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An ecosystem is a system with a specific geographic location that includes all living organisms (humans, plants, animals, micro-organisms), the physical, chemical, and climatic environment, and the processes that control the dynamics of the system. The interaction of organisms in an ecosystem is dynamic and subject to internal and external disturbances. Therefore, the relationships of organisms in an ecosystem may change over time. While aquatic ecosystems may be separated by geographical barriers, as in the case of lakes, watersheds, or enclosed bays, aquatic ecosystems often blend into one another because of porous boundaries set by currents, features of the seafloor, or water masses. Aquatic ecosystems can also be nested inside larger ecosystems.
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