Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

A natural ecosystem like a forest develops on its own without human interference, where all biotic and abiotic components interact and self-sustain naturally. An artificial ecosystem like a garden is created and maintained by human beings, who select, arrange, and manage its living and non-living components.

This distinction shows that human beings actively shape ecosystems — choosing which organisms grow, controlling abiotic factors, and intervening regularly to maintain balance. Unlike natural ecosystems that are self-sustaining, artificial ones depend on continuous human effort, revealing how significantly humans can alter and control nature's processes.

Source: Chapter 13, Section 13.1

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• The key differentiator examiners look for is human intervention — state it clearly for both types.
• Mention self-sustaining for natural and human-maintained for artificial; these are the textbook terms.
• The third part of the question (role of humans) must be answered — students often skip it. Link it to the idea that humans create, modify, and maintain artificial ecosystems.
• Avoid listing examples alone; explain the why behind the distinction.