Environment refers to one's overall surrounding that facilitates growth and development. An environment becomes inhabitable when it has the resources that a species needs for it to persist. This brings us to the next terminology in question. Ecosystem, on the other hand, refers to the communities of organisms AND their non-living environment in which nutrient cycle and energy flow occurs. Notice the emphasis on the word AND, as this implies that when we talk of ecosystem, we refer to organisms and environment, and their interaction with each other and with their environment. A food chain would be a good example of this interaction. These interacting organisms are what comprise an ecological community. Specifically, an ecological community refers to the species of plants, animals and other organisms interacting at the same time within a common habitat.