Ecosystems

Science

Definition

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (biotic factors) interacting with their nonliving environment (abiotic factors) as a functional unit. Energy flows through ecosystems via food webs, and matter cycles through biogeochemical processes.

Examples

  • A coral reef ecosystem includes fish, corals, algae, and the warm shallow saltwater they depend on
  • A pond ecosystem has producers (algae), consumers (fish, frogs), decomposers (bacteria), plus water, sunlight, and nutrients
  • The Amazon rainforest ecosystem contains the greatest biodiversity of any terrestrial ecosystem on Earth

Related Terms

Community ecology Food webs Energy flow Biogeochemical cycles

Study This Concept

Practice ecosystems with free review games in these units:

AP Biology Unit 8: Ecology