Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that interact with each other in a specific environment.

Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, water, soil, air, and sunlight all work together as part of an ecosystem. Every organism depends on other parts of the ecosystem for food, shelter, water, or survival.

Ecosystems Overview

Ecosystems can be found almost everywhere on Earth. They can be very large, such as a rainforest or coral reef, or much smaller, such as a pond, wetland, or forest.

Each ecosystem contains a unique combination of plants, animals, climate, and physical features. These conditions determine which species can survive there and how they interact with one another.

Healthy ecosystems support a wide variety of life. When one part of an ecosystem changes, it can affect many other plants and animals that depend on it.

Animal Ecosystems

Continents, ecosystems, and habitats help us understand where animals live.

Most continents contain many countries, and each country contains many towns and cities. In a similar way, continents contain many different ecosystems, and each ecosystem contains many different habitats.

You can think of an ecosystem as a wildlife community or “town” where plants, animals, and other living things interact with each other and their environment.

A habitat is like a neighborhood within that town. It is the specific place where an animal lives and finds food, water, shelter, and space to survive.

For example, a forest ecosystem may contain many habitats, including the forest canopy, forest floor, streams, ponds, and tree cavities. Different animals may live in different habitats while sharing the same ecosystem.

Understanding continents, ecosystems, and habitats helps us learn why different animals are found in different parts of the world and how they depend on their environment to survive.