What is defined as a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system?

• A. Habitat
• B. Biome
• C. Ecosystem
• D. Population

Answer: (C)

An ecosystem is defined as a community of living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as their physical environment, such as soil, water, and climate, all interacting as a system. In an ecosystem, these living and non-living components work together, influencing each other in various ways. For instance, plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which animals need to breathe, while animals may contribute to the nutrient cycles through waste. This interdependence between organisms and their environment is what makes ecosystems essential for sustaining life.

Other terms, like habitat, refer specifically to the place where an organism lives but do not encompass the interactions between different organisms and their environment. A biome refers to large ecological areas with similar climate and soil conditions that can consist of multiple ecosystems. Population specifically refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area, rather than the broader system of interactions that defines an ecosystem.