Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge - Ecosystems Ecosystems are communities of interacting organisms and the physical environment in which they live. They are the combination and interaction of the plants, animals, minerals, and people in any given area of the Earth. A small bog, a single sand dune, or a tiny patch of forest is an ecosystem. In our heavily industrialized societies, work, religious expression, and recreation often take place in urban areas. It is our very reliance on ecosystems that is threatening them. For comprehensive data about the world's ecosystems, visit EarthTrends at www.earthtrends.wri.org/. Take our Interactive Quiz to see how much you know about ecosystems, then check out our Get Involved section to learn about ways you can make a positive difference in your home, your community, and your world.
KidWings Biomes of the World - Biome Map Click on a biome on the above graph for more information, informative videos, and links to scientist profiles, travel information, lesson plans and species profiles for each region. We'd like to know where you're coming from. If you've used this site for a class project or browsing for fun, add yourself to our map and communicate with other "ecogeeks" Earth Floor: Biomes There are many different kinds of plants and animals on the Earth, but only certain kinds are naturally found at any particular place. (We are not counting zoos here!) For example, cacti are found in the desert, polar bears are found in the Arctic, and elephants are found in central Africa and India. So, why don't people living in south Texas have to be on the lookout for snow leopards, or why don't kids in Minnesota have to worry about finding giant boa constrictors in their back yards? These average weather conditions, such as the range of temperature and rainfall that typically occur in a particular location like Minnesota, are called the climate of that location. Plants and animals don't live in isolation, but they live together with other plants and animals in an interdependent group called an ecological community. A distinct ecological community of plants and animals living together in a particular climate is called a "biome." Next
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