Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Factors that Affect Communities

Communities are groups of interdependent organisms that inhabit the same geographic area and interact with each other. Biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors play a significant part in constituting a community.
Biotic factors include predator-prey relationships, competition for resources, disease, food availability, and mutualism, where two species benefit from each other.
Predation involves one organism, the predator, catching, killing and eating another organism, the prey. This affects the number of organisms in both populations, influencing the balance of the ecosystem.
Competition occurs when organisms vie for the same resources, such as food, light, water, or space. This might affect the distribution and number of organisms in a community.
Diseases can drastically reduce the number of organisms within a community, which can alter the community structure.
Mutualism, a type of Symbiosis, involves different species working together for mutual benefit. For example, bees gathering nectar from flowers and inadvertently transferring pollen, aiding plant reproduction.
Abiotic factors encompass numerous physical and chemical components such as temperature, light intensity, pH levels, soil type and composition, rainfall, salinity, and oxygen levels. These can influence where organisms can live and their rate of survival.
Slight changes in climate, like temperature and rainfall, can shift the boundaries of ecosystems, influencing the distribution and diversity of organisms. Warming climates might cause species to migrate to cooler areas.
The pH level can affect the availability of nutrients in water and soil. Certain plants and animals favor specific pH levels, restricting their distribution.
Soil composition can influence the type of plants that can grow, thereby influencing the animals that can live within that community.
Human activities can also play a significant role in shaping communities. Deforestation, pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing and climate change can lead to reduction in biodiversity.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is important because it boosts ecosystem productivity and ensures its sustainability for all life forms.
Adaptation is a crucial aspect, where living organisms adjust to their environment to increase their chances of survival. These can be behavioural, physiological or physical changes.
Understanding how these factors shape communities is vital to conserving biodiversity and managing natural resources responsibly.