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Ecosystems

Definition

Ecosystems are self-sustaining communities of living organisms and their physical environment. They consist of both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components that interact with each other.

Analogy

Think of an ecosystem as a giant puzzle, where each piece represents a different organism or element in the environment. Just like how every piece is essential to complete the puzzle, every organism and component plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance and functioning of an ecosystem.

Related terms

Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of species and ecosystems on Earth. It encompasses all forms of life, from plants and animals to microorganisms, and is important for maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Trophic Levels: Trophic levels represent the different feeding positions within a food chain or food web. They show how energy flows through an ecosystem, starting from producers (plants) to consumers (herbivores, carnivores), decomposers, etc.

Ecological Succession: Ecological succession refers to the gradual change in species composition over time in an ecosystem. It occurs due to natural disturbances or human activities and leads to the development of more complex communities.