Biotic and Abiotic Components, Understanding, and Examples

Biotic and Abiotic Components, Understanding, and Examples

The ecosystem is composed of two main components, namely the biotic component and the abiotic component. These two components interact with each other to achieve balance. For those of you who do not know what the biotic and abiotic components are, the following team of eBiologi authors has summarized the ins and outs of the discussion, ranging from understanding, example, and the relationship between the two. Please be listened!

Biotic and Abiotic Components

Language, biotic means life. As traced from the term, understanding of biotic components is defined as the components of the ecosystem composers in the form of living things. Some examples of biotic components such as animals, plants, monera, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and humans. Biotic components reproduce and survive in abiotic environments.

Contrary to the definition of biotic, the definition of abiotic components is defined as the components of the ecosystem composers in the form of inanimate objects. Some examples of abiotic components such as soil, temperature, sunlight, water, air, and so forth. Abiotic components greatly affect the type and lifestyle of biotic components in an ecosystem unit.

Biotic and Abiotic Components

The following describes the effect of the interaction of the biotic and abiotic components in more detail.

1. Biotic Components

Humans are one example of biotic components. In addition to humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms also belong to this component. Provided that a creature shows the characteristics of life, the creature is categorized as an example of a biotic component.

As for its ability to obtain food, biotic components are classified into 3 levels, namely the level of autotroph (producer), heterotroph (consumer), and decomposers (decomposer).

a. Organism Autotroph (manufacturer)

 

An autotrophic organism called producer is an organism that can produce its own food. Manufacturers make food by absorbing compounds and inorganic substances to be converted into organic compounds through the process of photosynthesis. The special characteristic of an autotrophic organism is the presence of chlorophyll in the body, as in higher plants. In the interaction of biotic and abiotic components, the autotrophic organism is the beginning of the creation of an ecosystem balance.

Biotic and Abiotic Components

b. Heterotrophic organisms (consumers)

Heterotrophic organisms also called consumers are organisms that use organic materials derived from other organisms as a source of energy and food. The autotrophic organism can not produce its own food. Examples of such biotic compounds include humans and animals that act as either carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores.

c. Decomposer

Decomposers are organisms that convert organic materials from dead organisms into inorganic compounds through the decomposition process. Examples of these biotic components such as fungi, bacteria, algae, worms, and so forth. Some decomposers that use organic waste of decomposition products are also called detritivors. Examples of these organisms include wood ticks.

The three levels of biotic components ranging from autotrophic organisms, heterotrophs, and decomposers all interact with each other to form a biotic natural phenomenon such as food chain patterns, food pyramids, etc. as described in the next article.

2. Abiotic Components

Abiotic component is the component of the ecosystem in the form of dead. The abiotic component has an enormous influence on the life of the biotic component. Here are some examples of abiotic components and their explanations.

a. Air

An example of the first abiotic component is air. Air is a collection of gases that make up the Earth's atmosphere. The gas is composed of oxygen (21.9%), Nitrogen (78.1%), carbon dioxide (0.03%), and other gases in small quantities. Air has a great influence on the life of biotic components, for example the oxygen content in the air that supports human respiration or carbon dioxide content that supports photosynthesis for autotrophic organisms.

b. Water

The volume of water on earth reaches 1.4 billion km3. The volume comes from sea water (97%), fresh water (0.75%), and iceberg (2%). The volume of water on earth will be fixed due to the hydrological cycle. Water is an example of an abiotic component of an ecosystem whose role is vital to life on earth. Water is used for various purposes of life, ranging from for photosynthesis, support tissue metabolism, and so forth. The availability of water is a factor that greatly affects the state of the biotic and abiotic components in the ecosystem.

c. Decomposer

Decomposers are organisms that convert organic materials from dead organisms into inorganic compounds through the decomposition process. Examples of these biotic components such as fungi, bacteria, algae, worms, and so forth. Some decomposers that use organic waste of decomposition products are also called detritivors. Examples of these organisms include wood ticks.

The three levels of biotic components ranging from autotrophic organisms, heterotrophs, and decomposers all interact with each other to form a biotic natural phenomenon such as food chain patterns, food pyramids, etc. as described in the next article.

2. Abiotic Components

Abiotic component is the component of the ecosystem in the form of dead. The abiotic component has an enormous influence on the life of the biotic component. Here are some examples of abiotic components and their explanations.

a. Air

An example of the first abiotic component is air. Air is a collection of gases that make up the Earth's atmosphere. The gas is composed of oxygen (21.9%), Nitrogen (78.1%), carbon dioxide (0.03%), and other gases in small quantities. Air has a great influence on the life of biotic components, for example the oxygen content in the air that supports human respiration or carbon dioxide content that supports photosynthesis for autotrophic organisms.

b. Water

The volume of water on earth reaches 1.4 billion km3. The volume comes from sea water (97%), fresh water (0.75%), and iceberg (2%). The volume of water on earth will be fixed due to the hydrological cycle. Water is an example of an abiotic component of an ecosystem whose role is vital to life on earth. Water is used for various purposes of life, ranging from for photosynthesis, support tissue metabolism, and so forth. The availability of water is a factor that greatly affects the state of the biotic and abiotic components in the ecosystem.

c. Sunlight

Sunlight, both from the intensity and quality can greatly affect the life of an ecosystem. The intensity of sunlight that is so high in the desert ecosystem area for example, has forced desert organisms to adapt morphologically, physiologically, and behaviorally. In addition, sunlight also helps autotrophic organisms in their photosynthesis.

d. Soil

The soil is formed from a process of weathering rocks that lasted for a very long time. Land is composed of 4 main components, namely mineral materials, organic materials, water, and air. The soil becomes a growing medium for autotrophic organisms. The soil is also used heterotrophic organisms as a place to find food.

e. Temperature

Temperature is an abiotic component that often destroys the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Temperature difference between places is influenced by many factors. The main factors are solar radiation, latitude, and altitude. At very low temperatures, certain organisms adapt the morphology by thickening body hair and behavioral adaptations by hibernation.

In addition to these four examples, there are still many other abiotic components that have a major impact on the state of an ecosystem. Some of them include moisture, pH, mineral salt content, and so forth. Each of these abiotic components is actually in addition to affecting the life of biotic components also interact with each other. Biotic and abiotic components form a unified complementary ecosystem.

Thus our exposure at a glance about the definition of biotic and abiotic components with the complete example. Hopefully it can be useful in adding your insight into our ecosystem. Regards.

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