How the World Works - Nature's Systems - Primary (Prep - Grade 6)

Definitions

What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem includes all the living things (plants, animals and organisms) in a given area, interacting with each other, and with their non-living environments (weather, earth, sun, soil, climate, atmosphere). In an ecosystem, each organism has its own niche or role to play.

The Australian Museum

National Geographic - What is an ecosystem?

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of all living things; the different plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms, the genetic information they contain and the ecosystems they form.

The Australian Museum

What are biomes?

Biomes are large areas of land that share similar climate, vegetation, and animal life.

Types of Biomes

Specific types of ecosystem

Blue Planet - Rainforests
How stuff works - Rainforests
Tropical rainforests are the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, and also the oldest. Today, tropical rainforests cover only 6 percent of the Earth's ground surface, but they are home to over half of the planet's plant and animal species.
Britannica - Rainforest ecosystem
Live Science - What are the largest rainforests in the world?
Living Rainforest - Rainforests and why they are important
Tropical rainforests are thought to contain around 50% of all the Earth’s species of plants and animals, though they cover only about 6% of the land surface.

The Amazon - South America

The Daintree - Queensland, Australia

National Geographic - Marine Ecosystems overview
Marine ecosystems are aquatic environments with high levels of dissolved salt. These include the open ocean, the deep-sea ocean, and coastal marine ecosystems, each of which has different physical and biological characteristics.

The Great Barrier Reef

National Geographic - Great Barrier Reef
The biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef is threatened. Scientists are working to find ways to protect it.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation
The Reef is a unique ecosystem; home to thousands of species of marine life, including fish, whales, dolphins, and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtle.
Fascinating facts about the Great Barrier Reef
KidCyber - The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world. It is 2, 000 kilometres long, and is 180 metres high in some places. It can can be seen from outer space, and is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
World Wildlife Fund - The Great Barrier Reef
Located off the coast of Queensland, this vibrant reef ecosystem is one of the world's seven natural wonders and a prized UNESCO World Heritage Area. It holds the title of the largest coral reef system and the biggest living structure on the planet.

ActiveWild - The Desert biome
Facts, characteristics and types of desert
ActiveWild - Deserts of the World
Includes information about 20 famous deserts
National Geographic Kids - Desert Habitat

This map shows the broad distribution of biomes on Earth.

Khan Academy

Animals

Blue Planet Biomes - Animals

Australian Animals

Specific types of animals

Sloths

Plants

Blue Planet Biomes - Plants
Plants play the most important part in the cycle of nature. Without plants, there could be no life on Earth. They are the primary producers that sustain all other life forms.

Primary (Prep - Grade 6): How the World Works - Nature's Systems

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Definitions

Specific types of ecosystem

Animals

Specific types of animals

Plants