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5.2: Communities and Ecosystems

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    32076

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    Monarch butterflies cluster together on a eucalyptus branch
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Monarch butterflies cluster together on a eucalyptus branch in an overwinter site in Ventura, CA. Image by Kammy Algiers (CC-BY).

    Populations typically do not live in isolation from other species. Populations that interact within a given area form a community. The organisms that form a community are found in habitats, physical environments where organisms live. However, only the biotic (living) components are considered part of a community. Scientists study ecology at the community level to understand how species interact with each other and compete for the same resources.

    Contributors and Attributions

    Modified by Kammy Algiers from the following sources:

    This page titled 5.2: Communities and Ecosystems is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Melissa Ha, Maria Morrow, & Kammy Algiers (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .