Ecosystem is a word that scientists use to describe a specific area and all the animals and plants that live in, or inhabit, it. An ecosystem may be as small as a puddle or much larger, like a river. For example, most ponds contain fish, insects, plants, and microorganisms—living things too small to be seen, such as bacteria. The kinds of living things that inhabit an ecosystem depend on the physical conditions. These conditions include temperature, rainfall, and the natural surface features of the land.

Another word, biome, describes much larger areas that share the same types of living things and the same physical conditions. A biome may contain many ecosystems within it. In this lesson, you'll explore the Everglades biome.