An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and the nonliving components that interact with one another. Interaction in an ecosystem is the process by which organisms of the same or different species interact with each other and their environment. Examples of interactions in an ecosystem include competition for resources, predation, parasitism, mutualism and commensalism. Interactions can also occur between organisms and their abiotic environment, such as climate, soil, and water. Understanding the interactions of species in an ecosystem is critical for conserving and managing the environment.