Biotic Factors (AQA GCSE Biology: Combined Science)

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Types of Biotic Factors

  • In Biology, ‘biotic’ means living. A biotic factor is a living factor

Biotic factors that can affect a community table

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Effect of Biotic Factors

  • You should be able to extract and interpret information from charts, graphs and tables relating to the effect of biotic factors on organisms within a community

 

Example exam question

A study recorded the number of red and grey squirrels in a particular woodland habitat for 20 years. Grey squirrels were introduced to the habitat in year 6 of the study.

 

The relationship between a grey squirrel population and a red squirrel population over time graph, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Graph showing the relationship between a grey squirrel population and a red squirrel population over time

What conclusion can you draw from this graph about the effect of introducing grey squirrels to a habitat that is occupied by red squirrels? Explain why this might have occurred.

Example exam answer

As the number of grey squirrels increases, the number of red squirrels decreases. This might have occurred because the two squirrel species are competing for one or more of the same resources. Grey squirrels are better adapted to use these resources and have outcompeted the red squirrels until eventually there are too few red squirrels left to breed successfully and there are none left in the habitat.

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Lára

Author: Lára

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.