Chapter 2: What's An Ecosystem?

Beginning with an account of his time on Corsica, Sala introduces readers to the concept of an ecosystem. These ecological systems are communities of organisms and the habitat they occupy, and there are countless of these 'food webs' across the globe, each one beautifully unique. These ecosystems have the power to save us from catastrophic climate change, and have been doing so for centuries. They are amazingly intricate, and have moving parts that interact in complex ways that work to sustain life across the planet.

Reading and Discussion Questions

​Answer the following questions in the comments section below after you've finished reading the chapter:

1. What is a Food Web?
2. What is your main takeaway from this chapter? What were your favorite points made by the author?​

Activities

1. Go out into your garden or an outdoor space near your home. See if you can identify the many players in the environment, including predators, plants, insects, animals, and humans. Compare two different spaces in the landscape, and note the discrepancies between the two as far as visible life is concerned. What plants and animals are present in each and how do they differ? Are relationships between them different in any ways?

Further Research and Reading

Wikipedia: Corsica

Wikipedia: Chernobyl Disaster

Wikipedia: Ecosystem