ECOSYSTEMS

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. These components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. As ecosystems are defined by the network of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment, they can come in any size but usually encompass specific, limited spaces (although it is sometimes said that the entire planet is an ecosystem).

The elements in an ecosystemAn ecosystem is made up of a specific area and the living creatures that live there.

• .The biocenosis is the group of living elements in an ecosystems (animals, plants, algea and fungi) 
• e biotope is thegroup of non-living elements in an ecosystem ( soil, air, water, temperature, wind, humidi, and so on.)

Relationships between living creatures in an Ecosystem

All living creatures in an ecosystem interrelate to eat,protect themselves, reproduce, etc. Food relationships are very important in an ecosystem because living creatures eat one another. They form food chains.
Any change in an ecosystem affects all the luving creatures because they are interrelated.

Relationships between living creatures and their habitat in Ecosystems

Living creeatures live in a different places on the Earth. Any change in the habitataffects the living crearures in the ecosystem.
The living crearures in an ecosystem also influence their habitat.

Change in Ecosystems

The changes may be natural or they may be a result of human actions. They tend to become more complicated with time. Many different animals and plants appear over the years. The ecosystems become more stable.

Ecosystem stability

An ecosystem is stable when its living creatures, soil, temperature,etc. can change without the risk of the ecosystem disappearing.

Ecosystems develop

An ecosystem can develop gradually in a place where previously there was no life. An ecosystem of one kind can change into another kind.

1.  Small plants, like moss, appear in stony area where there is no vegetation.
2. Several types of grass and animals, like worms, beetles, mice and birds star to appear. The result is pasture.
3. Thicket is a dense growth of bushes and shrubs. The soil becomes richer. It supports more living catures.
4. Forest. Has grasses, bushes, trees and animals.

An ecosystem takes many years to develop. The four steps above could take more than 200 years.

People change ecosystems

• Cutting down trees for wood to make paper.
• Building hydroelectric power plants to generate electricity from water.
• Putting up overhead electrical cables to distribute electricity.
• Discharging contaminants into the atmosphere rivers and the sea.

Protecting Nature:

Reforestation, planting trees, banning hunting certain animals. All there actions protect nature.

-Some areas are designated nature reserves.