2.1 Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

1. 2.1 Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems Science 10 Mr. Francis

2. What is Ecology? • Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. • Ecologists are scientists that study ecology • Ecologists use different levels of organization to guide their studies

3. Levels of organization • First level of organization • Organism – a single living thing • We study behaviors, functions, anatomy and physiology that organisms display in order to live in a specific habitat • Habitat is the specific area where an organism lives

4. Levels of Organization • Second level of organization - Population • A Population is a group of organisms of the same species that share a habitat • What is a population we see in the North Thompson? • A species is a group of organisms that are capable of reproducing and rearing viable offspring • Viable means the offspring can reproduce (not sterile) • Mules, Zebroids, Beefalo, Ligers and Wholphins are examples of hybrid organisms that can’t reproduce with their parent species successfully

5. Levels of Organization • Third level of organization - Community • Populations of different species of living things collectively make up the community • Identify the different species that make up the community within our local ecosystem

6. Levels of Organization • The fourth level of organization is the Ecosystem • The Ecosystem is composed of the community (biotic or living component) and the physical environment the community exists in (abioticor non living) • Ecosystems are not defined by size or complexity, can be as small as a decaying log or as large as an ocean • Earth can be viewed as a giant Ecosystem, ecologists refer to the area on, in, and around earth where life is found as the Biosphere.

7. Examining the Ecosystem • The parts of an ecosystem can be categorized as either biotic factors or abiotic factors • Biotic factors are the living components in an ecosystem (Plants, Animals, Bacteria, Fungi) • Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an ecosystem (temperature, wind, water, sunlight, oxygen • There is a strong connection between abiotic and biotic factors in ecosystems. • Abiotic factors determine what living things can be successful in a given area • Living things affect the abiotic component of the environment, this can again influence what lives in a certain area

8. Finding a balance • There will always be changes within ecosystems • Dynamic Equilibrium is the balance point at which the composition of the ecosystem does not change, even though small changes are occurring within the ecosystem • Limiting Factors are the most important factors in determining what organisms can exist in an ecosystem. The amount of rain or sunlight determines what vegetation can grow in an area.

9. Assignment • P. 24 # 1-4, 7, 8 • Be sure to title the assignment appropriately • Section 2.1 “Abiotic and Biotic Factors in Ecosystems” P. 24 # 1-4, 7,8. • Put your name and date on it • Provide full sentence answers where appropriate