Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Introduction

BACKGROUND

The National Geographic defines an ecosystem (ecological system) as "a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscapes, work together to form a bubble of life." 

Humans are also part of ecosystems, and so the choices we make and the actions we take need to be carefully considered. 

Biodiversity, a combination of the words 'biological' and 'diversity', is described by the National Geographic as "the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi." "It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem."    

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Use our lending service to order these books, and many more, associated with ecosystems and biodiversity.

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Explore & Discover series by Gillian Chandler & Ned Barraud:

• At the beach
• In the bush
• In the garden
• Under the ocean

Which New Zealand series by Andrew Crowe:

• Which New Zealand bird?
• Which New Zealand insect?
• Which Native Forest plant? 
• Which Native tree?
• Which New Zealand spider? 

All About series by Dave Gunson:

• New Zealand birds
• New Zealand insects
• New Zealand plants
• New Zealand seashore
• New Zealand Sea life
• New Zealand's freshwater wildlife 

BIODIVERSITY & BIOMES

Biodiversity, explore the diversity of life on Earth by Laura Perdew, 2019.

Biomes by Izzi Howell, 2017.

Biomes, discover the Earth's ecosystems by Donna Latham, 2019.

Deserts by Kimberly Sidabras, 2019.

Grasslands by Kimberly Sidabras, 2019.

Forest biomes by Louise and Richard Spilsbury, 2017.

Freshwater biomes by Louise and Richard Spilsbury, 2017.

Understanding biomes by Jeanne Sturm, 2012.

Wetlands by Kimberly Sidebras, 2019.

ECOSYSTEMS

Coral reef ecosystems by Tammy Gange, 2015.

How ecosystems work by Julie Lundgren, 2013

Marine ecosystems by Tammy Gagne, 2018.

The Science of life, ecosystems by Jenny Fretland VanVoorst, 2013.

Woodland ecosystems by Racquel Foran, 2015.

FOOD CHAINS & FOOD WEBS

Food chains and webs by Andrew Solway, 2012.

Ocean food chains by Angela Royston, 2015

Producers, consumers and, decomposers by Dava Pressberg, 2017.

Rotten! vultures, beetles, slime, and nature's other decomposers by Anita Sanchez, 2019.

PLANTS, SEEDS & TREES

10 Plants that shook the world by Gillian Richardson, 2013.

Deep roots, how trees sustain our planet by Nikki  Tate, 2016.

Healing plants, medicine from nature by Ellen Lawrence, 2016.

The Magic & mystery of trees by Jen Green, 2019.

The Story of seeds by Nancy F. Castaldo, 2016. 

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, 2020.