ECOSYSTEMS

Biome
A biome is a type of ecosystem.  It refers to many unique ecosystems that share certain common characteristics.

Biosphere
The largest possible ecosystem is a biosphere.  It includes every organism and species on earth, combining all of the planet's individual ecosystems.

Biotic Communities
The living organisms in a certain area form the biotic community.

Climate
The climate of an area is the typical weather patterns it experiences.

Deserts
A desert is a type of ecosystem fitting under the category of biome.  Deserts are extremely dry, and their unique conditions cause highly different plant and animal life to exist.

Habitat
A habitat is a more permanent ecosystem that has stabilized and reached dynamic equilibrium.

Savanna
A savanna is a grassland that is greatly lacking in moisture.  Often, the area has a few trees throughout the grassy areas.

Species
A group of related living organisms is known as a species.  The members of the species must share physical traits and interbreed.

Studying Ecosystems
The ways to study ecosystems have been broken down into the holistic and meristic approaches.

The Ecosystem
An ecosystem relates the biotic and abiotic elements of a certain area and the relationships between them.

Tropical Rain Forests
Topical rain forests contain extremely diverse species and a highly productive community.

Tundra
A tundra is a type of ecosystem where the climate is highly stressed.  It is usually very difficult for any living organism to survive in a tundra.