AQA · Biology · 8461
GCSE Biology: Biotic factors
Ecology · AQA GCSE Biology (8461), specification point 4.7.1.3. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Biotic factors", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What is a biotic factor?
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A living factor (e.g. food, predators, pathogens, competitors) that can affect a community.
Is the availability of food a biotic or abiotic factor?
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Biotic — food comes from other living organisms.
How does a new predator arriving affect a community?
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It reduces the numbers of its prey species, which can in turn affect other species that depend on them.
Why is a new pathogen classed as a biotic factor?
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Pathogens are living organisms; a new one can cause disease and reduce a population in the community.
What happens to a species when it is outcompeted by another species?
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Its numbers fall until they are no longer sufficient to breed, so the population declines.
How does a fall in food availability affect a population?
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Fewer organisms can survive and breed, so the population size decreases.
What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?
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Biotic factors are living (e.g. predators, pathogens); abiotic factors are non-living (e.g. temperature, light).
New predators arriving
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A biotic factor that can affect a community
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