An Ecosystem describes a specific area where the organisms (living things and non-living things) interact together as a unit. It can be very small like a swiming pool with water or it can be so big as a desert or an ocean. Each ecosystem is different and each each individual plant, animal or non-living thing is important to the rest of the components of this ecosystem.
- All living organisms need millions of other living organisms to survive. The sun, soil, water, air, minerals, rocks, animals and plants need each others.
- The sun provides the energy needed by ecosystems. Plants take this energy and use photosynthesis to make their own food (energy). Nutrients in the soil, the air, and water also play a part in keeping an ecosystem thriving and in balance.
A Biome is the name to describe a large group of similar ecosystems. Biomes have similar weather, rainfall, animals, and plants. There are a number of biomes on planet Earth. See the map of the world biomes below.
Now we are going to talk about them. Click on the biomes below to learn more about each one.
Land Biomes
Desert
Grasslands
Savanna
Tundra
Tropical Rainforest
Temperate Forest
Taiga Forest
Aquatic Biomes
Marine
Freshwater
Coral Reef
Humans and the Ecosystem
Humans have adversely affected many ecosystems and biomes throughout the world. Cutting down trees, developing land, growing crops, burning fossil fuels, overfishing, and overhunting are just some of the ways that we have upset the balance of nature.
Information obtained from http://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/world_biomes.php
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