7.2 Abiotic and biotic factors
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What is the difference between an abiotic and a biotic factor?
Mark scheme
- abiotic: non-living (1)
- biotic: living (1)
Model answer
An abiotic factor is a non-living feature of the environment; a biotic factor is a living one.
Give three abiotic factors that could affect the plants in a field.
Mark scheme
Any three from:
- light intensity (1)
- temperature (1)
- moisture / water (1)
- soil pH (1)
- mineral content of soil (1)
- wind (1)
- carbon dioxide (1)
Model answer
Light intensity, temperature and soil pH.
Which of these is a biotic factor?
Choose one answer.
Correct Not quite: the answer is A new pathogen
Mark scheme
D: a new pathogen
Model answer
D: a new pathogen is a living factor.
Fewer plants grow on the floor of a dense forest than at the edge. Suggest and explain why.
Mark scheme
- less light (under the trees) (1)
- less photosynthesis so less growth (1)
Model answer
Less light reaches the forest floor, so plants there can carry out less photosynthesis and grow less.
Some water insects can only live in water with high levels of dissolved oxygen. Explain how pollution by sewage could affect them.
Mark scheme
- bacteria / decomposers break down sewage and use up oxygen (1)
- so oxygen levels fall and the insects die / leave (1)
Model answer
Bacteria feeding on the sewage use up dissolved oxygen, so oxygen levels fall and the insects cannot survive.
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