Natural Science Unit 5. Ecosystems

1. ELEMENTS OF ECOSYSTEMS

An ecosystem includes all the living things and non-living things in a specific area and the interaction that occurs between them.

•  LIVING THINGS:
  • plants (flora)
  • animals (fauna)
  • other organisms, such as fungi and microorganisms.

Organisms in the same area form groups. Those that belong to the same species are called a population. Populations interact with each other and form a community.

•  NON-LIVING THINGS (Physical environment)
  • soil (rocks and minerals)
  • air
  • water
  • sunlight
  • temperature
  • climate   
   
• A habitat is the place where a plant or animal normally grows or lives.
  
    

2. THE EARTH'S TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

• TUNDRA:  
  

Tundra is the coldest ecosystem on Earth and it is also very dry. It is located in the land areas near the North Pole. Its main characteristic is the absence of trees.
Flora: lichens, mosses and some grasses.
Fauna: reindeers, caribou, arctic foxes, polar bears and white wolves.