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Characteristics of the rural and urban ecosystem

In its origins, the human being was a nomadic being, that is, its lifestyle consisted of moving from one place to another, subsisting on hunting and gathering. However, during the Neolithic the human being began to form groups and settle in fixed places, replacing gathering and hunting with agriculture and livestock, which is known as sedentary lifestyle. Thus, this has been evolving, giving rise to different types of settlements and in turn modifying the characteristics of the environment, so that today we can differentiate between rural and urban ecosystems. Can you tell them apart? In AgroCorrn we tell you the characteristics of the rural and urban ecosystem so that you learn to differentiate them.

You may also be interested in: Artificial ecosystem: what it is and examples
Index
  1. Rural ecosystem: characteristics
  2. Rural ecosystem: advantages and disadvantages
  3. Urban ecosystem: characteristics
  4. Urban ecosystem: advantages and disadvantages

Rural ecosystem: characteristics

A rural ecosystem is an ecosystem that preserves a large part of its natural characteristics and, at the same time, has been modified and adapted by and for humans , such as towns and villages. People who live in these areas are mainly engaged in the primary sector , which includes agricultural, livestock and agricultural activities, while industrial activity is less important, being traditional and low-yielding. In addition, the machinery and tools used are usually rudimentary so, despite the need for more labor, the environment is hardly degraded or polluted.

The lifestyle in a rural environment is usually calmer, because the population density is lower, there is generally a greater family and social bond, and it is closer to nature.

It should be noted that the rural environment is currently facing a situation of depopulation due to the migration of its inhabitants to urban areas, generally young people in search of educational and work opportunities, which implies a decrease in the birth rate and with it, the consequent aging of the population.

Rural ecosystem: advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the rural ecosystem

The most characteristic advantages of the rural ecosystem affect in the first place the environment and nature, since as there is hardly any development of exploitation or industrial activities, it is not affected, favoring the maintenance of the environment , and the existence of diversity of species , both animals and vegetables.

As for the human being, it should be noted that the cost of living is lower, referring to the price of homes or products. On the other hand, the pace of life is calmer and it is not affected by the pollution characteristic of urban centers, so it presents a lower risk of suffering some types of diseases.

Disadvantages of the rural ecosystem

The disadvantages of the rural ecosystem refer to the reduced existence of both technological and economic resources, which hinders the development of the population and affects their quality of life, as well as the limited opportunities for education and employment , which forces its inhabitants to move or migrate.

Urban ecosystem: characteristics

An urban ecosystem is an ecosystem that has been notoriously affected by human activity and that barely preserves its natural characteristics, corresponding to urban centers and cities . It is in this type of ecosystem that most of the population is concentrated, dedicating itself mainly to the secondary and tertiary sector in which commercial, industrial and administrative activities are included, among others. In addition, the machinery, tools and processes are modern and industrialized, assuming this a greater consumption of resources and an increase in the degradation and contamination of the environment.

The lifestyle in an urban environment is hectic and is sometimes identified or related to stress, due to the high population density, its agglutination and obstructions in the movement, as for example happens in the cases of traffic. On the other hand, the population of the urban ecosystem is hardly related or has contact with the environment.

The urban ecosystem, unlike the rural one, is in the process of expansion due to its continuous overcrowding and demand by the population for educational and work opportunities and even when it comes to enjoying a greater variety and leisure options.

In the following articles we explain how society and technology affect the environment .

Urban ecosystem: advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the urban ecosystem

The advantages of the urban ecosystem refer to the opportunities that it offers at any level, there is already a high infrastructure development , which in turn leads to the creation of new jobs and, therefore, to a higher rate of employment .

Disadvantages of the urban ecosystem

Its disadvantages affect both the environment and humans. The environment is affected by the formation of garbage, the accumulation of waste, pollution from spills and emissions of industrial origin, noise pollution, the degradation of the environment and with it the loss of biodiversity . The human being is also affected by the levels of pollution , being able to suffer both diseases and stress situations, with the cost of living being higher.

If you want to read more articles similar to Characteristics of the rural and urban ecosystem , we recommend that you enter our Ecosystems category .

Maria Anderson
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Hello, I am a blogger specialized in environmental, health and scientific dissemination issues in general. The best way to define myself as a blogger is by reading my texts, so I encourage you to do so. Above all, if you are interested in staying up to date and reflecting on these issues, both on a practical and informative level.

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