Communities criterion: Integration of complex behaviour of biota in a given area Integration results in cohesion and a degree of self-regulation changes physical environment eg rainforest closed canopy +ve and -ve population interactions Ecosystem criterion: Biota are explicitly linked to the abiotic world of their physical environment Cycles and pathways of energy and matter water nutrients carbon Organisms, populations, communities are viewed in terms of their ecosystem function process rates are criticalCommunities criterion: - Integration of complex behaviour of biota in a given area - Integration results in cohesion and a degree of self-regulation : changes physical environment - eg. rainforest closed canopy - +ve and -ve population interactions Ecosystem criterion: - Biota are explicitly linked to the abiotic world of their physical environment - Cycles and pathways of energy and matter : water, nutrients, carbon - Organisms, populations, communities are viewed in terms of their ecosystem function - process rates are critical