An ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with each other and with their environment such that energy is exchanged

and system-level processes, such as the cycling of elements, emerges. (Ellis, 2008) Ecosystems include living organisms, the dead organic matter produced by them, the abiotic environment within which the organisms live and exchange elements (soils, water, atmosphere), and the interactions between these components. Ecosystems embody the concept that living organisms continually interact with each other and with the environment to produce complex systems with emergent properties, such that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" and "everything is connected". Ecosystems may be observed in many possible ways, so there is no one set of components that make up ecosystems. However, all ecosystems must include both biotic and abiotic components, their interactions, and some source of energy. The simplest (and least representative) of ecosystems might therefore contain just a single living plant (biotic component) within a small terrarium exposed to light to which a water solution containing essential nutrients for plant growth has been added (abiotic environment). The other extreme would be the biosphere, which comprises the totality of Earth's organisms and their interactions with each other and the earth systems (abiotic environment). And of course, most ecosystems fall somewhere in between these extremes of complexity. Sarver (2006), talked about symbiotic relationships in her article, Odd couples in the JanuaryFebruary 2006 edition of NatGeo magazine, according to Sarver, not all animals can survive on their own. Some animals form a close partnership with other kinds of animals. These pairings are called symbiotic relationships. In a symbiotic relationship, the animals depend on each other. One animal helps the other meet its needs. Although in some cases, one animal consumes the other, ticks, for example. These insects guzzle blood to live. To get blood, they attach themselves to other kinds of animals. Ticks do not help their hosts. Instead, they can pass germs that cause disease. Thus, with an available location for an ecosystem, the researchers conducted a study to observe the components in an ecosystem and to point out different symbiotic relationships found in the ecosystem. Statement of the problem: The purpose of the study is to observe and analyze how different components in an ecosystem interact with each other. The study aims to answer the following questions: a. What are the biotic and abiotic components found in the system? b. What are the interactions found in the system? c. How do the interactions of the components affect the ecosystem? Significance of the study: This study will benefit people in a community. The results will serve as a foundation of knowledge for ecologists. Since, the system that will be used involves artificial abiotic components, the

study would also imply how animals and plants strive in an environment influenced by humans. This obtained knowledge could be used in the future to improve ecosystems and to protect forests from destruction. Scopes and delimitations: The study only focuses in an environment influenced by human technology; this means that it will not be a natural environment like forests or a man-made environment such as aquariums. One ideal place is a vacant lot beside a building. Since the place is within a city, only miniscule plants and animals are observed, such as ferns , a few trees and insects. The researchers also want to determine the interactions or symbiotic relationship found within the ecosystem. With these limitations stated, other concerns beyond our measure are negligible. Definition of terms: 1. Ecosystem- a system involving the interactions between a community of living organisms in a particular area and its nonliving environment 2. Symbiotic relationships- the living together of two dissimilar organisms 3. Interaction- effect of one organism to another 4. Biotic factors- living things in a system 5. Abiotic factors- non living things in a system