Thus, by definition, an ecosystem is a community of living

organisms which interact with one another and in turn

interact with the nonliving components of their environment in
a self-perpetuating system. These biotic and
abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles
and energy flows (fig. 1.4). Energy from the sun enters the
ecosystem through photosynthesis (fig. 1.5) and is
incorporated into plant tissue. By feeding on these plants and
on one-another, animals play an important role in the
movement of matter and energy through the ecosystem (plate
1.1).