Biotic vs Abiotic Factors
Understanding how living and non-living factors interact is crucial for predicting changes in an ecosystem.
Is pH an example of a biotic or abiotic factor?
What is Biotic vs Abiotic Factors?
"Biotic factors are any living component that affects another organism; abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment."
Which term describes the non-living conditions in a habitat, such as temperature and light intensity?
Which of these is a biotic factor that can affect the distribution of organisms?
Why can lichens be used as indicator species for air pollution?
Key Differences
Abiotic: Non-living physical and chemical factors (light, temp, soil pH).
Biotic: Living factors resulting from other organisms (predation, disease, food availability).
A change in one factor can have a "knock-on" effect on the entire community.
In exam questions, if a factor is a chemical or physical measurement, it is almost certainly abiotic.
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