ECOLOGY

In reality, the Earth’s Spheres are not existing as separate parts In reality, the Earth’s Spheres are not existing as separate parts. Instead, we find Ecosystems throughout our planet. Ecosystem – An environment where both living and non-living parts of an area interact as one natural unit. Ecosystems vary in size. They can be as small as a puddle or as large as the Earth itself. Any group of living and nonliving things interacting with each other can be considered as an ecosystem.

The living components of an ecosystem are known as the Biotic factors - organisms that interact and play a role in the environment of an ecosystem. Producers, consumers, decomposers, parasites, hosts, predators, herbivores, symbiants, pathogens are all functions that we will learn about later! The Physical and Chemical components of an ecosystem are called the Abiotic factors. They are of course, not alive, but are just as important. These factors include everything related to the Atmosphere, Geosphere, and Hydrosphere

Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Rock Cycle Food Webs Over the course of billions of years, natural processes have allowed a wide variety of ecosystems to develop and thrive on only one planet in The Solar System – ours!.... In fact, this is the only reason you are here reading this….. How lucky are we? It all has to do with the various ways in which energy of all types is allowed to work throughout our planet in many ways: Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Rock Cycle Food Webs We will soon review these cycles to point out exactly how each plays a role on our Earth. The energy cycle within biomes, habitats, and ecosystems determines which populations survive and which die. All living things need energy. Ultimately, the sun is the source of all energy in an ecosystem. Within each ecosystem, there are habitats which may also vary in size. A Habitat is the place where a population lives. A Population is a group of living organisms of the same kind living in the same place at the same time. All of the populations interact and form a Community. The community of living things interacts with the non-living world around it to form the ecosystem. The habitat must supply the needs of organisms, such as food, water, temperature, oxygen, and minerals. If the population's needs are not met, it will move to a better habitat.

Biomes are ecosystems where several habitats intersect Biomes are ecosystems where several habitats intersect. The Earth itself is one large biome. Areas with similar conditions are divided into individual biomes. Some major biomes include: Can you identify any of these biomes? Biodiversity is what all of these areas have in common. This means that there is a wide variety of unique organisms living together in Co-Habitation