Terrestrial ecosystem

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/terrestrial-ecosystem

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is a terrestrial ecosystem?A terrestrial ecosystem is a land‑based environment where soil and air are the main parts. It includes plants, animals, and many tiny organisms that live on Earth’s surface.
2. Why do plants in deserts need special adaptations?Because water is scarce, desert plants have ways to keep water inside and grow roots that reach deep water. These adaptations help them survive the dry conditions.

Biome: A large-scale ecological community defined by its dominant vegetation and climate characteristics.
Trophic Levels: The position an organism occupies in a food chain, indicating its source of energy.
Ecosystem Services: The benefits that humans derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystem functions and processes.