Ecosystem Definition
An ecosystem is a community of interacting organisms and their environment. For example, a forest with animals, plants, and a river.
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Ecosystems
Fun Facts
- Rainforest ecosystems only cover about 6% of the planet but produce about 40% of the oxygen we breathe.
- A small puddle with plants, bacteria, and water can be its own ecosystem.
- Some trees respond to seasonal changes in their ecosystem by losing leaves to conserve resources during the winter.
Why Do We Need To Know About Ecosystem
Studying ecosystems helps you see how all forms of life are connected and why it’s important to keep a wide variety of living things. Plants are a key part of ecosystems. They give food and shelter to different animals, showing why plant science is important for protecting nature.
When you learn about ecosystems, you also learn how humans can affect nature in good and bad ways. This includes controlling harmful species, fishing in a way that doesn’t harm the environment, and farming without causing pollution. Jobs in environmental science, studying the ocean, and farming science are important for keeping ecosystems healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out the Full Lesson on Ecosystems
In this lesson, we learn that:
- An ecosystem is a community of interacting organisms & their environment.
- Organisms only survive in an ecosystem when their specific needs are met.
- Newly introduced organisms can throw off the balance of an ecosystem.
- A healthy ecosystem has many different kinds of organisms.
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