all of the biotic and abiotic factors in an area and their interactions
Biotic factors affecting ecosystems
competition
animals compete for food, territory & breeding partners
Abiotic factors affecting ecosystems
light - affects rate of photosynthesis
temperature - affects enzyme activity/ can trigger migration/ hibernation/ can trigger leaf-fall, dormancy & flowering
water availability - lack of water = stress = death/ cause plants to wilt
oxygen availability - in aquatic ecosystems need fast-flowing cold water as contains high concentrations of oxygen - water too warm or slow flow rate = drop in oxygen. Waterlogged soil = reduced oxygen
edaphic (soil) factors - diff soil types have diff particle sizes - effects organisms that are able to survive in them
How are the boundaries of a particular ecosystem defined?
by person carrying out study
individual habitats may be studied - e.g a rock pool or a large oak tree
or small areas of land - e.g., a playing field or a particular stretch of a river
