Which one of the following is the best description of the term ‘ecosystem’?
- (a) A community of organisms interacting with one another
- (b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms
- (c) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area
Why the answer is (c)
• An ecosystem (Tansley, 1935) is a community of living organisms (biotic components) interacting with each other and with their non-living environment (abiotic components — soil, water, air, sunlight) as a functional unit — option (c).
• Hence option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) A community of organisms interacting with one another
- A community alone is the biotic part, not the ecosystem.
- (b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms
- That describes the biosphere.
- (d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area
- Flora and fauna alone omit the environment.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.