Organisms and Environments

Knowledge and Skills Statement

Organisms and environments. The student knows that interdependence occurs between living systems and the environment.
Glossary terms and definitions are consistent across kindergarten through high school in the TEKS Guide. The definitions are intended to give educators a common understanding of the terms regardless of what grade level they teach. Glossary definitions are not intended for use with students.

nonliving components within an ecosystem such as water, soil, and atmosphere

living or once-living things within an ecosystem

the biotic and abiotic resources provided to support specific populations in a community

the circumstances, objects, or conditions that surround an organism including abiotic (climate and soil) and biotic (living organisms) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival

the state of being dependent upon one another; a mutually dependent relationship

an individual form of life, such as a plant, animal, bacterium, protist, or fungus; a body made up of organs, organelles, or other parts that work together to carry on the various processes of life

a group of interbreeding organisms of the same species within an environment

Research

Lewis, Jesse, Matthew L. Farnsworth, Chris L. Burdett, David M. Theobald, Miranda Gray & Ryan S. Miller. "Biotic and Abiotic Factors Predicting the Global Distribution and Population Density of an Invasive Large Mammal." Scientific Reports 7, 44152 (March 2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44152.

Summary: In this case study, various ecosystems' biotic and abiotic factors were used to determine their effects on the population density and distribution of wild pigs.