Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. The biosphere includes all parts of Earth that support life, including the crust, waters, and atmosphere. An ecosystem consists of all organisms in an area and their nonliving environment. A population is all organisms of the same species in an ecosystem. Communities include all populations. Habitats provide organisms with food, shelter, and conditions for survival. Competition for resources like food and space affects population sizes. Limiting factors restrict population numbers. Succession involves natural changes in species over time from pioneers to a climax community. Biomes are large areas with similar climates and ecosystems like tundra, taiga, desert, and forests.