An ecosystem is a community of living things interacting with each other and with their non-living surroundings, such as air, water, soil, and sunlight. Every plant, animal, fungus, and microorganism has a role to play.
Healthy ecosystems provide clean air, fresh water, food, medicine, and natural resources. They also help regulate Earth's climate and protect people from floods and storms.
Ecosystems come in many forms, including forests, deserts, oceans, grasslands, wetlands, and even cities. Each ecosystem supports different species that have adapted to survive there.