In an introduction to ecosystems, how is a habitat different from an ecosystem?

• A. A habitat is a large geographic region such as a biome, while an ecosystem is always smaller and contains only one species.
• B. A habitat is the specific place an organism lives, while an ecosystem includes the community of organisms and the abiotic environment interacting in an area.
• C. A habitat describes energy flow and nutrient cycling, while an ecosystem refers only to where an organism lives.
• D. A habitat consists only of abiotic (nonliving) factors, while an ecosystem consists only of biotic (living) factors.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of a habitat. A habitat is the specific place or environment where an organism lives. It includes the physical surroundings that provide the organism with food, shelter, and mates for reproduction.
2. Step 2: Understand the definition of an ecosystem. An ecosystem includes not only the community of living organisms (biotic factors) but also the nonliving (abiotic) components such as water, soil, and climate, all interacting in a particular area.
3. Step 3: Compare the scope of habitat and ecosystem. A habitat focuses on the place where a single organism or species lives, while an ecosystem encompasses multiple species and their interactions with each other and with the abiotic environment.
4. Step 4: Recognize that ecosystems involve processes like energy flow and nutrient cycling, which are not described by the term habitat alone.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the key difference is that a habitat is the specific living place of an organism, whereas an ecosystem is a broader concept that includes both living communities and their physical environment interacting together.