An ecosystem is the interaction of plants, animals and small organisms in a certain environment. All three feed and procreate to keep the ecosystem alive. There are thousands of ecosystems of varying sizes on Earth. Due to global warming and pollution, many ecosystems are suffering. With changes to your everyday lifestyle, you can help protect the planet and its ecosystems.Recycle as much waste as you can and reduce the amount of waste you produce. You can create separate bins in your house and label them for glass, plastic, paper and aluminum. Take your bins to your nearest recycling center. (To find recycling centers in your area click on the link "Earth 911: Recycling Centers" in the Resources section.)Reducing your waste is one of the best ways to help the environment. Rather than using disposable paper towels, use reusable towels that can be washed rather than thrown away. Use reusable bags at the grocery store rather than using disposable plastic or paper bags.Reduce your carbon footprint. There are numerous ways to cut back on how much you pollute resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. In your house, you can turn your hot water heater down a few degrees, wash dishes in the sink rather than the dishwasher, take showers rather than baths, turn down your air conditioner or heater, and use energy efficient light bulbs and electronics. Choose transportation that pollutes less, such as public transportation and choosing to take a train over taking a planeChoose foods that are locally grown and grown sustainably. The industrial food system requires food to be transported from all over the country and internationally and for food to be grown abundantly, which requires pesticides. The transportation methods transporting food pollute the environment, but local foods do not need to be transported far. Organically grown food is also more sustainable, because it does not use pesticides, which harm ecosystems. Your local farmer's market is a way to find locally grown food and organically grown food.