Ecosystem
Pronunciation: /ˈiːkoʊˌsɪstəm/ · Category: ecology
Definition: A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with their physical environment, such as water, soil, light and air.
In simple words: Living things and the place they live, working together as one system.
More about ecosystem
Ecosystems can be as small as a pond or as large as an ocean. Energy flows through them, usually starting with sunlight captured by plants and algae, and nutrients are recycled by decomposers.
Explore examples in Biosphere’s habitat guides.
Origin of the term
The term was introduced by the ecologist Arthur Tansley in 1935.