How do organism in a ecosystem survive?

To answer this question, we must define the two key terms within this question, organism, and ecosystem.

Organism, by definition, is "one animal, plant, or single-cell".

Ecosystem, by definition, is a "community of organisms interacting with their environment".

For an organism to survive in a certain ecosystem, the ecosystem must provide a certain amount of basics:

1) Food: The ecosystem must provide edible substance to the organism, whether as plants, other animals, or a way to get nutrients.

2) Water: Of course, there are plants and animals that can survive long time without water. However, water is a key component to the survivability of the organism.

3) Shelter: Most animals must have a long-term shelter against the weather. Shelter also provides protection against predators.

4) A way to reproduce: Whether an animal reproduces asexually or sexually, the organism must have a way to keep the population alive. Remember that the disappearance of an organism can greatly affect the food chain & web, and can lead to the destruction of the ecosystem.

~

one characteristic that is shared by all is a soft body. many

of these invertebrate animals also have an outer shell to protect their

body. oysters, clams, snails, and mussels are all mollusks. so are octopuses, squids, and slugs. mollusks live on land and in freshwater.