# Ecosystem

All the living things in an area together with their non-living surroundings, such as soil, water and weather.

Biology (school) · Part 07: Ecosystems and food chains · Card 1 of 11 · Last updated 2026-10-19

## Analogy

A neighbourhood: the people, the buildings and the weather all matter.

## In practice

A pond, a woodland and a coral reef are all ecosystems.

## Practice

### Flashcards

- **What is an ecosystem?** All the living things in an area together with their non-living surroundings.

## Questions people ask

### What is the difference between habitat and ecosystem?

A habitat is the place where one type of organism lives, such as a rock pool for a crab. An ecosystem is bigger. It includes all the organisms in the area, how they interact with each other, and the non-living parts such as water and temperature.

### What is a community?

A community is all the populations of different species living in the same area. A population is all the members of one species in that area. For example, the frogs in a pond are a population. The frogs, fish, plants and insects together are the community.

## Related concepts

- [Habitat](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-school/biology-school-part-7/biology-school-part-7-concept-2)
- [Biotic and abiotic factors](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-school/biology-school-part-7/biology-school-part-7-concept-3)
- [Competition](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/biology-school/biology-school-part-7/biology-school-part-7-concept-4)

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