Ecosystem

Ecosystem
Ecosystem is the basic structural and functional unit of ecology. It consists of a community of living organisms which interact with each other and also with their non-living environment, to maintain equilibrium of life. An ecosystem regulates the flow of energy and cycling of material between its living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components. The ultimate source of energy for any ecosystem is the sun. There is no limits or boundaries on the size of an ecosystem. It may be as small as a bottle containing some Protozoa and Algae or as large as an ocean. Examples of an ecosystem are a pond, a lake, ocean, forest, desert etc. The term ecosystem was first coined by Tanslley in 1935.