diff --git a/src/schema/nmdc.yaml b/src/schema/nmdc.yaml
index 9876aa80f8..a8898b96f9 100644
--- a/src/schema/nmdc.yaml
+++ b/src/schema/nmdc.yaml
@@ -2968,6 +2968,12 @@ slots:
     abstract: true
     description: >-
       This is a grouping for any of the gold path fields
+    annotations:
+      tool_tip:
+        tag: tool_tip
+        value: GOLD Ecosystem Classification paths describe the surroundings from which an environmental sample or an organism is collected.
+        annotations:
+          source: https://gold.jgi.doe.gov/ecosystem_classification
   ecosystem:
     is_a: gold_path_field
     description: