Which term describes a system that includes all living organisms and their surrounding environment?

An ecosystem is defined as a system that comprises all living organisms within a certain area, along with their interactions with the physical environment. This concept encompasses both biotic factors, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, and abiotic factors, like soil, water, and climate. Ecosystems can vary greatly in size and complexity; they can be as small as a puddle or as expansive as a forest or ocean.

In essence, an ecosystem reflects the dynamic relationships between organisms and their environment, illustrating how they depend on each other for survival, energy flow, and nutrient cycling. This holistic view is fundamental in understanding ecological interactions and biodiversity.

Other terms like community, biome, and biosphere have more specific definitions that do not fully encompass the interactions between living organisms and their environment in the same way as an ecosystem does. A community refers only to the living organisms in a particular area without considering the physical environment, while a biome refers to large ecological areas with similar climatic conditions and life forms. The biosphere represents the global sum of all ecosystems, including the land, water, and atmosphere where life exists, making it broader than the specific relationships studied within an ecosystem.