abiotic and biotic factors

• ecology


  the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment
• habitat


  the place where an organism lives
• species


  a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
• population


  all the organisms of one species living in a habitat
• community


  the populations of different species living in a habitat
• abiotic


  non-living
• abiotic factors


  non-living factors of the environment (e.g. temperature)
• biotic


  living
• biotic factors


  living factors of the environment (e.g. food)
• ecosystem


  the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment
• organisms compete for...


  resources to survive
• what do plants need for survival?

  - light

  - water

  - space

  - mineral ions (from the soil)
• what do animals need for survival?

  - space (territory)

  - food

  - water

  - mates
• organisms compete with ... for the same resources

  other species (and members of their own species)
• any change in any environment can have ... effects

  knock-on
• how do species in communities depend on other species?

  within a community, each species depends on other species for food, shelter, pollination and seed dispersal. if even one species is removed from the community, it can affect all of the other species in the community
• interdependance


  a situation in which species in communities depend on each other because they cant make everything themselves
• abiotic factor examples


  - moisture level

  - light intensity

  - temperature

  - carbon dioxide level

  - wind intensity/direction

  - oxygen level

  - soil pH and mineral content
• what is affected by oxygen levels?

  aquatic animals
• what is affected by carbon dioxide levels?

  plants
• a change in the environment could result in...

  an increase/decrease in an abiotic factor
• what leads to a decrease in the rate of photosynthesis?

  decrease light intensity, temperature and/or carbon dioxide level
• what causes nutrient deficiencies?

  a lack of mineral content
• biotic factor examples


  - arrival of new predators

  - competition

  - new pathogens

  - food availability
• what does new predator result in?

  a decrease in the prey population
• competition


  a relationship/interaction between organisms that strive for the same resources in the same place (which may be limited in supply)