Ecosystems

Earth is a series of connected ecosystems. Ecosystems are communities where living things, like plants, animals, and tiny organisms, interact with each other and their environment ( air, water, sunlight, and soil ). All these living and non-living things depend on each other to survive, and each ecosystem has its unique features and types of life. In every ecosystem, energy flows from the sun to plants, animals, and other organisms in a process known as the food chain. All these living and non-living things depend on each other to survive, and each ecosystem has its unique features and types of life. In every ecosystem, energy flows from the sun to plants, animals, and other organisms in a process known as the food chain. Forests, wetlands, prairies, and ponds support different species of plants, animals, and organisms. Native indigenous people lived and still live off of the local land, water, and air. They are living things in the ecosystem and work as producers, consumers, and decomposers. Plants and animals are producers who provide nutrients for consumers. Consumers include animals and people. Decomposers include animals and bacteria that break down plants and animal remains and turn them into nutrients in the topsoil. Producers, consumers, and decomposers produce Food Chains in the ecosystem. Everything relies on everything else. If insects begin to disappear or soil decomposers, the Food Chain breaks down, causing species to leave for more robust food chains or go extinct. Most people do not appreciate that they are at the top of the food chain. The more species and diversity there are in an ecosystem, the more robust it is. If species become extinct or migrate out of an ecosystem, the ecosystem will collapse. Today, coral reefs are believed to have the most incredible biodiversity of life, providing habitats for 25% of marine organisms. On land, tropical rainforests offer the largest ecosystem area in the canopy and forest floor. Draw a diagram of Nature’s Ecosystems.

The Marine ecosystems of the oceans and seas are the most extensive ecosystem in the world. They cover 70% of the Earth! Watch the wonder of the Living Sea to better appreciate the underwater life. The ecosystems of the living seas are the most under-explored of all ecosystems on Earth. Jacques Cousteau, a Frenchman, created an underwater diving suit in 1943 and spent four decades exploring the ocean and raising awareness for humans of the ecosystems fragility, yet importance to all life. Explore Cousteau’s inventions and work. Marine ecosystems host diverse creatures such as fish, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, jellyfish, plants, seaweed, and coral reefs!. Humans are beginning to understand that the Marine ecosystems of the oceans are important to life and responsive to changes in temperature and human-made materials like oil and plastics. Marine plants produce about 50% of the Earth’s oxygen through photosynthesis and support aquatic life and life on Earth by contributing oxygen to the planet’s atmosphere.
Oceans and waters play a crucial role in producing oxygen. With every breath you take, thank the oceans!

Become an Ocean Explorer!

The taiga is the world’s largest land ecosystem, covering vast areas across North America, Europe, and Asia. It is known for its sweeping wilderness, expansive vistas, and pine and spruce tree forests. These trees support animals such as wolves, moose, lynxes, bears, and fish. The taiga experiences the coldest temperature range, with lows of -88 degrees Fahrenheit and average highs of 88 degrees. Its climate of long winters with heavy snowfall but short summers with rising temperatures allows certain plants and animals to thrive and spread. Explore the Taiga Ecosystems. Research the indigenous people call the Taiga home.

Make a diagram of the different ethnic people living in the Taiga.

Grasslands are open areas filled with few trees and abundant grasses. They cover 40% of the land on the Earth. They can be tropical or temperate. Tropical grasslands or savannahs exist in South America, Africa, and India. Explore Tropical Grasslands. Tropical Grasslands provide habitats for elephants, lions, zebras, and other mammals. Temperate grasslands are found in North America, Eurasia, and Argentina. These ecosystems experience dry seasons but also have heavy rains that deliver moisture to support tall grasses. Antelope, bison, hyenas, and prairie dogs, bison, badgers, and antelopes, and birds find shelter and food in temperate grasslands. Explore Temperate Grasslands.

Make a chart of the different plants and animals of Temperate and tropical grasslands.

