ecosystems
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈikoʊˌsɪstəmz// UK //ˈiːkəʊsˌɪstəmz// ecosys·tems
n. all the living things in an area, like plants and animals, and how they work together with their environment.
n. biological communities of interacting organisms and their physical environment. Often used to describe the complex network of dependencies between biotic and abiotic components.
Pollution can damage fragile ecosystems like coral reefs.
Scientists are studying how rising temperatures affect local ecosystems and the species that live within them.
The reintroduction of wolves to the national park had a cascading effect on the entire ecosystem, eventually altering the flow of rivers by changing the grazing patterns of elk.
Usage
Commonly used in the plural to refer to different types of environments globally.