# data[].attributes.headline
The biotic components of an ecosystem are the life forms that inhabit it. The life forms of an ecosystem aid in the transfer and cycle of energy.

# data[].attributes.subject
The biotic components of an ecosystem are the life forms that inhabit it. The life forms of an ecosystem aid in the transfer and cycle of energy.

# data[].attributes.headline
Abiotic components of an ecosystem consist of the nonorganic aspects of the environment that determine what life forms can thrive.

# data[].attributes.subject
Abiotic components of an ecosystem consist of the nonorganic aspects of the environment that determine what life forms can thrive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Studying and learning how to understand the ecosystem for kids is a hard thing to do. Ecosystem is a big word that can be intimidating for children.

An ecosystem is short for ecological systems. Simply put an ecosystem is all the animals and other living things in a specific area. This can include plants, micro organism, large and small animals and birds among other things.

All of the living things interact with each other and with their non-living environment in an ecosystem.

For kids it may be hard to understand the basic concept of how ecosystems work. It is a good idea to help children get a better understanding of ecosystems by playing games and doing crafts and models to illustrate the concept.

Activities That Illustrate the Ecosystem For Kids

One of the best ways to help children to get a better idea about the different types of ecosystem is by doing models of miniature ecosystems that they may be familiar with. Building small ecosystem models is a great activity to help build understanding of ecosystems.

Miniature ecosystem models are fairly easy to make and can be used to demonstrate a variety of ecosystems for kids, including:

The desert of Africa, the Middle East or the California and Arizona area

A Tropical Savannah as seen in Africa

A Tropical Rainforest such as in Brazil

A Grasslands area that would be present in the plains states such as Oklahoma

A Deciduous forest like what grows on the East Coast and in the Northern states

Another benefit to demonstrating an ecosystem for kids is by using miniature models is that it is a great way to teach geography as well.

Here are a few more great ideas for helping kids to understand the ecosystem.

Visit a local botanical garden. Botanical gardens grow a wide range of plants from all over the world. This is a great way to learn about what plants are found in different ecosystems and how they all relate to each other.

Do a study on which animals belong in certain ecosystems. For younger children you can do some role playing and allow the children to take on the role of a predator or prey. Older children can do reports on the food chain and how the animals and plants are dependent upon each other.

Pick an ecosystem to look into and see what happens when a new animal or plant is introduced to that ecosystem and what the consequences are. There are many examples of this happening with dire effects.

As you can see there are many activities that can be done to help get a better understanding and working knowledge of the ecosystem for kids. With a little creativity you can teach them how to be good stewards and care takers of this world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Ecosystem For Kids and Environmental Understanding

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Studying and learning how to understand the ecosystem for kids is a hard thing to do. Ecosystem is a big word that can be intimidating for children. An ecosystem is short for ecological systems. Simply put an ecosystem is all the animals and other living things in a specific area.

# data[].attributes.headline
Biotic organisms are broken up into autotrophs, heterotrophs and saprotrophs. Autotrophs are the producers of the ecosystem.

# data[].attributes.subject
Biotic organisms are broken up into autotrophs, heterotrophs and saprotrophs. Autotrophs are the producers of the ecosystem.

# data[].attributes.headline
Living organisms comprise the biotic component of the ecosystem. In an ecosystem, a number of species interact with each other to maintain the energy cycle needed to keep the ecosystem balanced.

# data[].attributes.subject
Living organisms comprise the biotic component of the ecosystem. In an ecosystem, a number of species interact with each other to maintain the energy cycle needed to keep the ecosystem balanced.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Imagine an ecosystem as a tiny world within our world. Here, living things, like plants and animals, interact with non-living elements, including water, rocks, soil and temperature. Every portion of the ecosystem influences everything else. An ecosystem exists within a larger area called a biome.

Here's an example of an Ecosystem: The Sonoran Desert in Arizona is a harsh landscape. Within the desert, though, there are streams and creeks. Here, fish, birds, turtles and snakes live. There are trees and plants. This is one type of an ecosystem. In other parts of the desert, there is little water. Here, only a few plants, such as cactus can survive. The animals that live here - snakes, ground rats, and scorpions - must adapt to harsh conditions. This is a different ecosystem within the same biome.

Fun Facts About Ecosystems for Kids

Animals and plants within an ecosystem depend on each other for their survival. If conditions change, the animals and plants have to adapt.

Plants can't migrate when conditions change. During drought and heat, they might die. If they die, then herbivores won't have anything to eat. They must either find new plants to eat or move to a new place. If they move, then carnivores have no food. They must move too.

Sometime ecosystems change because of a climate change or a natural disaster. Sometimes, ecosystems are destroyed by humans.

Think about the ecosystems that might exist in your neighborhood or even in your own yard. If you have a vegetable garden, the plants attract plant-eating insects. The insects attract birds, snakes and frogs. These animals might attract predators, including fox, raccoons, coyotes and owls. Who knew there was so much going on right outside your door! A vegetable garden is a man-made ecosystem, but you get the idea.

Ecosystems Vocabulary

All About Ecosystems Video for Kids

This is the best video we found for kids to learn about Ecosystems:

Ecosystem Q&A

Question 1: How can I protect ecosystems in my area?

Answer 1: Pay attention to what you do in your own yard. Be careful with pesticides and fertilizers. Pesticides can poison birds, frogs and snakes. When fertilizers run into streams and rivers, they encourage algae to grow. The algae grow too much and smother other aquatic animals and plants. Grow flowering plants, vegetables and berries to give animals something to eat.

Question 2: What are the different types of Ecosystems?

Answer 2: The different types of environment ecosystems are as follows: Forest Ecosystems - Marine Ecosystems - Desert Ecosystems - Grassland Ecosystems - Tundra Ecosystems and Freshwater Ecosystems

Is the ecosystem important?

Answer 3: The ecosystem is very important. Without a healthy ecosystem we would suffer terribly or simply would not exist. We need to protect nature to protect our drinking water, our crops and even the air we breathe. Everyone should care about the ecosystem, no matter how old or how young. By caring today we are caring for tomorrow's world.

Question 4: What is destroying the ecosystem?

Answer 4: Unfortunately it's our Human daily activities that are causing harm to our ecosystem. Examples of this are: Over hunting (Rhino, Tigers, Elephants, Lions and many more). Over Fishing, Deforestation and of course pollution.

Enjoyed the Easy Earth Science for Kids all about Ecosystems info? Take the FREE & fun all about Ecosystems quiz and download FREE all about Ecosystems worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Imagine an ecosystem as a tiny world within our world. Here, living things, like plants and animals, interact with non-living elements, including water, rocks, soil and temperature. Every portion of the ecosystem influences everything else. An ecosystem exists within a larger area called a biome.

# data[].attributes.headline
Biodiversity affects ecosystem function, as do the processes of disturbance and succession.

# data[].attributes.subject
Biodiversity affects ecosystem function, as do the processes of disturbance and succession.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ecosystems are controlled both by external and internal factors. External factors such as climate, the parent material that forms the soil, and topography control the overall structure of an ecosystem and the way things work within it, but are not themselves influenced by the ecosystem.

# data[].attributes.subject
Ecosystems are controlled both by external and internal factors. External factors such as climate, the parent material that forms the soil, and topography control the overall structure of an ecosystem and the way things work within it, but are not themselves influenced by the ecosystem.

# data[].attributes.body
ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system