Much of Michigan is covered by forest ecosystems, but there are many areas that are not covered by forests. On the map, forest ecosystems are marked with green, and nonforest is marked in black. Nonforests are cities, farm fields, or any other areas that do not have the characteristics of a forest.

A forest ecosystem (below left) has soil, water, plants, animals, insects, soil, fungi, and bacteria that all must interact to form the ecosystem.

A nonforest (below right) is missing many or all of the components that a forest ecosystem contains.

A forest ecosystem in Seney, MI.

The city of Chicago, Illinois - a nonforest.