Distribution of Organisms

• A biotic factor is a living factor that affects an organism's ability to survive and reproduce.
• An abiotic factor is a non-living factor that affects an organism.
• Abiotic Factors could be

  Light

  Temperature

  Ph

  Moisture
• Biotic Factors could be

  Grazing

  Disease

  Competition

  Predation

  Food Availability
• The apparatus used to measure abiotic factors is known as a multimeter
• A source of error that could occur when using a light meter is that the user could cast a shadow
• An error that could occur using a moisture meter is the probe could need cleaned between uses.
• An error that could occur using a pH meter is the probe may need decontaminated between uses.
• A quadrat is a square grid used to measure the distribution of organisms in a habitat.
• A pitfall trap is a type of trap that is set in the ground and catches insects as they walk over it
• 2 ways to reduce errors when using pitfall traps and quadrants are large number samples and random placement
• An indicator species is a species that can be used to determine the health of an ecosystem.