Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How can an ecosystem be as small as a water droplet or as large as a region?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
ecology
Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) on their nest protected within the prickly branches of a cactus in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, U.S.
An ecosystem is defined as a collection of organisms and the local environment with which they interact, functioning as an ecological unit. Because the term refers to any segment of the landscapeāor environmentāthat includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components, its scale is flexible and determined by the scope of the scientific study.123
- Small-scale ecosystems: For researchers focusing on specific processes, such as microbiology or soil science, an ecosystem can be as small as a single soil horizon or even a water droplet.1
- Large-scale ecosystems: When considering broader processes like nutrient cycling or regional environmental management, an ecosystem can encompass an entire plant community, a forest, a lake, or a vast geographical region.13
Ultimately, the entire biosphere is considered a global ecosystem, representing the sum of all interactions between life and the Earth's environment. Ecosystems are not rigid, fixed entities; they often grade into one another along transition zones known as ecotones.3