AP Biology
Ecology TRG #1
Topic Review Guide: Biotic and Abiotic Factors
To Think About: In what ways do interactions between and within populations influence patterns of
species distribution over time? In what ways do interactions between and within populations
influence the amount of local and global ecosystem changes over time?
Watch: Mr. Andersen’s “Biotic and Abiotic Factors” video.
Next: Mr. Andersen’s “Ecosystem Change” video.
Read: Chapter 40.1 – 40.3 – Biology In Focus
Supplementary Resources: Click the links below for more information to help you learn more about
this lesson.
 Mr. Parr: “Abiotic Biotic Song”
 National Geographic: Ecosystem
 University of Michigan: The Concept of the Ecosystem
 Michigan State University: Ecology
 Wikipedia: Biofilms
 Article: Predator-Prey Relationships Make Possible the Rich Biodiversity of Complex
Ecosystems
 Article: Extreme Weather Affects Rich Ecosystems
 Environmental Protection Agency: Climate Change and Ecosystems
Listen and Look: Here is a list of key terms and concepts you will hear about and see during these
podcasts. Get to know them! Be able to connect them to one another using a concept map.
KEY TERMS
Abiotic factor
Biofilms
Population
Biome
Biotic factor
Community
Ecology
Ecosystem
Biogeography
Weather
Biosphere
Predator-prey relationship
Climate
Recall and Review: Use the lecture in the video and your textbook reading to help you answer these
questions in your BILL.
1. The Douglas High School campus is a small ecosystem. Describe 3 biotic factors that exist
here, and 3 abiotic factors that exist. Explain how the abiotic factors influence the biotic
factors. NOTE: For purposes of this question, students do not count as biotic factors since
you do not reside on campus. 
2. In his podcast, Mr. Andersen discusses how changes in abiotic and biotic factors affect various
levels of biological organization. Draw a non-verbal representation of each of the following:
a. How cells are affected by these changes
b. How organisms are affected by these changes
c. How populations are affected by these changes
3. Biomes are large regions of the world defined by climate, precipitation, temperature and
vegetation. Describe how each of the following factors in a biome determine species
distribution:
a. Precipitation
b. Climate
c. Temperature
d. Vegetation
4. Explain how behavior can influence species distribution.
5. Describe how the following human activities influence species distribution:
a. Changing the topography of a land mass (as in strip mining)
b. Clear-cutting a forest (changing the vegetation of a land mass)
c. Homogenization of land areas (such as degradation of rangelands)
d. Pollution of an ecosystem (oil spills, etc.)
6. Describe the relationship between ecology and evolutionary biology. Explain how natural
selection influences species distribution and diversity in an ecosystem.
Learn More: For more examples of biotic and abiotic factors, use the links below:
 Bionewsonline.com: What is Biofilm?
 Science (journal): Forging a Link Between Biofilms and Disease
 Bacteriality: Understanding Biofilms
 University of Michigan: Predation and Parasitism