How is an ecosystem defined?

An ecosystem is defined as a community along with all its abiotic factors. This definition encompasses not just the living organisms within a community, which includes various species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, but also the non-living components that interact with these organisms. Abiotic factors include elements such as sunlight, water, temperature, soil, and nutrients, all of which play critical roles in shaping the environment and influencing the organisms living there.

Understanding an ecosystem in this holistic manner is important because it highlights the interdependence between living and non-living elements. The interactions that occur within this combined system can significantly impact the health and sustainability of the ecosystem. For instance, changes in abiotic factors can affect species populations, which in turn can alter community dynamics.

The other choices focus on elements that, while related to ecosystems, do not encompass the full definition. For example, a group of the same species refers more to a population rather than the broader interactions involved in an ecosystem. The number of organisms in an area pertains to population density rather than the interactions between living organisms and their environment. Lastly, the variety of species in a habitat speaks to biodiversity, which is a crucial aspect of ecosystems but does not capture the entire concept of interactions with abi