An ecosystem is a community made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water, and mineral soil. Ecosystems can be studied in two different ways. They can be thought of as interdependent collections of plants and animals, or as structured systems and communities governed by general rules. The living and non-living components interact through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Ecosystems include interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment. Ecosystems can be of any size but each ecosystem has a specific, limited space. Some scientists view the entire planet as one ecosystem.

An ecosystem is a community made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water, and mineral soil. Ecosystems can be studied in two different ways. They can be thought of as interdependent collections of plants and animals, or as structured systems and communities governed by general rules. The living and non-living components interact through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Ecosystems include interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment. Ecosystems can be of any size but each ecosystem has a specific, limited space. Some scientists view the entire planet as one ecosystem.

An ecosystem is a community made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water, and mineral soil. Ecosystems can be studied in two different ways. They can be thought of as interdependent collections of plants and animals, or as structured systems and communities governed by general rules. The living and non-living components interact through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Ecosystems include interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment. Ecosystems can be of any size but each ecosystem has a specific, limited space. Some scientists view the entire planet as one ecosystem.

Anecosystemis acommunityof living organisms in conjunction with thenonliving componentsof their environment, interacting as a system.[2]Thesebioticandabiotic componentsare linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.[3]Energy enters the system throughphotosynthesisand is incorporated into plant tissue. By feeding on plants and on one-another,animalsplay an important role in the movement of matter and energy through the system. They also influence the quantity of plant andmicrobialbiomasspresent. By breaking down dead organic matter,decomposersrelease carbon back to the atmosphere and facilitatenutrient cyclingby converting nutrients stored in dead biomass back to a form that can be readily used by plants and other microbes.[4]

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.

Anecosystemis acommunityof living organisms in conjunction with thenonliving componentsof their environment, interacting as a system.[2]Thesebioticandabiotic componentsare linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.[3]Energy enters the system throughphotosynthesisand is incorporated into plant tissue. By feeding on plants and on one-another,animalsplay an important role in the movement of matter and energy through the system. They also influence the quantity of plant andmicrobialbiomasspresent. By breaking down dead organic matter,decomposersrelease carbon back to the atmosphere and facilitatenutrient cyclingby converting nutrients stored in dead biomass back to a form that can be readily used by plants and other microbes