Describe the two main types of interactions that environmental scientists study. Give an example of each

Environmental scientists study the interactions of living and non-living components in the environment. Environmental science integrates physical and biological science to allow for better understanding of environmental systems and to find solutions to environmental problems.

Biotic, meaning related to life, are living factors in an ecosystem. Plants, animals, protist, fungi, and even bacteria are all biotic or living factors. Abiotic, meaning not alive, are physical and chemical factors in the environment that affect living organisms in ecosystems. Environmental factors such habitat (ocean, pond, lake, mountain, desert) or weather, temperature, light or radiation, atmospheric gases, and soil are all abiotic factors.

If a single living or non-living factor is changed, whether by pollution or a natural phenomenon, an entire ecosystem can be altered.

A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Journal found that manufactured metal nano-materials are the newest environmental threat.