Ecosystem definition and concept
Question
Which one of the following is the best description of the term 'ecosystem'?
Options
A community of organisms interacting with one another
That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms
A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live
The flora and fauna of a geographical area
Explanation
An ecosystem is defined as a functional unit consisting of both living organisms (biotic components) and the non-living physical environment (abiotic components) interacting together. Option (a) is incomplete as it mentions only organisms without the environment. Option (b) describes the biosphere, not an ecosystem. Option (d) is incomplete as it focuses only on flora and fauna without the environmental context. Option (c) is the most comprehensive and scientifically accurate definition, encompassing both biotic and abiotic components and their interactions. > Key Insight: Ecosystems = Organisms + Environment. This holistic interaction is central to the concept and distinguishes it from just biological communities. Answer: (c).
Question details
Year
2015
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q84
Subject
Environment
Sub-topic
Ecology and Ecosystem
Type
Factual single
Difficulty
Easy
Nature
Static
Source hint
NCERT Biology Ch.1; Environmental Science Textbooks
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