Ecosystems Part 1

Ecosystems Similar to biomes, ecosystems have abiotic and biotic factors Biomes contain many types of ecosystems Ecosystems range in size, they can span many hectares or be as small as a rotten log. Within ecosystems are habitats. Habitat is the place in which an organism lives

relatively Large Relatively small

Abiotic interactions in ecosystems The importance of abiotic factors in an ecosystem: Water essential for life. It also carries nutrients from place to place, nutrients which are essential for growth Light is needed for photosynthesis (plants using solar power to make food) Soil provides nutrients and water for plants Oxygen is needed for some organisms to live

Biotic interactions in ecosystems Species: a group of closely related organism that can reproduce fertile offspring. (Donkey and Horse producing infertile mules) A population is all the members of a particular species in an ecosystem. A community is all the populations of different species which interact in an ecosystem. Organism Species Population  Community  Ecosystem (Ecological hierarchy)

Organism Species Community Population