1. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
An interdependent relationship

2. 5 levels of the Environment
When talking about Ecology, it is important to arrange the scope of discussion.
In order to organize our discussion, we classify the environment from the most specific to most broad.

3. Specific: The Organism
When talking about the organism, we are talking about a SINGLE animal, plant, or other organism. It is a biotic factor of the environment.

4. Population
Population: group of individuals belonging to the same species that inhabit a specific geographic location at a specific point in time

5. Community
A community is the set of all populations that inhabit a certain area.

6. Ecosystem
The ecosystem is the community of biotic factors AND all the abiotic factors of the area.

7. Biosphere
The biosphere is the part of Earth where life exists. The biosphere is another way to refer to the Earth.

8. BIOTIC FACTORS
Biotic Factors Biotic factors are living factors. Anything living OR THAT WAS ONCE LIVING is considered a biotic factor.
                                                                   

9. Examples of Biotic Factors
Plants
Animals
Fungi (like mushrooms)
Protist (like paramecium, amoeba, and euglena)
Bacteria

10. ABIOTIC FACTORS
Abiotic Factors Abiotic, meaning not alive, are nonliving factors that affect living organisms.

11. Examples of Abiotic Factors
Rain
Snow
Temperature
Water
Rocks
pH of soil
Pollution

12. Biotic and abiotic factors are interrelated
Biotic and abiotic factors are interrelated. One factor affects the other.

13. For example, if the temperature drastically changes in an area, it will impact the plants and animals
that can
live there.

14. Limiting Factor Principle
Too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit growth of population, even if all the other factors are at optimum (favorable) range of tolerance.