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Ecosystem Justification

Sand

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Sand is abiotic, and is a part of most deserts found in the world. Sand is abiotic simply because it does not follow any of the rules that talk about the characteristics of life. It does not move, does not reproduce, does not produce waste, does not use energy and so on. Sand is just made up of tiny rocks and rocks are abiotic as well.

Rocks

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Rocks are abiotic, and are part of all ecosystems in the world, so it makes sense that there are rocks found in deserts. Also, rocks are found in sand (tiny rocks). Rocks are abiotic because they do not follow any of the characteristics of life. 

Water

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Water is abiotic and is found in every living thing and every ecosystem in the world. So, it makes sense for living things in the desert to need water. There might be living things in water but water itself is not a living thing because it doesn’t follow any of the characteristics of life. 

Succulent Plants

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Succulent plants are biotic and are found in desert systems. Their fleshy leaves and thick roots allow for them to be in a desert environment. Because a succulent is a plant, it is able to make food for itself through photosynthesis, excrete (gas), move, have cells, evolve and follow the other characteristics of life. So, it is a living thing.

Cacti

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Cacti are naturally found in deserts. Their thick roots and fleshy skin allow them to retain water, so a desert environment is livable. Cacti are living things because they are plants and they follow the characteristics of life. 

Lichen

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Lichen is biotic and is found in some ecosystems. Although lichen mostly grow on trees, lichen are also found in the desert. Lichen is considered a moss or a plant. This makes lichen a living thing because it is a plant. 

Soil

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 Soil is abiotic and is found in every ecosystem in the world whether it be on the surface or under the surface, so it makes sense for deserts to have soil. There are organisms in soil that are living things but soil itself is a non-living thing because it does not follow the characteristics of life.

Sunlight

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Sunlight (we used a heating lamp) is found in every ecosystem simply because the sun is everywhere! Sunlight is needed for plants to photosynthesize. Light is abiotic because it is energy and energy can’t be a living thing. 

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