Download 2.1 Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

2.1 Biotic and Abiotic Factors in
Ecosystems
Science 10
Mr. Francis
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
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
Levels of Organization
 Second level of organization - Population
 A Population is a group of organisms of the same
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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
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
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 (abiotic or 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.
Examining the Ecosystem
 The parts of an ecosystem can be categorized as either biotic
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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
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.
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