Abiotic and Biotic Components in Ecosystems – In an environment, there are several abiotic and biotic components in an ecosystem that interact with each other. Where each component has its own function or role. As long as there are no disturbed functions, the balance will be maintained. According to the book Be Smart Natural Science Class VII by Dian Surdijani et al (2006: 135), the environment is everything that exists around living things and influences the activities of living things.
The interactions that occur between living things in their environment will form a system. The system is flexible or always changing. However, the system will always move towards equilibrium. Where this system is called an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a balanced unit of interaction between abiotic and biotic components in an ecosystem. Then, what makes up the abiotic and biotic components in an ecosystem? In order to understand it better, let’s look at the explanation below.
Definition of Abiotic Components
Abiotic components are all forms of inanimate matter found on the surface of the earth and provide many benefits and influences for human life and other living things. Even though abiotic components are in the form of non-living objects, these components still have an important role and are needed for the survival of organisms in an ecosystem. Therefore, both abiotic and biotic components in an ecosystem are related to one another.
Indirectly, this abiotic component also has an influence on the determination of living things and also natural selection of creatures that can adapt. For example, by determining the availability of one or several abiotic components, it will be seen that organisms are able to adapt and survive.
Examples of Types of Abiotic Components
This abiotic component also has an important role in meeting the needs of other components in an ecosystem. Where the abiotic components include water, soil, air, sun, rocks, climate, and others. The following is a brief description of the various types of abiotic components.
1. Water
Water or Hydrogen Hydroxide is one of the vital components most needed by all living things on earth. Humans themselves have approximately 70 percent water content in their bodies. The function of water itself is as a protector and conductor of energy in the bodies of living things. The water needs of an organism cannot be equated with the water needs of other organisms.
In addition, the conditions or places where organisms live with each other also have different water availability. It also affects the way of life of organisms in a place. For example, in a desert environment that has little water availability, the plants there will also adapt to the natural conditions that exist there. Then another example is like a cactus plant that grows thorn-shaped leaves and has narrow pores and functions to reduce evaporation.
2. Sunlight
Sunlight is one of the abiotic components that have a very important role to help the photosynthesis process in plants take place. Not only that, almost all living things need sunlight because they contain vitamins that the body needs. Sunlight can also affect humidity and air temperature in an area which results in air pressure conditions. Indirectly, all of these abiotic components are interrelated with one another.
3. Air and Air Temperature
Air is an abiotic component which is one of the primary needs of all organisms that function for the respiratory system. While carbon dioxide is the result of the respiration of living things and is produced by humans and animals. Carbon dioxide is needed by plants to help the process of photosynthesis. In addition, the earth is also protected by a layer of air that we call the atmosphere.
As for the air temperature in question, namely the degree of heat of an object indicated by using a certain quantity. Air temperature alone can affect the metabolism of abiotic components. All living things have certain temperature limits to survive.
4. Wind
Wind is a flow of air originating from the rotation of the earth and due to differences in air pressure around it. Wind has an important role in influencing the temperature of the environment and helps the process of evaporation or evaporation for organisms.
5. Humidity
Humidity is the result of the concentration of water vapor in the air. Where this humidity can directly affect the climate and indirectly have an influence on the growth of living things, especially for plants.
6. Climate
Climate is a condition or weather condition in a certain area over a long period of time. Climate itself can be formed as a result of the interaction of various other abiotic components, such as air, water, temperature, rainfall, sunlight, humidity, and so on. Climate can affect the distribution of organisms throughout the earth. In addition, climate also has a close relationship with soil fertility and plant survival.
For example, the Indonesian region has a tropical climate, so it has ecosystems with a variety of diverse living things and also lush or dense forests or what can be called tropical rain forests which are not owned by other regions with non-tropical climate conditions.
7. Mineral Salts
Mineral salts are compounds that are in the soil. The function of this mineral salt is to help the process of metabolism and growth of an organism.
8. Degree of acidity or pH
pH is a measure of the level of acidity or base in an object which can be measured using a scale of 0-4. For example, the pH value of a soil that is very suitable for growing plants has a pH value ranging from 5.8 to 7.2. Good pH levels can also be influenced by the use of fertilizers, plant root activity, rainfall, and the breakdown of minerals in the soil.
9. Rocks and Soil
Abiotic components in the form of rocks and soil also have an important role in the distribution of organisms with varying physical structures, pH, and mineral content. Rocks and soil cannot be separated, rocks without soil cannot be occupied by living things, and vice versa. In addition, soil type, texture or composition of soil particles, degree of acidity, and mineral salt content can affect the quality of the soil.
10. Topography
Topography is the layout of a place and views of longitude and latitude. Differences in this topography can also be an influence on humidity, air pressure, sunlight, and also air temperature in a place. In addition, topography can also describe the distribution of an organism.
