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How does an ecosystem differ from a biological community?

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Zenaida macroura: mouring doves — ecology Mourning doves (*Zenaida macroura*) on their nest protected within the prickly branches of a cactus in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, U.S.

In the study of ecology, the primary distinction between a biological community and an ecosystem lies in the inclusion of nonliving, or abiotic, factors.

Biological Community: This refers exclusively to the living component of an area—an interacting group of various species inhabiting a common location. It focuses on the organisms themselves and their interrelationships, such as competition, predation, and mutualism, while excluding the physical environment.12
Ecosystem: This is a broader concept that encompasses the biological community of an area together with its physical environment, functioning as an integrated ecological unit. An ecosystem includes both the biotic (living) portion and the abiotic (nonliving) factors, such as climate, soil, air, water, and the flow of energy and nutrients.132

In short, while a community is a collection of species populations, an ecosystem represents the totality of those organisms interacting with their surrounding physical landscape.2