ECOSYSTEMS

An ecosystem includes the living things in a given area interacting with each other and the non-
living things in that area. Ecosystems consist of biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are the
living things in an ecosystem, such as plants and animals. Abiotic factors are the non-living
things in an ecosystem, such as the sunlight, temperature, air and water. Biotic and abiotic
factors interact with each other in an ecosystem. The type of abiotic factors influence what type
of plants and animals can live in that ecosystem.

In a forest the biotic factors would be the animals and plants. Some examples would be bears,
coyotes, squirrels, foxes and deer. The abiotic factors would be the amount of sunlight that
comes into the forest because of trees. It would also be the temperature of the forest all year long
and how that changes throughout the year. Another abiotic factor would be the amount of water
available in the forest.

Ecosystems can change drastically, which would be a change that is quick and much different.
An example of this would be a forest fire. The animals would have to relocate to another
environment if their ecosystem was destroyed. There could be harmful changes such as animals
moving to different places if they do not have the resources to survive. If animals moved away
from a forest fire and went to where more people are, they could not survive. A forest fire can be
beneficial if they are not too intense. They clean the forest floor of debris and brush. They can
also bring more sunlight into the forest.

Everything that lives in our world changes over time. Humans change. Our bodies change.
Animals change. Plants change. Every living thing changes over time including ecosystems.
What an ecosystem looks like changes, and so does its composition. The composition of an
ecosystem describes everything Ecosystems can change gradually, which would be slow
changes. This could be that trees start to die. There are enough resources that animals could
survive, but if trees continued to die animals would have to relocate to another area. Changes to
an ecosystem can have so many effects on the animals and resources in it. It can also affect
humans because we rely on plants and animals to get our food. This is why it is important to try
and protect the ecosystems on our planet.