Abiotic factors refer to non-living physical and chemical elements in the ecosystem.

Abiotic resources are usually obtained from the lithosphere, atmosphere, and
hydrosphere. Examples of abiotic factors are water, air, soil, sunlight, and minerals.
Biotic factors are living or once-living organisms in the ecosystem. These are obtained
from the biosphere and are capable of reproduction. Examples of biotic factors are
animals, birds, plants, fungi, and other similar organisms.

Ecosystem
This article is about natural ecosystems. For the term used in man-made systems, see Digital ecosystem.

Coral reefs are a highly productivemarine ecosystem.[1]

Rainforest ecosystems are rich in biodiversity. This is the Gambia Riverin Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park.

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving

components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a
system.[2] These biotic and abiotic components are regarded as linked together through nutrient
cycles and energy flows.[3] As ecosystems are defined by the network of interactions among
organisms, and between organisms and their environment, [4] they can be of any size but usually
encompass specific, limited spaces[5] (although some scientists say that the entire planet is an
ecosystem).[6]
Energy, water, nitrogen and soil minerals are other essential abiotic components of an
ecosystem. The energy that flows through ecosystems is obtained primarily from the sun. It
generally enters the system through photosynthesis, a process that also captures carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere. By feeding on plants and on one another, animalsplay an important
role in the movement of matter and energy through the system. They also influence the quantity
of plant and microbial biomass present. By breaking down dead organic
matter, decomposers release carbon back to the atmosphere and facilitate nutrient cycling by
converting nutrients stored in dead biomass back to a form that can be readily used by plants
and other microbes.[7]

Ecological Relationships
competitionwhen two or more organisms rely on the same environmental resource

predationbehavior of one animal feeding on another

symbiosisthe close relationship of two dissimilar organisms

mutualisma symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit

commensalisma symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and one does not benefit but is
unharmed

parasitisma symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and one is harmed

An ecological relationship is the relationship between an organism in its ecosystem. All organisms in an
ecosystem are connected in one way or another. Each interaction depends on the one before it. Each
population interacts with one another in a complex web of relations. Ecological relationships help better to
describe how they are connected.