Science 10: BiologyChapter 2

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Vocab:› Ecology› Organism› Habitat› Population› Community

› Ecosystem› Biosphere› Dynamic

equilibrium› Limiting factor

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Our focus this year during the biology unit will be ecology, so we need to know what this means:› Ecology: the study of

how organisms interactwith each other and with their physical (non-living) environment.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

To make the study of ecology easier, biologists organize their study into different levels.

The four levels of organization are:› First level: organism› Second level: population› Third level: community› Fourth level: ecosystem

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

The population of organisms within any community my be affected by two kinds of factors: biotic and abiotic.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Biotic factor:› Any living part of an ecosystem.› Bio = life› Ex.

Cougars Parasites Rodents Vegetation Disease

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Abiotic factor:› Any non-living part of an ecosystem.› A = not› Ex.

Temperature Climate Water

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Dynamic equilibrium:› The ability of an ecosystem to stay stable

even after undergoing small changes.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Limiting factor:› Any factor that is critical in determining

what organisms live in an ecosystem.› Ex.

Coyote – food supply

Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems

Assignment:› CYU p. 24

#1 (a-d) in full sentences. #2 (a-e) in point form. #3 (a-f) in point form. #8 (a,b) in full sentences.