Environment refers to the entire process of life in its various stages. It includes everything that exists in the visible and invisible realms. The environment includes all living and nonliving entities existing naturally, which means outside of human habitation. The word is most commonly used on earth or any portion of the earth. It is also used by scientists, the media and other interested individuals.
Nature refers to all the living things existing in the visible and invisible realms of earth. On earth, we can observe organisms such as plants, animals, microorganisms and man-made life forms. For instance, the environment is full of plant life and all of its diversity, from the algae that live in ponds to the birds that fly around the billions of oysters in the ocean. All these organisms exist in their respective environments.
There are many examples of ecosystems. One example is the Alaskan ecosystem. A state in Alaska, where there are three oceans with many large glaciers and numerous lakes surrounded by land. Another example is the Amazon Rainforest, a broad ecological zone encompassing an area of swamp forest in the Amazon Basin in South America. This area also includes the Guiana System which is an ecological reserve.
Within the earth’s environment, there are two kinds of living organisms. Ecosystems are made up of living organisms in common, but they can vary greatly in relation to each other. The first kind is called a biotic. A biotic is not part of a natural ecosystem – it is part of a self-sustaining system, which means it is supported by sunlight, soil and other living organisms. Examples of biotic organisms include all the organisms living in water – fishes, small aquatic plants such as tube worms, snails and others, and birds.
The second kind of organisms in earth’s ecosystems are considered to be Man-made. A man-made ecosystem is created by man and his tools – garbage and waste products, construction materials, pesticides, fertilizer and others. For example, man-made lakes and rivers, forests, and other places with living organisms in the soil and air include man-made landscapes in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
There are two main types of ecosystems: natural and artificial. Natural ecosystems are self-sustaining because they are supported by the earth, sun, and other living organisms. The maintenance of this type of ecosystem relies on nature, without human intervention. On the other hand, artificial ecosystems are constructed in a controlled manner, using man-made materials that destroy the natural environment of the planet. Artificial ecosystems are used in agricultural fields, in big cities, and in mines. Artificial environments can be categorized into urban, rural, and biosphere, depending on how humans have influenced them.