Understanding Ecosystems
Think of an ecosystem as nature's neighbourhood - it's where plants and animals live together and interact with everything around them, including soil, atmosphere, and solar energy. It's like a giant web where everything is connected!
The whole system works brilliantly together. Solar radiation powers photosynthesis in plants, rain provides essential water, and soil delivers nutrients through plant roots. When ecosystems are really massive, like entire rainforests or deserts, we call them biomes.
A natural ecosystem is one that humans haven't messed about with - it's nature doing its own thing perfectly. The environment itself is split into two parts: the non-living bits (rocks, soil, air) and the living community (all the creatures, including us).
Quick Tip: Remember that ecosystems are all about relationships - nothing survives alone in nature!