Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level I: The Producers - Biotic Factors

Trophic Level I: The Producers
Biotic Factors
Page 1

Introduction

Biotic factors are those organisms that live in, and interact with, the environment. This section of the book will look at the plants, animals and other organisms that live in the Serengeti-Mara. It will explore the complex relationships that exist between populations of living things not only with their surroundings, but with other animals and members of their own species.

This section will also look at how species compete for survival. Inter-species competition is the term given to competition between two or more different species: lion versus spotted hyena, wildebeest versus lion, grass against tree.

Intra-specific competition refers to the competition between members of the same species: lion against lion, zebra versus zebra.

In exploring the life of the many species, we will attempt to understand how each species fits into the big picture. What is its role in the ecosystem? The science of ethology (animal behavior) helps us to piece together the puzzle. Adaptations to the environment will also be explored.

Links to the Field Guide will provide instant access for the reader to all of the species mentioned (plus many more found in this ecosystem). There, the reader will find information on the size of the species, its preferred habitat and its role in the ecosystem. Each Field Guide entry is accompanied by a photograph and, in most cases, there will be additional information not covered in this book or other books on this CD ROM. For ease of access, all entries in the Field Guide are in point form.

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