Ecology and ecosystems
Ecology examines organisms' interactions with one another and their physical environment.
Key knowledge
Ecology studies interactions between organisms and their environment. An ecosystem includes a biological community together with its nonliving surroundings, such as water, air and soil; ecosystem studies examine how nutrients and energy move through these components.
Conditions and scope
- Define the spatial boundary and time scale of the ecosystem under study.
- An ecosystem need not be closed, balanced or unchanging.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Published ecology, biotic/abiotic and ecosystem scope; no claim about a specific ecosystem's condition.
2026-10-10 · English definitions checked against The Scope of Ecology, especially Ecosystem Ecology; universal stability claims are excluded.
Foundational review
2026-10-10 · Fresh primary-source inspection of the complete compact record, including every statement, equation, quantity and material condition, followed by independent AI editorial review. This check does not certify all linked lessons or every passage of every cited publication.
Sources from other places
Scope or convention differs
Biotic/abiotic components, organism interactions and nutrient recycling.
An ecosystem can exchange matter and energy and need not stay balanced.
Siyavula
- Life Sciences 10: Ecosystems South AfricaEnglish
§8.5 introduction; Biotic components ESGB5; Abiotic components ESGB6
- Life Sciences 10: Ecosystems
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- bio-ecology
- Revision
- core.1
- Structured reference record
- Essential core · first collection