What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is defined as a community of living organisms interacting with their environment, which includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. This interaction creates a complex web of relationships that sustain life within that environment. For example, plants, animals, and microorganisms all play vital roles in their ecosystems, contributing to processes such as energy flow and nutrient cycling.

This definition highlights the dynamic nature of ecosystems, where each organism is affected by and contributes to the health and functioning of the environment as a whole. By understanding this concept, one can appreciate the interconnectedness of life and how changes to one part of an ecosystem can impact the entire system.

In contrast to the correct answer, the other choices describe concepts that do not accurately represent what an ecosystem is. A group of heterogeneous cells refers to cellular biology rather than ecological systems, a biome without biological components contradicts the very essence of a biome, and a physical area devoid of living organisms cannot support the interactions necessary to define an ecosystem. Thus, the first choice is the only one that fully encapsulates the essential characteristics that define an ecosystem.