All of the following are characteristics of ecosystems EXCEPT?

Ecosystems are defined by a set of interconnected components that include living organisms and their physical environment. The key characteristics of ecosystems include biotic components, which consist of all the living organisms like plants, animals, and microorganisms. These components interact with each other and their surroundings, forming complex relationships.

Abiotic factors are also crucial in ecosystems, as they encompass all the non-living elements, such as water, soil, temperature, and sunlight. These factors significantly influence the types of organisms that can thrive in a particular ecosystem and play a vital role in shaping the habitat.

Energy flow is another fundamental aspect of ecosystems, as it illustrates how energy moves through trophic levels, from producers (like plants) to consumers (like herbivores and carnivores) and decomposers. This flow of energy drives the functioning of the ecosystem.

The term "heterogeneous," while often used to describe variation within ecosystems, may not accurately reflect a characteristic that defines an ecosystem. Ecosystems can be both heterogeneous and homogeneous, depending on various factors, including scale and ecological context. Therefore, while diversity is an important aspect of many ecosystems, the statement that ecosystems are inherently heterogeneous is not a defining characteristic in the same way that biotic components, abiotic factors