Definition of Biotic Components
The biotic component is a component that exists in an ecosystem and is usually in the form of a living organism. Where these biotic components vary, ranging from animals, humans, plants, and also micro-organisms. Studying biotic components is very important for us to understand more about the concept of food chains that exist in ecosystems and the environment in a clearer way.
Each biotic component has its own role and function to be able to maintain an ecosystem form. Humans as one of the main biotic components have a considerable influence on the spread, development, and also the destruction of other biotic components. In addition, humans also play an important role for the survival of animals or plants. Biotic components or living things are in their respective habitats. Habitat is a place or environment that is suitable for certain living things to be able to develop and carry out their lives.
Biotic Components Based on Their Functions and Roles
Examples of biotic components are horses, zebras, grass and trees that are in one environment and need each other. Every living thing has its own role and function which can be called nisia. These biotic components can be divided into four based on their nisia or function and role. Among them are producers, consumers, decomposers, and also detrivores which will be explained in more detail below:
1. Manufacturer
Producers are biotic components that are at the top level. This is because producers can meet their own needs by making food for themselves. The other meaning of producers is organisms that can arrange organic substances into organic matter as their own food.
These producers act as autotrophic organisms, namely organisms that in the process of making their food need help from sunlight which is usually called photosynthesis. Living things in this top level are generally occupied by green plants that have chlorophyll. Examples other than green plants that are included in the producer biotic components are:
a. Phytoplankton are plants that can make their own food in large quantities. So that it can be a food source for animals in fresh or salt water.
b. Members of protist plants in the water that have very small shapes and live in a hovering manner or can be called aquatic producers.
c. Algae are autotrophic organisms that are considered not to have organs like other plants.
d. Moss.
e. Ganga green and blue.
f. Certain types of bacteria.
2. Consumers
Contrary to the producer component, the living things within the consumer component cannot make their own food and are dependent on other living things. These consumer components are called heterotrophic organisms including humans, fungi and microbes, and animals are also consumers because they still depend on other living things to meet their food needs. Consumers are divided into three types, namely:
a. Herbivore: This is a type of living thing that eats plants. For example, goats, cows, and other animals. Living things of this type are generally referred to as primary consumers.
b. Carnivore: This is a type of living creature that consumes the flesh of other living things. This type of carnivore is a living creature that is on the second level, for example, namely crocodiles, tigers, dragons, and other living things.
c. Omnivores: These are living things that consume all forms of food, from plants to meat. For example, humans, pigs, rats, and so on. These types of living things are referred to as top consumers, especially humans.
If based on its level, consumers are divided into three levels, including:
a. Primary Consumers: These are consumers who consume directly from themselves. Where these primary consumers are all types of living things herbocora and omnivores. For example, horses, goats, butterflies, cows, and others.
b. Secondary Consumers: These are some types of carnivores and omnivores, such as tigers, frogs, chickens, snakes, lions, and so on.
c. Tertiary Consumers: These are consumers who consume secondary consumers. Where tertiary consumers consist of carnivores and omnivores. For example, whales, octopuses, kestrels, and others.
Producers and consumers also have a relationship or bond that cannot be separated. The two components are interdependent with one another. In other words, consumers can affect the survival of the producers themselves. For example, the carbon dioxide cycle produced by animals and humans will be needed by plants. Where this carbon dioxide can be used to help sustain the process of photosynthesis. While consumers also need producers as their food.
3. Decomposers
We can call decomposers as decomposers. Where decomposers are living things that get their food from other living things that have died. Decomposers are organisms that have a role to decompose waste or leftover food from other living things that have died. In addition, decomposers are also referred to as decomposers, which can make organic substances decompose and experience recycling and form nutrients.
Organisms that are included in decomposers generally have a small shape and are in the soil, air and water. For example, fungi and bacteria. Although small, this type of component has an important role in life on earth and can support the formation of a good ecosystem.
4. Detrivores
Detrivores or commonly called detritus are organisms that eat organic particles. These biotic components are the breakdown of weathered plant and animal tissues. The examples of detritus organisms are:
a. Snails are shelled and coiled organisms when they reach the adult stage.
b. Earthworms are tube-shaped animals and have a segmented body.
c. Centipedes are nocturnal insects that have a pair of legs on each segment of their body. This insect belongs to the venomous insects.
d. The keluwing is a segmented animal and has about 30 segments with a pair of legs on each segment. This one animal belongs to the group of millipedes.
e. Sea cucumbers, which have another name sea cucumber, are invertebrate animals that can be consumed and live in almost all waters, especially in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
That is an explanation of the abiotic and biotic components in an ecosystem along with examples. From the explanation above, hopefully it can add to your knowledge regarding the material ecosystem that is around us. Hope it is useful.