|
Some Abiotic Factors |
- light intensity
- temperature
range
- type of soil
or rock
- pH level
(acidity or alkalinity)
- water availability
- dissolved gases
- level of pollutant
|
Abiotic factors vary in the environment and determining the
types and numbers of organisms
that exist in that environment. Factors which
determine the types and numbers of organisms of a species in
an ecosystem are called limiting factors.
Many limiting factors restrict the growth of populations in
nature. An example of this would include low annual
average temperature average common to the Arctic restricts the
growth of trees, as the subsoil is permanently frozen.
Biotic
Factors
Biotic factors are all the living things or their
materials that directly or indirectly affect an organism in
its environment. This would include organisms,
their presence, parts, interaction, and wastes. Factors
such as parasitism, disease, and predation (one animal eating
another) would also be classified as biotic factors.
|
Some Biotic Factors |
- parasitism
- disease
- predation
|
Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of organisms the
resources of an ecosystem can support. The
carrying capacity of the environment is limited by the
available abiotic and biotic resources (limiting factors),
as well as the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of
dead organisms through the activities of bacteria and fungi.
