Can anyone tell me what ecosystem is ?

Question

also why is ecosystem most useful unit of organization in ecology ?

Answer 1

Hi Mii,

Ecosystem is a term that is generally used to be all-inclusive of the living organisms and non-living materials of an area or community... plants, animals, air, water, soil, etc.

The term may be applied to something as large as the entire earth or something as small as your backyard.

The main idea is that you are inferring an interdependence of life and non-life forms on each other in a community of some size.

Years ago, biologists used to refer to how a mountain lion might depend upon deer as food or water to hydrate; or refer to how a plant might need specific chemicals in the soil to live.

Now, with ecosystems, we are looking at the bigger picture.  We still know that a mountain lion might need a deer to eat; but, we also know that the deer need plants to eat and the plants need chemicals in the soil and the soil needs micro-organisms and so forth.

I hope this helps!

Hiking Tony

Answer 2

d community together with its physical environment forms an interacting system called ecosystem