A major difference between what we define as an ecosystem and what we define as a community is that
A) an ecosystem encompasses a larger spatial scale.
B) for an ecosystem we consider energy flow but not nutrient cycling.
C) an ecosystem includes abiotic but not biotic components.
D) for an ecosystem we consider both energy flow and nutrient cycling.
E) for an ecosystem we do not consider interactions among organisms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The major difference between an ecosystem and a community is that an ecosystem considers both energy flow and nutrient cycling, while a community only considers interactions among organisms. Additionally, ecosystems encompass a larger spatial scale than communities. Both ecosystems and communities include biotic components, such as organisms, as well as abiotic components, such as soil and water.

A Major Difference Between What We Define as an Ecosystem