Ecosystem diversity

Ecosystems are the combination of communities of living things with the physical environment in which they live. There are many different kinds of ecosystems, from deserts to mountain slopes, the ocean floor to the Antarctic, with coral reefs and rainforests being amongst the richest of these systems.

Each ecosystem provides many different kinds of habitats or living places. The living things and the non-living environment (earth forms, soil, rocks and water) interact constantly and in complex ways that change over time, with no two ecosystems being the same.

Although ecosystems are ever-changing and complex, some universal principles apply. One of these is that matter constantly cycles and recycles. Another principle is that energy moves through the cycle, being used, absorbed and stored.

For example, forests act as filters for air, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Seas are the great stabilisers of climates, with warm currents moderating temperatures on the land masses they pass. Mangroves and seagrass beds are the nurseries for marine creatures. While the sun is a constant source of Earth's energy, energy is also available from geothermal processes. So while each ecosystem generates its own relationships, the Earth's environments are interrelated — they all rely on the sun and the Earth's oxygen and water to survive.

You can begin to appreciate how the elements in each ecosystem are connected to each other and the diversity that exists amongst Earth's ecosystems. Maintaining this ecological diversity is important for the health of the planet.

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