Factors that Impact Ecosystems AP Biology Unit 1

Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors Abiotic factors = non-living components that affect living organisms –Ex. Temperature, sunlight, rocks Biotic Factors = all living things or their materials that directly or indirectly affect organisms in its environment (includes interactions)

Affect of Biotic and Abiotic Factors Interactions with biotic and abiotic factors can have an effect on several different levels: cellular, organismal, population, ecosystem Cellular Level: ex. temperature, water availability can affect a cell’s function. Organismal level: ex. interactions (such as mutualism, predation) as well as abiotic factors (water, temperature)

Affect of Biotic and Abiotic Factors Population, Ecosystem, Community Level: –ex. Water availability, availability of nesting materials and sites, species diversity, can all contribute to the stability of these groups.

Biomes Ecosystem types that are classified according to the dominant vegetation Locations are closely tied to abiotic factors such as temperature and rainfall Ex. Desert, tropical rain forest, tundra

Geological & Meteorological Events Impact ecosystem distribution Biogeographical studies –Studies that determine the distribution of species Ex. Continental drift –Marsupials fill ecological roles in Australia similar to those filled by placental mammals on other continent

Species-specific events Keystone species = have a strong influence on other species in the ecosystem Loss of keystone species can result in drastic changes to or the collapse of the ecosystem.

Human Activities Occurs on a local, regional, and global scale Speeds up changes to ecosystems locally and globally Ex. Urbanization, global climate change, introduced species