Final answer:
Lions depend on biotic factors such as their prey, and abiotic factors including sunlight, climate, soil, water, and air. The quality of these factors determines the availability of prey and the health of the lion population. Ecology studies how these factors interact and sustain ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lion, as a species, depends on a range of biotic and abiotic factors for its survival. The biotic factors include their prey, which are smaller carnivorous animals that in turn depend on non-photosynthetic organisms for food. These animals provide the necessary nutrients lions require for energy, growth, and overall health.
The abiotic factors that lions depend on include sunlight, climate, soil, water, and air. For instance, lions require water for hydration, air for breathing, and specific climate conditions that match their adaptive traits for survival. Additionally, because lions are part of an ecosystem, the availability and quality of abiotic factors like sunlight and water also influence the growth of vegetation, which indirectly affects the availability of prey for lions.
All these factors work together to sustain the lion population. Ecology studies these complex interactions, emphasizing how vital it is for abiotic conditions, like warm wet climates that stimulate biomass production, to support a rich diversity of life which lions are a part of.