What's Special About Schoolyard Ecosystems?

Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum
Schoolyard and Urban Ecosystem

Schoolyard ecosystems are special because they are disturbed. A disturbance is when there is so much activity that it causes an ecosystem to change. This can be from people cutting down trees, putting up buildings, or creating farms. Disturbance can also be from natural things like big storms, strong winds, or fire.

At one time, your schoolyard may have been a forest ecosystem, with lots of trees and no buildings. When your school was built, it caused a disturbance that changed the forest ecosystem into the schoolyard ecosystem you see today. The plants, animals, and insects that you see in your schoolyard are there because they like ecosystems that have been disturbed.

Disturbance from fire.

Disturbance from cutting down trees.