Ecologists study the environment on a big (ecoregion) and small (habitat) scale to understand how the world around us changes over time. These are different ways of looking at and organizing nature based on what makes different places unique.

Ecoregions: Big Picture Places

Ecoregions help ecologists identify patterns in nature across large regions. They cover large areas that share similar overall conditions, like:

  • Climate: Is it generally hot or cold? Wet or dry?
  • Geology: What kind of rocks and landforms are common? Are there mountains, flat plains, or lots of lakes?
  • Soil: What type of soil is found in the area? Is it sandy, rich and dark, or something else?
  • Vegetation: What are the main kinds of plants that grow there? Are there mostly forests, grasslands, or deserts?

Because these factors are similar across an ecoregion, the types of plants and animals you find there tend to be alike too.

A tall, uniquely shaped rock formation rises dramatically from a dense green forest under a cloudy sky.

Habitats: A Close-Up Look

A habitat is a much more specific place where a particular species or group of species lives. It has the resources and conditions that those organisms need to survive and reproduce.

You might find many different habitats within one ecoregion, such as a beaver pond, a grove of aspen trees, or a rocky outcrop.

A North American beaver, with its dark brown fur, is partially submerged in a calm body of water, carrying sticks towards a large beaver dam constructed of branches in the background.

Think about the city that you live, learn, and play in. Ecoregions and habitats are similar!

  1. An ecoregion is the city or region where ecosystems are located.
  2. A habitat is a specific species’ home address.

By considering both scales, ecologists can gain a more complete understanding of how life on Earth is organized and how it responds to environmental change.