Definitions
- Referring to the entire planetary system that supports life. - Talking about the interconnectedness of all living and non-living things on Earth. - Describing the complex web of relationships between organisms and their environment.
- Referring to a specific community of living and non-living things in a particular environment. - Talking about the interactions between organisms and their physical surroundings. - Describing the flow of energy and nutrients through a particular ecological system.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to the relationship between living and non-living things in an environment.
- 2Both words emphasize the interconnectedness of different elements within a system.
- 3Both words are used in the context of ecology and environmental science.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Ecosphere refers to the entire planetary system that supports life, while ecosystem refers to a specific community of living and non-living things in a particular environment.
- 2Size: Ecosphere is a larger concept than ecosystem, which is more localized.
- 3Complexity: Ecosphere is a more complex and abstract concept than ecosystem, which is more concrete and observable.
- 4Interdependence: Ecosphere emphasizes the interdependence of all living and non-living things on Earth, while ecosystem focuses on the interdependence of a specific community of organisms in a particular environment.
- 5Scale: Ecosphere is a global concept, while ecosystem can be applied to smaller scales such as a pond or a forest.
Remember this!
Ecosphere and ecosystem both refer to the relationship between living and non-living things in an environment. However, ecosphere is a larger and more abstract concept that refers to the entire planetary system that supports life, while ecosystem is a more concrete and observable concept that refers to a specific community of living and non-living things in a particular environment.