Ecosystem

A community of living things and their environment, all working together.

What is it?

An ecosystem is a place where plants, animals, and other living things interact with each other and with their surroundings, like soil, water, and air. Examples include forests, deserts, and ponds. In a forest ecosystem, trees provide shade, moss holds moisture, and ferns help prevent erosion. All parts depend on each other. The diorama you saw shows a tiny forest ecosystem with a stump, moss, and ferns. Moss and ferns grow on the stump, using it as a surface, and they help keep the stump moist and provide nutrients as they decompose. Darkling beetles are part of desert ecosystems, where they help decompose organic matter and are food for other animals. They also help aerate the soil by burrowing. The Kenya crested guineafowl is part of the savanna ecosystem, where it helps control insect populations and serves as prey for larger predators. The Grey-winged Trumpeter is part of the Amazon rainforest ecosystem, where it helps disperse seeds and serves as prey for large predators like jaguars. The Red-legged Seriema is part of the Brazilian grasslands ecosystem, where it helps control snake populations and is prey for larger predators.

Why it matters

Ecosystems provide everything living things need: food, water, shelter, and clean air. Protecting ecosystems helps all species survive.

Where you've seen it

This list grows as you capture more exhibits about ecosystems.

生态系统

生物群落及其环境，共同运作。

这是什么？

生态系统是植物、动物和其他生物与土壤、水、空气等环境相互作用的地方。例如森林、沙漠和池塘。在森林生态系统中，树木提供阴凉，苔藓保持水分，蕨类植物帮助防止水土流失。所有部分相互依赖。你看到的微缩景观展示了一个微小的森林生态系统，有树桩、苔藓和蕨类植物。苔藓和蕨类植物生长在树桩上，将其作为表面，它们帮助保持树桩湿润，并在分解时提供养分。暗色甲虫是沙漠生态系统的一部分，它们帮助分解有机物，并成为其他动物的食物。它们还通过挖洞帮助土壤通气。肯尼亚冠珠鸡是稀树草原生态系统的一部分，它帮助控制昆虫数量，并成为大型捕食者的猎物。灰翅喇叭鸟是亚马逊雨林生态系统的一部分，它帮助传播种子，并成为美洲豹等大型捕食者的猎物。红腿叫鹤是巴西草原生态系统的一部分，它帮助控制蛇类数量，并成为大型捕食者的猎物。