Building an Ecosystem

There are many types of habitats or ecosystems. Terrarium, aquarium, and a terrarium aquarium system are human made systems that could be studied in conjunction with these activities. If you decide to create a system, then plan what organisms to include, what to use to build the system, where to locate it, and most importantly how to adjust the environmental conditions in the system.

It is a good idea to talk to an expert while planning.  You wouldn’t want to include organisms from a high moisture environment with organisms from a low moisture environment or over look something that might cause problems.

Make a log describing the the planning. Things to think about: in what to put the system (fish bowl, acquarium, two liter pop bottles, plastic container....), what organisms to include, how the organisms interact with each other, what to included to keep them alive and healthy, how to reduce or eliminate unwanted organisms, what else to include.

Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©