ACTIVITY #2: BIOTIC and ABIOTIC FACTORS
OBJECTIVE
Students will identify the characteristics and interactions of biotic and abiotic components of several
ecosystems, and describe the importance of these components in a sustainable ecosystem.
SAFETY
As students will be moving around the class to use the SMART board, ensure that there are no tripping
hazards. Bags and extra chairs should be place at the rear of the room.
MATERIALS
 Teacher laptop with SMART software installed
 SMART board
 Student handout (attached)
TEACHER NOTES
Prior to beginning the SMART board portion of this activity, the STUDENT HANDOUT should be
distributed, one per student. The teacher should read through the handout along with the class, and
explain the activity to come. After resolving another questions about the procedure, students should
be instructed to complete Question 1.
The teacher should now split the students into groups of five. In this activity, small groups of students
will approach the SMART board and classify factors as either biotic or abiotic. Each factor will be listed
as a picture, with an appropriate descriptive caption. Each student will drag one factor to the side of
the board corresponding to either “BIOTIC” or “ABIOTIC”. After each student in the group of five has
identified a factor, they should go back to their seats, and the next group of five should approach the
board. This is to avoid congestion at the front of the class, and to help keep each student focused and
on-task.
When all the factors for an ecosystem have been placed, the decisions should be analyzed and
discussed briefly with the class. When the factors for the Tundra ecosystem have been placed, proceed
with the Pond and, finally, the Forest ecosystem. Students should be completing the table in the
handout as the activity progresses.
Upon completion of the activity, the teacher should ask students the following question:
“How does human activity affect each biotic or abiotic factor?”
While answers may vary, if students require assistance, proceed with a few scaffolding questions:
“Which biotic factor in a forest ecosystem serves as a habitat for many animals?” Trees
“How are trees affected by human activities?”
“How does this impact the animals in the ecosystem that rely on those trees?”
The teacher should go around the classroom and check for completion of the student handout. Note
that this activity should not be evaluated, but used as an assessment for learning, and the handout
should remain in each student’s binder of notes.
TUNDRA ECOSYSTEM
BIOTIC
ABIOTIC
Snowy Owl
Poor soil
Arctic Fox
Lemming
Strong Wind
Little
precipitation
Permafrost
Very cold winters
POND ECOSYSTEM
BIOTIC
ABIOTIC
Algae
Dissolved Oxygen
Acidity
Amphibian
Fish
Phytoplankton
Plants
Salinity
Temperature
FOREST ECOSYSTEM
BIOTIC
ABIOTIC
Changing
Weather
Long growing season
Black bears
Precipitation
Squirrels
Birds
Trees
Hares
Insects
Fertile soil
STUDENT HANDOUT
Name: __________________________________ Date: ___________________________
Period: ________________
SNC1P – BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
1. What is the difference between the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem?
2. Complete the following table:
Ecosystem
Biotic Factors
Abiotic Factors
Tundra
(terrestrial)
Pond
(aquatic)
Forest
(terrestrial)
3. Can abiotic and biotic factors affect one another? Provide an example.
ANSWER KEY - STUDENT HANDOUT
Name: __________________________________ Date: ___________________________
Period: ________________
SNC1P – BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
1. What is the difference between the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem?
Biotic factors are living things, their remnants and the features associated with their activities in
an ecosystem. Abiotic factors are the non-living characteristics of an ecosystem.
2. Complete the following table:
Ecosystem
Tundra
(terrestrial)
Pond
(aquatic)
Forest
(terrestrial)







Biotic Factors
Low biodiversity
Rapid-flowering plants
Mosses and lichens
Caribou
Arctic foxes
Snowy owls
Lemmings






Abiotic Factors
Strong winds
Little precipitation
Short summer days
Long, cold winters
Permafrost
Poor soil quality





Algae
Phytoplankton
Fish
Submerged plants
Amphibians





Acidity
Salinity
Amount of water
Temperature
Amount of dissolved oxygen







Coniferous trees
Seed-eating birds
Squirrels
Insects
Black bears
Snowshoe hares
High biodiversity





Changing weather
Fertile soil
High amount of precipitation
Long growing season
Large area
3. Can abiotic and biotic factors affect one another? Provide an example.
Human industrial activity can result in an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions,
resulting in acid rain. This acid rain then increases acidity (decreases pH) in the aquatic pond
ecosystem. The change in acidity can impact amount of phytoplankton (producers) and fish
(primary consumers). Predator-prey relationships can also alter ecosystems on a larger scale.