Ecosystem and environment are two words that mean land, water, forests, plants, and minerals. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and soil), interacting as a system. Ecosystems are found everywhere on Earth, from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the sea. The environment is the sum of all the conditions that affect the life of an organism or community. This includes both living and nonliving things.