclipses, etc.;
- by duration (instant, short-term, long-term) - volcanic eruption, icicles, drying out of a river bed, etc.;
- by regularity of action (daily and seasonal) - sunrise, bud opening;
- by scale of distribution;
- by the nature of the impact (favorable, unfavorable). For example, natural disasters can be very destructive - floods, tornadoes, etc.
Lithosphere
Lithosphere
Planet Earth itself is considered an inanimate object. However, it is the only planet studied so far on which life exists in the form in which we see it. The planet arose billions of years ago thanks to a fortunate coincidence; its current position in the solar system ensures the comfortable existence of organisms on its territory.
The structure of the earth is not only its outer shell. In the very center there is a core filled with red-hot metal compounds. On top of the core is the molten mantle, its layer is extremely thick, much larger than the soil layer. Evolutionary processes affected not only living nature, continents constantly changed their position, mountains and oceans arose.
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At the moment, there are 6 continents, but long before the advent of humanity there was only one continent. The relief on each part of the planet is different, as are the climatic conditions. Each zone has its own characteristic features; it is home to certain species that are unique to it.
In addition, there is wealth in the depths of the Earth. Minerals make human life much easier, extending its duration and developing cities, countries and settlements.
What is a natural community
By interacting, objects of living and inanimate nature form natural communities.
Each participant influences others and experiences their influence on himself at the same time. Their coexistence is interconnected and beneficial for everyone .
Community members are adapted to its conditions and will not be able to live in another biocenosis (what is this?). In their environment they have every opportunity for a full existence. For example, marine life will not survive in a fresh body of water, and forest animals will not be able to live in the desert.
Each such system exists independently and does not require human help. On the contrary, human intervention only destroys these natural worlds.
What is an ecosystem
The totality of a natural community and habitat is called an ecosystem - translated from Greek house + association (biogeocenosis).
Example: different inhabitants live in a swamp: animals, insects, microorganisms, plants. Snakes eat frogs, frogs eat insects that breed in the thickets of plants in this place.
They all need water with a certain chemical composition, temperature, physical characteristics, etc. Remove at least one element from this chain, the rest will definitely feel it.
The sum of ecosystems represents the living shell of the earth - the biosphere .
Living and inanimate nature in an ecosystem are in the process of constant exchange of substances and energy. The stronger these connections, the more stable the system, and the longer it exists. The last factor implies a rich diversity of species of inhabitants.
And even if one of them disappears for some reason, then another, similar in origin, can take its place, which will ensure the safety of the entire biogeocenosis .
If large-scale changes in conditions occur in the system, then natural communities are replaced by others. For example, if you stop cultivating fields, cultivating them, and harvesting crops, then after a while trees will begin to grow in this place.
