BRAINCAKEEcosystems
An ecosystem is a community of organisms together with the non-living (abiotic) components of their environment, interacting as a system.
The components of an ecosystem can be divided into two groups:
• biotic components are the living organisms: producers, consumers and decomposers;
• abiotic components are the non-living conditions and resources, such as light, temperature, water, soil, pH, oxygen and mineral ions.
Ecosystems can be any size. A rock pool, a pond, a hedgerow and a whole tropical rainforest are all ecosystems. Their boundaries are often chosen for convenience, because organisms and materials move between them.
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More in Populations in Ecosystems
- Populations and Communities
- Niches
- Carrying Capacity
- Abiotic Factors and Population Size
- Biotic Factors and Population Size
- Intraspecific Competition
- Interspecific Competition
- Predator-Prey Relationships
All 20 lessons in Populations in Ecosystems · All AQA A-level Biology topics