Biotic and Abiotic Factors

• What are biotic factors in an environment?

  Living parts of an environment
• What are abiotic factors in an environment?

  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
• What is the first biotic factor mentioned?

  Availability of food
• How does the availability of food affect a community?

  If food availability falls, organism numbers fall
• What is the effect of a new predator on prey species?

  It can cause prey population to fall
• How can a new predator affect existing predators?

  It can create competition for the same prey
• What happens if a species is outcompeted?

  Its population may fall and become extinct
• What is the impact of new pathogens on a species?

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

  1. Light intensity
  2. Temperature
  3. Water availability
  4. pH of soil
  5. Mineral content of soil
  6. Wind intensity and direction
  7. Gases (carbon dioxide and oxygen)
• What is the first abiotic factor mentioned?

  Light intensity
• How does light intensity affect plants?

  Low light reduces photosynthesis rate
• What is the consequence of slow plant growth due to low light?

  Animals may not have enough food
• Why is temperature an important abiotic factor?

  It can change species distribution
• What can happen to animals if the temperature changes?

  They may migrate to different areas
• Why is water a major abiotic factor?

  Both plants and animals need water to survive
• What adaptations do some species have regarding water levels?

  They are adapted to low water levels
• What is the importance of pH and mineral content in soil?

  Many plants need specific pH and minerals
• What mineral is specifically mentioned as important for plants?

  Nitrate for making amino acids
• How can wind intensity and direction affect plants?

  Strong winds can cause water loss
• What is the role of carbon dioxide for plants?

  Needed for photosynthesis to occur
• What happens if carbon dioxide levels fall?

  The rate of photosynthesis can decrease
• Why is oxygen important for organisms?

  Needed for aerobic respiration
• How can dissolved oxygen levels in water change?

  They can fall on hot days
• What is the impact of low dissolved oxygen on aquatic organisms?

  It can be harmful to species like fish