Biotope and biocenosis: difference, relationship and examples

The biotope, or the part does not live that forms the ecosystemrefers to a physical place where biocenosis is being developed. In addition, this territory is constituted by physical-chemical environmental factors, such as: the temperature, the amount of sunlight that reaches living organisms, the pH of water and soil, salinity, rocks and minerals, among others.

Learn more about what biotope and examples of this with this other post and with this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9gqh3g7vu

Biocenosis, or Living part that forms the ecosystemis made up of populationsthat is, all those individuals of the same species, whether of animals, plants or microorganisms. Also to understand well what biozynosis is, it is important to know the term “community”which refers to a set of populations characterized by some common element, for example, a community of herbivores.

In this other article you will see more about what biocenosis is: explanation with examples. Likewise, we advise you to read these other posts about the ecological community: definition and characteristics and biological community: what is, structure and examples.

The main difference between both concepts is that the Biotope or abiotic part of the ecosystem refers to Physical and geographical spacewhich has certain environmental and climatic characteristics. The physical elements that are detected in the biotope are water, air and substrate, and the physical-chemical elements that form are solar radiation, temperature, humidity or pH. However, the Biocenosis or biotic partit is formed by all those Life ways existing plants, animals, microorganisms and other living beings.

To deepen these differences between biocenosis and biotope, we believe that this other article will also be useful: difference between biotic and abiotic.

Between biotope and biocenosis there is an interrelation in which, above all, a flow of energy is performed in an ecosystem or Energy and matter exchange. In order for life to be possible, that is, that biocenosis develops, it is important that the appropriate environmental conditions will occur in the biotope.

Depending on the environmental conditions of a place, the species and communities that inhabit it are different, in each territory the best species will be developed adapted to the existing environmental conditions. For example, in an aquatic ecosystem, the populations present will be those with ideal characteristics to live in an aquatic system. Or those species that inhabit a desert area will be better adapted to support high solar radiation and high temperatures per day and low temperatures at night. Therefore, there are different types of biotope and biocenosis such as: biotope and biocenosis of a lake, biotope and biocenosis of the forest, biotope and biocenosis of the savannah.

Not only there are a interrelation between biotope and biocenosisbut also Among the communities themselves of ecosystems. There may be relationships of two types:

• Intraespecific: It is when relations between the organisms of the same species are given; There are intra -specific competition and grouping (colonies, families, gregarious or societies). Enter this link and learn more about what intra -specific relationships and examples are.
• Interspecific: It is the interrelation between the organisms of different species; In these interactions it can happen that both species benefit from that interaction (mutualism, symbiosis). It may also happen that a species is harmed and another beneficiary (dinerism, Amensalism, parasitism and predation). And finally another case is that both species are harmed (competition). Here you will see more about interspecific relationships: types and examples.

It is also important to highlight trophic relationships, since it is a relationship between ecosystems organisms. In the following link you can know more about trophic levels: what are, what are and examples.

Biotopes in general general features could be classified into three groups, and within these there are different varieties:

• The terrestrial biotope: Within the terrestrial biotope we find those biotopes formed by mountains, forests, meadows, savannas, deserts, among others.
• The aquatic biotope: As aquatic biotopes are the oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and lagoons.
• The mixed biotope: They are a combination of both the terrestrial and aquatic biotope; Among them we can highlight wetlands or coasts.

The set of living beings that forms biocenosis is very wide and diverse, dividing it into three types:

• Fitocenosis: It is the set of living beings formed by plant species such as; Species of trees, herbaceous, algae, among others. To know it better, here you will see information about what is the plant plant, its characteristics, classification and examples.
• Zoochenosis: It is the set of living beings that is formed by animal species; mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, etc. In this post you will see what the Animalia kingdom, characteristics, classification and examples are.
• Microbiocenosis: All types of existing microorganisms, which are those living beings that are not seen with the naked eye, and the use of a microscope is necessary. Some examples are the unicellular prokaryotic agency such as bacteria, or eukaryotic organisms such as protozoa. Here you will know what microorganisms, their classification, characteristics and types are.

If you want to read more articles similar to Biotope and biocenosis: difference, relationship and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.