Abiotic and biotic factors

• What are abiotic factors?


  Non-living factors that affect organisms within a community
• How does light intensity affect plants?

  It affects the rate of photosynthesis, influencing plant growth and food availability for herbivores
• What is the impact of temperature on organisms?


  It affects metabolic rates and extreme temperatures can limit survival
• How do moisture levels influence organisms?


  Low moisture can limit plant growth and water availability for animals
• What role does soil pH and mineral content play in plant health?


  Different plants require different pH levels and minerals for optimal health
• How does wind intensity and direction affect plants and animals?


  It affects seed and pollen dispersal in plants and cooling rates for animals
• What is the effect of carbon dioxide levels on plants?


  It affects the rate of photosynthesis
• How do oxygen levels impact aquatic animals?


  Low oxygen levels can lead to difficulty in respiration for fish and other aquatic organisms
• What skills should students develop regarding abiotic factors?


  • Extract and interpret information from charts, graphs, and tables
  • Understand how abiotic factors affect communities
  • Analyze data showing relationships between abiotic factors and organism health
• What are biotic factors?


  Living factors that influence the dynamics of a community
• How does the availability of food affect populations of organisms?


  Abundant food increases populations, while scarcity can cause declines
• What impact do new predators have on existing communities?


  They can reduce prey populations and disturb predator-prey relationships
• How can new pathogens affect species populations?


  They can wipe out or reduce populations of susceptible species
• What happens when one species outcompetes another for resources?


  It can drive the other species to decline, leading to reduced biodiversity
• What are the key biotic factors that influence community dynamics?


  • Availability of food
  • New predators arriving
  • Introduction of new pathogens
  • One species outcompeting another