BIOTIC VS. ABIOTIC FACTORS
Background Knowledge:
An ecosystem is an area in which there are living and non living things. There is
more than one kind of ecosystem.
Vocabulary
1. Biotic factors are the living parts of an ecosystem---the animals, plants and
microorganisms.
2. Abiotic factors are the non living parts of an ecosystem.
For example:
Ecosystem: School
Aboiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
Window
Students
Markers
Teachers
Papers
Ecosystem: Stadium
Aboiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
Ball
Baseball Players
Bat
Fans
Seats
Umpires
Directions: For the problems below identify the ecosystem and then list possible
abiotic and biotic factors in the ecosystem.
Example:
1. carpet, home, mother, television, father, dog, lamp
Ecosystem: Home
Biotic Factors: mother, father, dog
Abiotic Factors: carpet, lamp and television
2. lake, fish, boat, plants, sunlight
Ecosystem:
Biotic Factors:
Abiotic Factors:
3. classroom, students, eraser
Ecosystem:
Biotic Factors:
Abiotic Factors:
4. Mr. Tucker, Mrs. Zingery, lint, Mr. Barrett, school bus, paper
Ecosystem:
Biotic Factors:
Abiotic Factors:
5.
Please provide your own example of the vocabulary terms reviewed.
Ecosystem:
Biotic Factors:
Abiotic Factors:
Name:______________________
Hour:___________________
Abiotic vs Biotic Factors
What is the definition of an abiotic factor?
_____________________________________________________________________
What is the definition of a biotic factor?
____________________________________________________________________________
Enter the items from the following list into a Venn diagram.
In the center place what contains both biotic and abiotic factors.
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Whale
Mushroom
Water
Desert
Paper
Glass
Temperature
Coral
Sand
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Clouds
Snail
Steak
Athletes Foot
Salad
Mold
Grass
Hair
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Ocean
Tree
Rocks
Dirt
Gold
Plastic
Grapes
Oxygen
Tundra
Comprehending…
All biotic and abiotic factors are interrelated. In nature you will find that if one factor is changed or
removed, it impacts the availability of other resources within the system. Knowing this, give an example
of what might happen given the following situations.
In the open space place either an (A) for abiotic or (B) for biotic to identify the bolded object.
1. All of the rocks(___) are removed from a desert ecosystem, what would happen to the population of
rock dwelling lizards (___) and in turn the animals which eat them.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. A ten mile area of trees (___) is removed from the tropical rainforest. How will this affect the
amount of water (___) and the amount of oxygen (___) in the area?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.
2.
Choose an ecosystem to draw. In your drawing include the following:
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10 different biotic factors
5 different abiotic factors
Identify all 15 factors and label whether they are biotic or abiotic factors.
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Your picture should make sense. Ex.) There shouldn’t be a polar bear in a sand desert!
Color your picture for extra credit.
Be creative!
Further Analysis:
Which ecosystem did you choose?___________________
Choose one abiotic factor and one biotic factor from your ecosystem. Imagine that they were suddenly
removed. How would your ecosystem change?
___________________________________________________________________
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