Ecosystem Sphere main content.

Ecosystem Sphere

Part of Hall of the Universe.

Large sealed glass sphere contains a complete ecosystem of plants and animals, which recycle nutrients and obtain energy from sunlight. © AMNH/D. Finin

The closed-glass Ecosphere, or self-sustaining habitat, explores conditions necessary to sustain life. Algae capture energy from sunlight and, in turn, are eaten by shrimp. The waste from the shrimp then fertilizes the algae.

This area explores where life could exist in the universe and how it might manifest itself on places such as Mars or Jupiter's moon Europa. This ecosphere represents Earth.

This sealed sphere contains a complete ecosystem of plants and animals, which recycle nutrients and obtain energy from sunlight. A planet that harbors life, as Earth does, must maintain a similar balance.