Closed ecosystem in a bottle

Ecosystems come in all sizes. Creating an ecosystem in a bottle can be a fun and affordable way to learn about species interactions and the basics of aquarium care. Fish are highly complex creatures making it hard to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that doesn't need extra food input or cleaning.

Ammonite, ferns and moss

Terrarium Tutorial (learn the basics, then build from there!). Photo/Post: Michaela Medina - thegardenerseden.com

For the last 40 years it has been completely sealed from the outside world. The indoor variety of spiderworts (or Tradescantia, to give the plant species its scientific Latin name) within has thrived, filling its globular bottle home with healthy foliage. The bottle garden has created its own miniature ecosystem. Despite being cut off from the outside world, because it is still absorbing light it can photosynthesise, the process by which plants convert sunlight into the energy they need to…

Description : According to this Daily Mail article David Latimer has had a sealed ecosphere for over fifty years that he has only watered once. Web Resource : Daily Mail article

A model lesson plan on the carbon cycle for middle and high school students.

3 Ecospheres from MAKE magazine's "recipe." Using 2 L jars. These were sealed up one week ago and seem to be doing fine. The econaughts, shrimp, are quite lively and the water is clear. Usually kept on a windowsill, they got to go on a field trip for the picture.

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