Question

Which one of the following is the definition of an ecosystem?
A) A localized association of several plants and animals
B) Different communities of plants, animals and microbes, together with their environment
C) Different communities of plants and microbes plus their environment
D) A community of only organism interacting with one another

Answer 1

Hint: A.G. Tansley, an English botanist, coined the term "ecosystem" in 1935. An ecosystem's structure is defined by the organisation of both biotic and abiotic components. This includes energy distribution in our environment. It also includes the prevailing climatic conditions in that particular environment.

Complete answer:
An ecosystem is defined as a community of living and nonliving components that interact with one another. The ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of ecology in which living organisms interact with one another and with their surroundings. In other words, an ecosystem is a series of interactions between organisms and their surroundings.

The complexity of living species, their physical environment, and all of their interrelationships in a certain unit of space is referred to as an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a natural system that includes all live plants, animals, and microorganisms (biotic factors) in a given area, as well as all non-living physical (abiotic) variables. These biotic and abiotic elements are thought to be linked by nutrient cycles and energy flows. The network of interactions between organisms, as well as between organisms and their environment, defines ecosystems.

Additional Information: An ecosystem can be as small as a desert oasis or as large as an ocean stretching thousands of miles. Ecosystems are classified into two types:
- Terrestrial Ecosystem
- Aquatic Ecosystem

An ecosystem's structure can be divided into two main components:
- Biotic Components
- Abiotic Components

Thus the correct answer is (B) i.e, Different communities of plants, animals and microbes, together with their environment.

Note: The ecosystem's functions are as follows:
i) It maintains ecological balance by regulating critical ecological processes, supporting life systems, and ensuring stability.
ii) It's also in charge of nutrient cycling between biotic and abiotic components.
iii) It helps to keep the ecosystem's different trophic levels in check.
iv) Minerals are cycled across the biosphere.
v) The abiotic components aid in the synthesis of organic compounds that involve the exchange of energy.