Examples of _________ include ponds, grasslands, and forests.
                            
                         
                        
                            
                        
                             
                            
                            
                            
                                Explanation
                            
                                
                                    Answer: E, ecosystem.  The ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals, and microorganisms (biotic factors) in an area functioning in conjunction with the physical (abiotic) factors of the environment.
Key Takeaway: While ecosystem is often used interchangeably with biome, the terms define different areas.  In short, a biome is comprised of numerous ecosystems.  Like the ecosystem, the biome is a defined area of ecologically similar climatic conditions, but defined to a much larger area.