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Ecosystem

Edexcel A-level BiologyThe Nature of EcosystemsLesson 1 of 39

An ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with each other and with the non-living (abiotic) environment in which they live. It includes both the living (biotic) parts and the physical and chemical conditions, such as light, temperature, water and soil.

Ecosystems can be any size. A rock pool, a pond, a rotting log, an oak wood and an ocean are all ecosystems. Their boundaries are not always sharp, and organisms and materials move between neighbouring ecosystems.

Two key processes happen in every ecosystem:

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All 39 lessons in The Nature of Ecosystems · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics