Ecosystem Is a Living Community of Plant and Animals

An ecosystem is a living community of plant and animals sharing an environment with non-living elements such as climate and soil.

Ecosystems exist on a variety of scales. An example of a small scale ecosystem (micro) is a pond. A medium scale ecosystem (messo) could be a forest. The tropical rainforest is an example of a very large ecosystem (biome).

Sunlight is the main source of energy. This allows plants to convert energy by photosynthesis. This provides food for some animals, birds and fish. These are called Herbivores. The other animals eat the animals that have eaten the plants. These are Carnivores. This process is called the FOOD CHAIN.

The World has many different ecosystems. Each one has its own climate, soil, plants and animals. Very few ecosystems are natural today because of human activities. More ecosystems are under threat than ever before and need protecting

The billions of species on our planet, including humans, interact with one another in many ways. These interactions among and between species are what define ecosystems. Ecosystems in turn, provide many "services" from which humans benefit. Ecosystem services are the transformation of a set of natural assets (soil, plants and animals, air and water) into things that we value. For example, when fungi, worms and bacteria transform the raw "ingredients" of sunlight, carbon and nitrogen into fertile soil this transformation is an ecosystem service. However, if we allow natural assets to decline, so do the benefits. Conversely, if we look after and maintain our natural assets, we will benefit from greater returns.

Experts currently recognize four categories of ecosystem services.[1] The following lists represent samples of each:

Provisioning services

* food (including seafood and game), crops, wild foods, and spices

* water

* minerals (including diatomite)

* pharmaceuticals, biochemicals, and industrial products

* energy (hydropower, biomass fuels)

Regulating services

* carbon sequestration and climate regulation

* waste decomposition and detoxification

* purification of water and air

* crop pollination

* pest and disease control

Supporting services

* nutrient dispersal and cycling

* seed dispersal

* Primary production

Cultural services

* cultural,