Science Common Sense

1278 - What is the hierarchical structure of biotic factors in an ecosystem, from lowest to highest level

Imagine a hierarchy like a tower. In an ecosystem, living things (biotic factors) are stacked from smallest to largest like this:

1. Individual: A single living thing, like an insect or a fish.
2. Population: A group of the same living things, like all the fish in a pond.
3. Species: All the same living things, no matter where they live, like all fish everywhere.
4. Community: Different living things living together in the same place, like fish, plants, and insects in a pond.
5. Ecosystem: The community plus non-living things, like water, sunlight, and soil, all working together.
6. Biome: A big area of similar ecosystems, like forests or deserts, covering a large region.

That's the hierarchy of biotic factors in an ecosystem!