Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and bacteria) interacting with their environment (air, water, soil).

The living parts of an ecosystem are called biotic factors.

The non-living parts of an ecosystem are called abiotic factors.

Plants need sunlight, water, air, and nutrients from the soil to survive.

Algae produce oxygen and serve as a food source for many aquatic organisms.

Bacteria help decompose dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Balance in an ecosystem means that all living and non-living parts work together to support life.

If one part of an ecosystem is removed, it can disrupt the balance and affect other parts.

A food chain shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

A producer is an organism that makes its own food, like plants and algae.