biotic and Abiotic factors

• What are the two main types of factors that can affect a community?

  Biotic and abiotic factors
• What are biotic factors?

  Biotic factors are the living parts of an environment
• What are abiotic factors?

  Abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of an environment
• What are the four different biotic factors that can affect a community?

  1. Availability of food
  2. Arrival of a new predator
  3. Competition between species
  4. New pathogens
• How does the availability of food affect a community?

  If food availability falls, the number of organisms in that community will also fall
• What effect does the arrival of a new predator have on a prey species?

  It can cause the population of the prey species to fall
• How can competition between species affect a population?

  If a species is outcompeted, its population can fall to the point of extinction
• What happens when a new pathogen emerges in a community?

  It can wipe out a population of a species
• What are the seven different abiotic factors that can affect a community?

  1. Light intensity
  2. Temperature
  3. Water
  4. pH and mineral content of soil
  5. Wind intensity and direction
  6. Carbon dioxide levels
  7. Oxygen levels
• How does light intensity affect plants?

  If light intensity is too low, the rate of photosynthesis falls and plants grow more slowly
• What is the impact of temperature changes on species distribution?

  Changes in temperature can cause species to migrate or disappear from an area
• Why is water considered a major abiotic factor?

  Both plants and animals need water to survive
• How does soil pH affect plant growth?

  Many plants cannot grow in soil that is too acidic or too alkaline
• What mineral is essential for plants to make amino acids?

  Nitrate
• How can wind intensity and direction affect plants?

  Strong winds can cause plants to lose water
• Why is carbon dioxide important for plants?

  Carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis
• What happens if carbon dioxide levels fall?

  The rate of photosynthesis can also decrease
• Why is oxygen important for aerobic respiration?

  Oxygen is needed for aerobic respiration
• How can dissolved oxygen levels in water be affected?

  Dissolved oxygen levels can fall on hot days
• What can happen to aquatic organisms if dissolved oxygen levels fall?

  It can be harmful to aquatic organisms such as fish
• Where can students find questions on biotic and abiotic factors?

  In the vision workbook linked in the video