The following are the basic properties of an ecosystem:

• Ecosystem of any given space-time-unit represents the sum of all living organisms and physical environment.
• It is composed of three basic components, viz., energy, biotic and abiotic components.
• It occupies certain well-defined area on the earth-space ship (spatial dimension).
• It is viewed in terms of time-unit (temporal dimension).
• There are complex sets of interactions between biotic and abiotic components (including energy component) on the one hand, and between and among the organisms on the other hand.
• It is an open system which is characterized by continuous input and output of matter and energy.
• It tends to be in relatively stable equilibrium unless there is disturbance in one or more controlling factors (limiting factors).
• It is powered by energy of various sorts, but solar energy is the most significant
• It is a functional unit wherein the biotic components and abiotic components are intimately related to each other through a series of large-scale cyclic mechanisms, viz., energy flow, water cycle, biogeochemical cycle, mineral cycle, sediment cycle etc.
• Ecosystem has its own productivity which is the process of building organic matter based on the availability and amount of energy passing through the ecosystem. The productivity refers to the rate of growth of organic matter in a real unit per time-unit.