Tropical rainforests cover 7% of the land on our earth but provide habitat for over 50% of wildlife on Earth!! Scientists have discovered 3 million species in the Amazon Rainforest alone, but predict that rainforests worldwide might account for 50 million species. Rainforests get a lot of precipitation on the forest’s upper, middle, and lower floors, and different plants grow tall and thick. This lush landscape provides home to monkeys, frogs, colorful birds, indigenous peoples, and so much more! Explore Tropical Rainforests. Tropical rainforests are one of the world’s richest ecosystems but have been overtaken over the last century for forestry and mining. The Rainforest Alliance is working to support the rights of the local people as well as introduce regenerative agriculture. Draw a section of the tropical rainforest and include animals, plants, and people.

Temperate rainforests are usually near coasts, like in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and parts of New Zealand. While they receive significant rainfall, these forests are more relaxed in temperature than tropical rainforests. The trees in temperate rainforests can grow very tall, and you can find animals like deer, owls, and bears living here, as well as cougars (mountain lions), the top predators in temperate rainforests. The United States is home to the largest temperate rainforest, the [Tongass](. It features fjords, snowy peaks, and glaciers. They cover more than 6.5 million hectares of the Alaskan wilderness. They were initially harvested for forestry. The area has shifted to friendlier enterprises such as carbon sequestration, fishing, and tourism. It is also a part of an Orca and Salmon conservation project.

Explore Temperate Rainforests. **Make a drawing of the critical elements of the Temperate Rainforest and label them!

Vast, arid, and stretching for miles, deserts exist on every continent on Earth and cover one-fifth of the world’s surface. They are dry and sandy and receive very little rainfall. They can be hot, like the Sahara Desert in Africa, or cold, like the Gobi Desert in Asia. They have extreme temperature changes between day and night (ranging from 120 degrees Fahrenheit hot to -1 degree cold), making Desert ecosystems challenging to explore. Deserts may look empty with lots of sand and few plants, but they are full of unique animals and plants that have learned to live in challenging conditions. Cacti and animals, like camels, scorpions, fennec foxes, and lizards, survive as they adapt to live with little water. Indigenous people adapted to life in the desert across many continents. One billion humans, or one-sixth of the world’s population, call the desert home!!! Take a moment and explore the Desert Biome

Draw a world map showing the desert ecosystems in our world. Write a short paragraph about the changes you and your family would have to make to adapt to living in the desert!

The tundra is a cold, treeless ecosystem found in North America (Alaska and northern Canada), Europe (Scandinavia), and Asia (Russia). It is known as the Arctic Tundra, and high mountain areas are known as the Alpine Tundra. The ground is often frozen, so only tough plants like mosses and small shrubs can grow here; these plants can survive with minimal sunlight and nutrients during the short growing season. Winters are frigid, and summers are very short. Animals like polar bears, reindeer, and arctic foxes live in the tundra. They have thick fur or other adaptations to stay warm in this challenging environment.

Freshwater ecosystems are places like rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and ponds where the water is not salty. You can find freshwater ecosystems almost everywhere. Lentic, or slow-moving water, includes pools, ponds, and lakes. Lotic are faster-moving waters like tributaries, streams, and rivers. Wetlands are saturated areas. These habitats support many fish species like trout and catfish, amphibians like frogs and turtles, and insects and birds. These ecosystems provide clean water for drinking, agriculture, and industry. Freshwater plants and animals have unique ways to adapt and survive in water that moves or stays still. Freshwater in our rivers and lakes is our primary source of drinking water in the world! Preserving freshwater ecosystems is critical for all of life on Earth.

How can we conserve freshwater ecosystems? Make a list of things you can do to help conserve our freshwater ecosystems.

You may not know it, but you live in an ecosystem! Your community, family, and friends are part of your ecosystem. Your family tree of relatives and ancestors is a multigenerational ecosystem passed down through generations of DNA sharing! Over centuries, Nature has developed regenerative ecosystems in the soil, in flora and fauna, on land, in the air, and the water right where you live to support your life!

*Make a diagram that shares your ecosystem of family, friends, animals, and plants. Include abiotic and biotic contributors! *