biotic and abiotic factors

• Biotic factors:

  • Living factors that affect other organisms or shape the ecosystem
  • Examples include predation, competition for resources or habitat, disease, and availability of food
• Abiotic factors:

  • Non-living parts of the environment that can affect organisms
  • Includes light intensity, temperature, carbon dioxide concentrations, moisture levels, wind intensity and direction, and pH and mineral content of the soil
• Examples of how changing abiotic factors can impact the environment:

  • An increase in temperature can increase the rate of photosynthesis and plant growth
  • Animals may spend less energy staying warm and use more energy for growth or less time searching for food
• Main biotic factors affecting a clownfish by its sea anemone:

  • Predation by bigger fish or eels
  • Competition for the sea anemone habitat
  • Competition for plankton and algae
  • Burden of disease
• Main abiotic factors affecting a clownfish by its sea anemone:

  • Water temperature changes
  • Oxygen concentration in the water
  • Levels of acidity and salt in the water
  • Light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration indirectly affecting other species like the sea anemone, which in turn affects the clownfish