An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their physical environment, where the living organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment. The ecosystem includes all of the living things (plants, animals, and organisms) in a given area, interacting with each other, and also with their non-living environments (weather, earth, sun, soil, climate, atmosphere) . The term "ecosystem" was first coined by A.G.Tansley, an English botanist, in 1935.

The ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert or as big as an ocean, spanning thousands of miles. There are two primary types of ecosystems: terrestrial and aquatic. Terrestrial ecosystems include forests, grasslands, deserts, etc., while aquatic ecosystems include salt marshes, lakes, coral reefs, river estuaries, estuaries, mangroves, submarines, and deep seas.

In an ecosystem, each organism has its own niche or role to play. The abiotic components provide the matrix for the synthesis of organic components. This process involves the exchange of energy. The ecosystem is the functional unit of the environment system, and it determines the health of the entire earth system.

A good ecosystem consists of native plants and animal species interacting with each other and the environment. A healthy ecosystem provides clean water and fresh food, and it provides raw materials to satisfy our needs for clothing, shelter, transportation, and energy.