1. Explore – Foundations of Ecosystems and Climate Impact

1.1 What are Ecosystems?

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) interacting with their nonliving environment (e.g. air, water, soil, sunlight). Ecosystems can be as large as a forest or as small as a pond.

• Types of Ecosystems:
  
  • Terrestrial: Forests, grasslands, deserts, tundras, mountains.
  • Aquatic: Freshwater (rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands) and Marine (oceans, coral reefs, estuaries).
• Ecosystem Services: Healthy ecosystems provide essential benefits to humans, often called "ecosystem services":
  
  • Provisioning: Food, water, timber, fiber.
  • Regulating: Climate regulation, flood control, disease regulation, water purification, air quality regulation.
  • Cultural: Recreation, aesthetic beauty, spiritual enrichment.
  • Supporting: Nutrient cycling, soil formation, primary production.