Biotic and Abiotic Factors SC.912.L.17.7

What is an ecosystem?  The biosphere is the part of the Earth that contains all the living things on the planet.  Each ecosystem that we study is a part of the biosphere.  A system is a group of things that interact with one another.

What are biotic factors?  The organisms that make up the living part of an ecosystem are called biotic factors.  An organism depends on other biotic factors for food, shelter, protection, and reproduction.

What are abiotic factors?  Nonliving things that we find in an ecosystem are called abiotic factors.  Abiotic factors have an effect on the type and number of organisms living in an ecosystem.  Some abiotic factors include soil, water, temperature, and sunlight.

Ecosystems  do not necessarily have clear boundaries due to biotic and abiotic changes  can change daily as things move from one ecosystem to another Biotic: migration, seed dispersal Abiotic: flood, erosion, drought

Aquatic Ecosystems  Abioitc: Temperature, pH, Salinity, sunlight  Biotic: Fish, insects, submerged plants,phytoplankton

Terrestrial Ecosystems  Biotic: all plants and animals!!  Abiotic: temperature, pH of soil, sunlight availability, precipitation, humidity (availability of water)