An ecosystem consists of all the organisms - plants, animals and micro-organisms - that occur in a given area, together with the non-living elements of the environment. The term ecosystem is used because the living and non-living elements are closely interrelated in a functioning system with producing, consuming, decomposing and non-living components. An ecosystem has therefore a spatial definition (it occurs in a definable area) and a functional definition (the parts of the system are interdependent and maintain at least temporary stability).
