ecosystem
/ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈē-kō-ˌsi-stəm ˈe-kō-/ (ame, mw)
ecosystem — noun
- ecosystemsingular
- ecosystemsplural
1. A natural system in which every plant, animal, and microbe living in a shared re
A natural system in which every plant, animal, and microbe living in a shared region interacts with its non-living surroundings — such as water, soil, and climate — in ways that maintain the balance and health of the whole.
The coastal ecosystem along Oregon's shoreline supports hundreds of bird, fish, and plant species.
collocation: coastal ecosystem
Deforestation in the Amazon threatens an ecosystem that took thousands of years to form.
collocation: threaten + ecosystem (fragile entity)
Wildfires destroyed large parts of the forest ecosystem, leaving the soil dry and barren.
Biologists observe how each species fits into the ecosystem and what happens when one vanishes.
- biome
much larger in scale, such as a desert or tundra biome, whereas an ecosystem can be small
- environment
broader and less precise; environment includes non-living factors but does not emphasize interactions between species
- habitat
focuses on where a single species lives, not the full web of relationships
文法句型
ecosystem + verb
adjective + ecosystem
ecosystem of + noun
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives describing the type of environment (marine, forest, urban, coastal) or the condition of the system (fragile, healthy, damaged, thriving). In scientific writing, the term emphasizes interdependence between living things and their physical surroundings.
常見錯誤
2. A complex group of interconnected companies, products, services, or users that d
A complex group of interconnected companies, products, services, or users that depend on and influence one another, often describing the environment created by a technology platform or a business network where different parts work together as a whole.
The Android ecosystem includes phone makers, app developers, and users around the world.
collocation: [platform name] ecosystem
New digital payment apps are creating a financial ecosystem that reaches people without bank accounts.
collocation: financial ecosystem
The tech ecosystem in Bangalore attracts talent from across India and other countries.
A startup ecosystem needs investors, mentors, and shared spaces for young companies to grow.
- network
simpler and less suggestive of interdependence; a network can be purely structural
- platform
focuses on the central technology that others build on, rather than the whole web of relationships
- environment
more general; lacks the connotation of mutual dependence and growth
文法句型
adjective + ecosystem
ecosystem of + noun
possessive + ecosystem
用法筆記
Very common in technology and business journalism. The metaphor compares a network of independent but connected players to a natural biological system. Often found in phrases like "startup ecosystem," "digital ecosystem," or "developer ecosystem."