Learn what an ecosystem is, how energy and matter move through ecosystems , and what makes an ecosystem stable. What is an Ecosystem ? Ecosystem Definition: An ecosystem can be defined as a unit of ecological studies that includes all the interactions between living organisms with their surrounding non-living environment. In the word " ecosystem ", "eco" means environment, and "system," refers to connected processes or elements. Ecosystems are made up of both biotic (or alive) and abiotic (or nonliving) components. It is a biological community where living and non-living components of the planet interact ... An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscapes, work together to form a bubble of life.