Ecosystem- Definition, Structure, Factors, Types, Functions

The ecosystem is the basic unit of our environment and comprises living organisms and non-living and how they interact with each other.

In simple words, a geographical area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, coexist to form a life bubble is called an ecosystem or ecological system. The respective study is called ecology.

The term ecosystem was first used by Arthur Tansley (a British ecologist) in which one of his publications in 1935, whereas the term was actually coined by A.R. Clapham at the request of Tansley. At first, Tansley included only organisms but later on the environment as well. 

Further other scientists also contributed and explored this field; some of them are G.E. Hutchinson, H.T. Odum, and E.P. Odum, among many others.

The ecosystem study is based on these four main factors:

I. Abiotic (Non-living things)

II. Biotic (Living Beings)

III. The mutual interaction between biotic and abiotic

IV. The space they occupy