Changes to Food Webs - Factors
Science: KS3, topic 1.3.5
Changes to Food Webs - Factors
Abiotic and biotic factors affect organisms. Abiotic factors are non-living factors. Biotic factors are living factors.
Abiotic factors
- Abiotic factors affect the population of organisms in an ecosystem.
- Abiotic factors are non-living factors.
- Light is an abiotic factor.
- Plants need light for photosynthesis.
- Temperature is an abiotic factor.
- Organisms can adapt to live in hot or cold environments.
- Moisture is an abiotic factor.
- Plants need moisture.
- Plants can also become overwatered.
pH
- pH is an abiotic factor.
- Plants are adapted to grow in acidic or alkaline soils.
- Fish are also adapted to live in waters with specific pHs.
Gases
- Carbon dioxide and oxygen are abiotic factors.
- Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
- Plants and animals need oxygen for respiration.
- Carbon dioxide-rich environments lack oxygen.
- Organisms might not be able to survive in carbon dioxide-rich environments.
- Freshwater species are adapted to survive at certain oxygen levels.
Biotic factors
- Biotic factors affect the population of organisms in an ecosystem.
- Biotic factors are living factors.
- New predators are a biotic factor.
- New predators may outcompete existing predators.
- Disease is a biotic factor.
- The spread of disease can wipe out a community if it has not built up immunity.
- Food is a biotic factor.
- Organisms need nutrients to survive.
Test yourself on Changes to Food Webs - Factors
Which of these is a biotic factor?
Select the true statement in each pair.
A lake becomes much more acidic than before. The fish there are adapted to its original pH. What is the most likely effect on the fish?