Ecosystems

Ecosystems

• An ecosystem is an area such as a desert, river, lake, mountain, rainforest or prairie. In an ecosystem, living organisms and nonliving are all part of the environment.

Desert

• A desert is a region that receives less than 25 cm of moisture each year. They have many different landscapes and types of soil. Many kinds of plants and animals flourish in the desert.

West Texasdesert

Oasis in the desert

Sahara desert Arizona desert

Plants in the desert

Animals in the desert

rattlesnakes

roadrunners

Desert tortoise

Red tailed hawk

Mountains

• A mountain is a large region of land that projects above its surrounding area. It is a major feature of the surrounding area. Because many mountains are so high in elevation, they provide several different levels, or zones for plant and animal life.

Mountain Plants

Moss

Mountain wildflowers

Fur treeSpruce tree

Mountain Animals

Grizzly bear

Big horn sheep

Prairies

• The prairie is flat or gently rolling land covered with grasses. The North American prairie extends from central Canada down through the central states to Texas. Weather can vary widely, it can be hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

Prairie Plants

Butterfly weed

Prairie grass with coneflower

Prairie Animals

Bison Prairie dog