Florida Biology EOC Practice Test 2026 - Free Biology End-of-Course Practice Questions and Study Guide

An ecosystem is best defined as a community of living organisms interacting with their environment. This definition encompasses not only the various species within a community—including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms—but also the physical elements of the environment, such as air, water, soil, and climate. In an ecosystem, these living organisms interact with each other and with their physical surroundings, forming complex relationships that contribute to the energy flow and nutrient cycling essential for life.

These interactions can include predation, competition, symbiosis, and other forms of relationships that define how organisms coexist and utilize resources within their habitat. The balance and dynamics of these relationships ultimately affect the health and sustainability of the ecosystem.

In contrast, the other options focus on narrower aspects. A network of plant species emphasizes just one group of organisms without considering the full scope of interactions and environmental factors. A group of the same species living together refers to a population rather than the broader interactions that occur within an ecosystem. Lastly, a collection of inorganic materials fails to capture the living components and their interactions, which are vital to the concept of an ecosystem. Thus, the comprehensive view that encompasses both living organisms and their interactions with the environment is what makes "a community of living organisms interacting with their environment"