Summary
A community of living organisms interacting with the non-living parts of their environment.
In depth
Ecosystems include producers, consumers, decomposers and the physical environment, linked by energy flow and nutrient cycling. Boundaries are arbitrary: a pond, forest or a rotting log may be treated as one. Energy flows one way (sun to heat) while matter cycles.
Ecosystems are open: they exchange energy, nutrients and organisms with surroundings.
Ecosystem processes include productivity, decomposition and nutrient cycling. Resilience is the ability to recover after disturbance; resistance is the ability to avoid change.
Key idea: ecosystems are defined by flows of energy and matter, not by boundaries on a map.
Ecosystems are open systems: energy enters as sunlight (or chemicals) and leaves as heat, while matter cycles and is also exchanged with surrounding systems. Arthur Tansley coined the term in 1935. Structure includes living and non-living parts, and function includes primary production, consumption, decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Ecosystems differ in size, from a rotting log to the open ocean, and in resilience, the ability to return after disturbance. Services come from their processes. Studies at all scales use inputs and outputs, or mass balance, to understand what controls them.
Key idea: ecosystems are defined by interactions and flows, not only by the species list.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ecosystem?
A community of living organisms interacting with the non-living parts of their environment.
Which area of biology covers Ecosystem, and how advanced is it?
Ecosystem is one of the 54 topics in Ecology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Ecology, Ecological Stoichiometry, Primary Productivity.
Can you give an example of Ecosystem?
In a lake, algae capture light, zooplankton and fish feed on them, and bacteria recycle the nutrients.
What should I learn before Ecosystem?
Ecosystem is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Ecology that pair well with it include Ecology, Biotic and Abiotic Factors, Habitat and Niche.
What topics are related to Ecosystem?
The closest topics to Ecosystem are Ecology, Ecological Stoichiometry, Primary Productivity, Producers. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Ecosystem?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Ecosystem. To practise the whole of Ecology, use the Ecology quiz.
How is Ecosystem different from Ecology?
Ecosystem: A community of living organisms interacting with the non-living parts of their environment. Ecology: The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their physical environment. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Ecosystem step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Ecology and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Ecology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.