biotic-and-abiotic-factors

The abundance and distribution of a species within a habitat are determined by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors

Biotic factors are living factors that influence populations within their community; biotic factors come about as a result of the activity of other organisms e.g.

• Predation

• Food availability

• Intraspecific competition, arising when individuals of the same species compete for resources

• Interspecific competition, arising when individuals of different species compete for resources

• Cooperation between organisms

• Parasitism

• Disease

Abiotic factors are non-living factors that influence populations within their community e.g.

• Light intensity and wavelength

• Temperature

• Turbidity, or cloudiness, of water

• Humidity

• Soil or water pH

• Soil or water salinity

• Soil composition

• Oxygen or Carbon dioxide concentration