WordValeecosystem
a community of organisms interacting with their environment
In more detail
1. (noun) a community of plants, animals, and other organisms that live together in a particular environment and depend on each other for survival
2. (noun) a system of interconnected parts or elements that work together, often used more broadly beyond nature
Examples
- 1. The coral reef ecosystem supports thousands of different species of fish and plants.
- 2. The startup ecosystem in Silicon Valley includes investors, entrepreneurs, and technology companies that all support each other.
How to use ecosystem
Ecosystem is used in both scientific and metaphorical contexts. In biology, it refers to specific communities of organisms and their physical environment; increasingly, it is also applied to interconnected networks in business, technology, and other domains to describe complex systems where multiple elements interact and depend on each other. The metaphorical use is neutral and widely accepted in contemporary English.
Common phrases
- fragile ecosystem
- marine ecosystem
- ecosystem services
- healthy ecosystem
- ecosystem collapse
- digital ecosystem
Synonyms
habitat · biotic community · environment · web of life · system
Word family
ecosystemic (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse ecosystem with habitat, but habitat refers to the physical place where an organism lives, while ecosystem includes both the organisms and their interactive relationships with each other and their environment.
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