The Importance of water for life It can be analyzed from different settings and at different biological scales. From the relevance of the water cycle in the correct balance of ecosystems, as well as its value as a source of natural resources for human beings, the precious "blue gold" plays a really important role in the development of life on Earth. Protecting, respecting and conserving each and every one of the water sources that exist on the planet is a task that we must fulfill, with the aim of maintaining the survival of both human beings and the rest of the living organisms that populate the Earth. .
If you want to know exactly why is water important for living thingsIn this Green Ecologist article you will find all the details.
What is water
Water is the most abundant component in cells and organisms. Likewise, on planet Earth it represents 71% of its total surface. To understand why water is so important and fundamental for the development and survival of all living organisms, it is necessary to analyze its physicochemical properties:
- Solvent action.
- Electric conductivity.
- Cohesion force between its molecules and adhesion.
- Capillarity.
- High surface tension.
- High specific heat.
Thanks to the structure and polarity of water (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom), water molecules have a lot of affinity for each other and are capable of cohesion with each other, thus favoring the high surface tension of water, its high point of boiling, its heat of vaporization and the specific. In turn, the surface tension makes it possible for the water to move by capillarity upwards, from the soil, towards the plants, subsequently becoming part of the chemical composition of different organisms.
To delve deeper into what is and why is water important for living beingsWe recommend you take a look at this other post on Why water is a renewable resource but limited and scarce.
Why is water important for living things - summary
As we know, water is essential for life. As we have seen in the previous section, the physical-chemical properties of water are responsible for the importance of water for living beings, and for the planet as a whole, necessary to guarantee its biological balances and survival. More specifically, we could say that water is important for:
- The structure and function of cells.
- The growth and development of the vital functions of living beings.
- The correct balance of ecosystems, both aquatic, terrestrial and aerial.
- The health and well-being of the human being.
The importance of water in cells
About 75% to 85% of the weight of a cell is water and many types of cells depend on a water or aqueous extracellular medium. In this context, the property of water as a universal solvent is relevant for the formation of cell membranes and other associated organelles.
Furthermore, it highlights the fact that all cells inhabit water environments, either submerged or bathed in fluids of other living organisms, or distributed directly in the water itself (either in an ocean, lake, river, etc.). For this reason, the role that water molecules play in the structure and functioning of cells is fundamental, being considered, together with carbon, the most important chemical elements in the cell development.
To learn more about cells, you can read these other articles on the Difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell and the Similarity and difference between animal and plant cell.
Importance of water for living beings and ecosystems
The Importance of water for life it is reflected in the need that living beings and the planet's ecosystems have for it to exist. The presence of natural or artificial sources of water are synonymous with life, since from them comes the water that supplies animals, plants and other living organisms, incorporating water molecules into their physiology to grow and survive. In addition, many living beings have developed different physiological adaptations to survive in situations of severe droughts and prolonged water stress, such as latent periods and the formation of spores and other resistance structures that allow some invertebrate animals, plant seeds, fungi and bacteria.
Regarding ecosystems, both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are closely related to the water cycle and the presence of water resources, since both the soil and the water bodies depend on it for their ecological balance.
Importance of water for humans
Human beings have a close relationship with water since the beginning of our existence, and like our own biological evolution, this relationship with water has evolved throughout history and civilizations. At present, the integral management of the water that we make use of must be a responsible, equitable, fair and sustainable management, since "blue gold" is increasingly scarce and difficult to access.
Human beings need water to meet our vital needs of food and hygiene, but we also need it to obtain basic resources, such as fishing, gallery or riverbank forests and irrigated crops, as well as in industrial and urbanized areas. It also highlights the importance of water for human beings, taking into account the evacuation and treatment of waste.
Here you can learn more about the Importance of water for the planet and the human being and, in addition, we recommend that once you understand well why water is of vital importance to living thingsTake a look at this other post on Water Conservation: importance and techniques.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why is water important for living things?We recommend that you enter our Nature Curiosities category.
Bibliography- Becker, W., Kleinsmith, L. & Hardin, J. (2006) The world of the cell. Editorial Pearson, 6th edition, pp: 19-44.
- United Nations Environment Program (2004). GEO: Global Environment Outlook, environment for development. Volume IV, pp: 130-150.
