1.8 Define each of the following terms: i) biotic factors 11 abiotic factors iii) population 1V community

i) **Biotic factors:** These are the living components of an ecosystem. They include all living organisms, from the smallest bacteria to the largest plants and animals. Examples include plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and protists. Their interactions, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis, are also considered biotic factors.<br /><br />ii) **Abiotic factors:** These are the non-living components of an ecosystem. They are the physical and chemical factors that influence the living organisms. Examples include temperature, sunlight, water, soil, air, pH, salinity, and minerals.<br /><br />iii) **Population:** A population is a group of individuals of the *same species* living in the same area at the same time. They interact and interbreed with each other. For example, all the rainbow trout in a particular lake would constitute a population.<br /><br />iv) **Community:** A community consists of all the different populations of various species living and interacting in a particular area at the same time. It encompasses all the biotic factors of an ecosystem. For example, a forest community would include populations of trees, shrubs, insects, birds, mammals, fungi, and bacteria.<br />