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An ecosystem is a complex set of relationships among the living resources, habitats, and residents of an area. It includes plants, trees, animals, fish, birds, microrganisms, water, soil, and people. When an ecosystem is healthy, scientists say it is sustainable. This means that all the elements live in balance and are capable of reproducing themselves. There is usually biodiversity, meaning that there are a variety of living organisms and species in that environment.

Since ecosystems can be as small as a single tree or as large as entire forest, there
are lots and lots of different ecosystems in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When
you want to talk about how a certain natural area functions together, you can call it
a biome. A biome is a very specialized ecosystem that only exists in a certain
area or climate. They are identified by factors like temperature, rainfall, soil type and
altitude.

For more information about ecosystems, check out some of the following links:

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