How is an ecosystem defined?

An ecosystem is defined as a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system. This definition encompasses both the biotic components (the living organisms, such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms) and the abiotic components (non-living elements like water, soil, air, and climate). The interaction between these components is crucial, as it describes how organisms depend on each other and their environment for survival, creating a dynamic system where energy and nutrients flow and cycles occur.

This comprehensive view distinguishes ecosystems from other biological concepts. For instance, a definition focusing solely on the interaction of only plant life with the atmosphere would overlook the complexities of relationships among various living organisms and their complete environments. Similarly, defining an ecosystem solely as a collection of organisms of the same species ignores the inter-species interactions that are vital in any ecosystem. Finally, while interconnected systems and energy transfer are important in the broader ecological context, they do not capture the essence of what constitutes an ecosystem, which primarily revolves around the interaction of diverse life forms and their environment.