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How do we classify ecosystems?
Living things
Prairie
ecosystems are large,
flat areas. The non-living
things include soil and often
rivers or lakes. There are a
variety of living things. Grasses
and shrubs grow there, so
prairies are sometimes called
grasslands or savannahs.
Zebras, rabbits and owls, and
insects such as grasshoppers
and ants, are commonly found
there.
Woodland
ecosystems
can be flat or hilly. They
sometimes have mountains
and valleys. There are non-
living things such as soil
and rocks, rivers or streams
and also dead leaves and
branches. Among the living
things, there are plants such
as trees and shrubs. Many
animals live here: snakes,
squirrels, birds, and insects
such as beetles and ants.
Coast
ecosystems have
non-living things, such as
the land and water along
the coast, beaches, cliffs,
dunes and rock pools. Many
different living things are
found there: plants such as
seaweed and dune grasses,
and animals such as seagulls,
fish and starfish.
Pond
ecosystems are small areas of
water and their surrounding land. The
water, the soil or sand at the bottom of
the pond and the banks of the pond are
non-living things. Aquatic plants such as
water lilies, and animals such as ducks,
turtles, pond skaters and dragonflies are
found in this ecosystem.
1
Play a game with a partner.
a)
Describe the physical environment of an ecosystem, the biotope.
The biotope has ... and...
b)
Name the ecosystem.
G
E T T I N G S T A R T E D
There are many types of ecosystems. To classify them,
we examine their physical environment.
More than half of the
animals on Earth live in
rainforest ecosystems! In
fact, scientists have
still not identi ed all the
plant and animal species
that live there.
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