ecosystem
EE-koh-sis-tum
/ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
It emphasizes the interdependence of all parts; if you change one part, the whole system is affected.
The story behind the word. The term was coined by British botanist Arthur Tansley in 1935. He wanted a word that treated nature not as a collection of separate things, but as a physical system similar to a machine or a circuit.
Word relationships
- biome: A larger regional or global community (like a desert or tundra).
- habitat: The specific place where an organism lives.
Commonly confused with
- environment: Environment is the surroundings; ecosystem is the functional unit of interaction.
Word family
- ecological (adjective): Relating to the relation of living organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Collocations
- fragile ecosystem
- marine ecosystem
- ecosystem services
- balance of the ecosystem
Example sentences
- "The whole complex of organisms and factors of environment... we may call this an ecosystem." The origin of the term. (Arthur Tansley (1935))
- "The coral reef is a fragile ecosystem where even a small rise in water temperature can cause widespread bleaching." Describing a coral reef.
Memory hook
Eco (House) + System = How the house works together. Ecosystem = Nature's neighborhood.
When not to use
Don't use it to mean just 'the environment'; an ecosystem is specifically the interaction between the living and non-living.
Fun facts
- The largest ecosystem on Earth is the ocean, covering over 70% of the planet's surface.
Related words
Explore more words
ecology, interconnectedness, supply chain, symbiosis, biodiverse, abiotic
Also appears in
- Technology → Ecology & Climate Science
- Nature → Ecology & Ecosystems
- Nature → Environmental Conservation
- Nature → Biodiversity & Species Conservation
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Deforestation & Habitat Loss
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Marine Ecology
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Organic Farming Practices
- Devices & Everyday Tech → Smart Home & IoT Devices
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