ecosystems

Noun

ecosystem (plural ecosystems)

1. A system formed by an ecological community and its environment that functions as a unit.
   • Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the...2012 January, Donald Worster, “A Drier and Hotter Future”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2012, page 70
2. The interconnectedness of organisms (plants, animals, microbes) with each other and their environment.
3. (broadly) A network of interconnected people, organizations, products or services that resembles a natural ecosystem due to the complex interdependencies.
   • The company’s ecosystem mainly comprises its supply chain, customers, end consumers and competitors.