Which of the following are the three primary ecosystems found on Earth?
A.
grassland, rainforest, and ocean
B.
freshwater, rainforest, and desert
C.
freshwater, terrestrial, and ocean
D.
grassland, terrestrial, and desert
C. freshwater, terrestrial, and ocean
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand what ecosystems are and identify the three primary ecosystems found on Earth.
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with their physical environment. It includes both the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of a particular environment. Ecosystems can range in size from small to large, and they can exist in various habitats across the planet.
Now, let's analyze the options to find the answer:
A. grassland, rainforest, and ocean: This option includes three different ecosystems - grassland, rainforest, and ocean.
B. freshwater, rainforest, and desert: This option contains freshwater, rainforest, and desert. Freshwater and desert can be considered as ecosystems, but rainforests are not categorized as a separate ecosystem. Rainforests are part of the terrestrial ecosystem, which is not mentioned in this option.
C. freshwater, terrestrial, and ocean: This option includes freshwater, terrestrial, and ocean. Freshwater and ocean refer to aquatic ecosystems, and terrestrial refers to the land ecosystem. Therefore, this option contains three different primary ecosystems.
D. grassland, terrestrial, and desert: This option includes grassland, terrestrial, and desert. Grassland and desert can be considered as specific types of terrestrial ecosystems. However, terrestrial is not a separate ecosystem but a broad category that encompasses various ecosystems found on land.
Considering the above analysis, the correct answer is option C. The three primary ecosystems found on Earth are freshwater, terrestrial, and ocean.