Think & answer

1. The words in the list describe parts of a desert ecosystem. Sort them to
show whether each part is a biotic or abiotic part.

BIOTIC ABIOTIC

cactus rattlesnake sunlight sandy soil

lizard little water

2. Fill in the blanks with words from the word box. Use each word once.
An organism’s (1)_______________ includes all the living and non-living things that
surround and affect the organism. Each different (2)_______________ is an area made up
of biotic and abiotic factors where organisms interact. Within these areas, groups of the
same species of organisms, or (3)_________________, interact with other organism,
forming a large (4)___________________. The place where an organism normally lives is
called its (5)____________. The way the organism lives there is called its specific
(6)_________________.

community ecosystem environment

habitat
niche population