ecosystem
/ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/ · e·co·sys·tem
noun
- A system formed by an ecological community and its environment that functions as a unit. The Amazon rainforest is a complex ecosystem that supports a vast array of plant and animal life.
- The interconnectedness of organisms (plants, animals, microbes) with each other and their environment. The ecosystem of a coral reef is highly dependent on the health of the coral itself.
- A set of interconnected products and services. The company's ecosystem includes its software, hardware, and customer support services.
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Did you know? The concept of an ecosystem has been used in various fields, including ecology, economics, and social sciences, to describe complex systems and their interconnected components.