Ecosystem
Exam-ready definition
A unit containing the community of organisms and their environment, interacting together. For example, a decomposing log, a pond, or a rainforest.
How this is marked
Definitions of population, community and ecosystem are tested as a ladder. Each builds on the last. Learn all three together: population (one species), community (all populations), ecosystem (community + environment).
In an exam answer
Defining the term: 'A pond is an ecosystem because it contains the community of organisms together with the non-living environment they interact with.'
Full topic guide: Organisms & their environment
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