An ecosystem is a community of organisms and their physical environment within a particular climate. Ecosystems are composed of abiotic components (non-living parts) and biotic components (living parts). Abiotic components include geology, soil

type and topography. Biotic components include plants, animals and microorganisms. Ecosystems are dynamic entities—invariably, they are in the process of changing. The concept of an ecosystem was first introduced in 1935 by British ecologist Arthur Tansley.

Tansley devised the concept to draw attention to the importance of transfers of materials between organisms and their environment. He later refined the concept to describe the web of interactions among organisms and their environment.

For example, a grassland ecosystem would include nonliving items such as soil type; living things such as plants, insects; food webs with complex interrelationships between species; as well as climate and weather patterns that influence plant growth.

The term ecosystem was first introduced by Tansley in 1935[3] and remains widely used today.

Last modified: September 24, 2022