Answer:
Ecologists study both biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem because both factors interact to shape the structure and function of an ecosystem. Biotic factors refer to living organisms in an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, and their interactions with each other such as predation, competition, and symbiosis. Abiotic factors refer to non-living components of an ecosystem, such as temperature, water, sunlight, soil, and nutrients.
These biotic and abiotic factors are interconnected and influence each other. For example, the amount of sunlight an ecosystem receives affects the growth of plants, which in turn provides food and habitat for other organisms. Similarly, the availability of water and nutrients in the soil can affect the distribution and abundance of plants, which in turn affects the distribution and abundance of herbivores and predators.
By studying both biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem, ecologists can understand the complex interactions that shape the structure and function of ecosystems, and how ecosystems respond to changes in their environment such as climate change or human disturbance. This knowledge can be used to inform conservation and management strategies to protect and restore ecosystems.