Guide to Living Organisms
Living organisms make up the huge biodiversity that comprises life on earth. All living things are inter-connected, relying on each other to a larger or lesser degree for their survival. Living things can exist in a diverse range of habitats, some are specially adapted to allow them to survive in extreme environmental conditions.
Our living world is made up of both living components (biota); such as the bacteria, plants and animals; and non-living components (abiota), such as soil, water, and light. The complex inter-relationships of the biotic and abiotic components make up an ecosystem. All forms of life require water to survive, and as Earth is the only planet known to have water, it is the only planet known to possess life.
The articles in this guide provide more information on living things, giving insight into the complex cycles that are necessary to support life on earth, helping us to better understand the basics of ecology and how ecosystems function as a dynamic entity.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Thompsma
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| The Differences between Nuclear and Chemical Reactions
Two distinct types of reactions will generally be covered in a high school chemistry class: chemical reactions and nuclear reactions. What's the difference, and how are they... |
PreK Activities About Living and Nonliving Things
Learning about living and nonliving things is an important science topic for preschool students. Try these preK living/nonliving activities to help your students gain a strong understanding... |
| Describing, What is an Ecological System
Living and non-living things generally move about in the same environment. Their interactions and the way they affect one another is an essential thing to study. The following article... |
Biochemistry's Role in Environmental Science
Biochemistry and Environmental Science intersect when a living organism’s life processes are affected by the environment.... |
| Loaded Dice - Thermodynamics, Entropy, and Heat Death
Life contributes to a net increase in the entropy of the universe and thereby heat death. But is this still true when a living thing dies? Also presented here is a popular... |
Scientific Classification: Species Lesson Plan
This article and included scientific classification activity is designed to assist students in their understanding of the classification of species.... |