easy
A pond ecosystem includes frogs, algae, insects, water, sunlight, and mud.
What does Ecosystem mean?
An ecosystem is a community of living things and their environment working together as a system.
Dictionary definition
A system formed by living things interacting with one another and with nonliving parts of their environment; in broader use, any connected network whose parts affect one another.
Example sentences
Ecosystem in a sentence
medium
Removing one species can change the balance of an ecosystem.
hard
The school described its clubs, teams, and support services as a connected learning ecosystem.
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Ecosystem
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
Which description includes a whole ecosystem?
An ecosystem includes living organisms, nonliving surroundings, and the interactions that connect them.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses ecosystem in its scientific sense?
The sentence treats the wetland's living and nonliving parts as an interacting system.
Practice 3
A habitat is one organism's usual living place, while an ____ includes a community and its physical environment.
Ecosystem is broader than habitat because it focuses on many organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Practice complete
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Pronunciation coach
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Ecosystem
Voice settings
Sounds like
ee · koh · sis · tuhm · strongest beat: ee
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordEcosystem.
Partnoun.
MeaningEcosystem means An ecosystem is a community of living things and their environment working together as a system.
ExampleExample: A pond ecosystem includes frogs, algae, insects, water, sunlight, and mud.
Word breakdown
4 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- ee · koh · sis · tuhm
- Strongest beat
- ee
- Ending
- tuhm
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on ee.
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Synonyms
Words like Ecosystem
ecological systemA precise science term for organisms and their physical environment functioning together.
living systemA broader phrase that can emphasize connected living parts, but it may not include the full physical environment.
Antonym review
Does Ecosystem have an opposite?
Ecosystem names a kind of connected system, so English has no precise general opposite. Isolation and separation can contrast with interdependence but are not antonyms of ecosystem.
Synonym practice
Want to practice ecosystem synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "A desert biome has dry conditions," then compare close word choices. Practice ecosystem synonyms.
Word family
Ecosystem word family
Base word
ecosystem
noun
ecosystems
The plural form for more than one ecosystem.
adjective
ecosystemic
Describes something that involves a whole ecosystem or system-wide relationships.
adjective
ecosystem-based
Describes an approach that considers the ecosystem as a connected whole.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Ecosystem
Hint for students
Look for three pieces: living things, nonliving surroundings, and ways those parts affect one another.
Common mix-up
Do not use ecosystem as an exact synonym for habitat. A habitat is the place that supports an organism; an ecosystem includes a community, its environment, and their interactions.
Try it in class or at home
Sketch a small pond. Label at least three living factors and three nonliving factors, then draw arrows showing two interactions. Write one sentence explaining why the drawing represents an ecosystem rather than only a habitat list.
Teacher prompt
Use the model sentence, "Beavers can reshape a pond ecosystem by building dams." Ask students to identify the living parts, nonliving parts, and interactions implied by the sentence.
Learning activities
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