Ecosystem Structure and Function Introduction

Biogeography reveals that living organisms (plants and animals) are found practically everywhere on this earth. The living components interact among themselves as well as with their physical environment like soil, air and water.

The branch of biology, which deals with the relationship of organisms with their environment is known as 'ecology'.

The term ecology is derived from the Greek root "oikos" - meaning "house", combined with "logy" - meaning "the science of " or "the study of".

Sir Arthur. G. Tansley, a British ecologist, coined the term 'Ecosystem' in the year 1935, which refers to a whole community of organisms and its environment as one unit.