Abiotic and Biotic Factors

8 Science

What is the difference?

• Abiotic and biotic factors are features of the environment

• Biotic factors:– ‘bio’ = living– Living or once-living organisms– Example: grass is a living thing and is part of the

school environment, gives cows in the fields energy

What is the difference?

• Abiotic factors:– ‘a’ = not– abiotic = non-living

things– These factors help

determine whether a species can survive in an area

– Example: sunlight affects whether a plant can grow

ABIOTIC or BIOTIC?OBJECT ABIOTIC BIOTIC

1. Toothpicks

2. Lime

3. Rice

4. Thermometer

5. Leaf

6. Oxygen molecule

7. Spoon

8. Seeds

9. Chalk

10.

11.

12.

QUESTIONS to answer in science journal: do not need to copy the question, just the answers in FULL SENTENCES

1) What is the difference between an abiotic and a biotic factor? Give at least 5 examples of each (that we have NOT already used today)

2) What is the difference between a population and a community? A community and an ecosystem?

3) Could oxygen in the atmosphere be considered an abiotic factor? Why or why not? What about carbon dioxide?

4) Each person lives in a population as part of a community. Describe your population and community.