Backyard Ecology

Abiotic Features of the Ecosystem

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An ecosystem is made up of abiotic and biotic features. Biotic features of an environment are the living features: plants, animals and fungi. Abiotic features are the physical characteristics of the ecosystem - the air, water, light, landforms and soil. A more detailed definition can be found at Thinkquest: [http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210243/Science%20Station/How%20living%20things%20interact%20with%20their%20environment/relationship%20of%20biotic%20and%20abiotic%20factors.htm].

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This video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrY8nZuZMFY] will link your understanding of abiotic and biotic factors to the work you have already completed about food webs and energy cycles.

Want to know more?

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Watch Evolartist's paper animation [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuvRuukxuVo&NR=1] which links the concepts of abiotic and biotic factors to the geographical idea of biomes (different types of ecosystems). Parts 2 and 3 of this presentation are available in the right-hand side panel.
A detailed list of how abiotic factors affect different organisms can be found at the University of the South Cape, South Africa [http://www.bcb.uwc.ac.za/Sci_Ed/grade10/ecology/abiotic/abiot.htm].