Ecosystems lesson

The Ecosystems

​An ecosystem is made up of a variety of living things that coexist with their environment. Living things interact not only with one another but also with inanimate objects such as soil, water, and air. Ecosystems are made up of a range of living things and can be as small as your garden or as large as the ocean.

What is an Ecosystem?

​An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. Ecosystems contain biotic or living, parts, as well as abiotic factors, or nonliving parts. Biotic factors include plants, animals, and other organisms. An ecosystem includes soil, atmosphere, heat and light from the sun, water and living organisms. An ecosystem is an ecological community comprised of biological, physical, and chemical components, considered as a unit.

Types of Ecosystems

The major types of ecosystems are forest, desert, rain forest, grassland, tundra, savanna and mountain ecosystem.

The Sun Provides External Energy

​Every ecosystem needs outside energy, which is often provided by the sun. Producers, consumers, decomposers, and dead and inorganic materials are all necessary components of an ecosystem. Every ecosystem needs external energy, which is typically provided by the sun.

Multiple Choice

What is an ecosystem?

• All the nonliving components of an area

• All the organisms and nonliving components of an area

• All the organisms of an area

• None of these

Multiple Choice

Is the desert a type of ecosystem?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

What does biotic mean?

• Living

• Nonliving