Biotic and Abiotic Factors Quiz

Study Notes

Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic Factors: Living components in an environment that influence the life of organisms, like predators and prey interactions.
Abiotic Factors: Nonliving elements affecting ecosystems, encompassing climate, geology, and atmospheric conditions.

Nutritional Roles in Ecosystems

Decomposers: Organisms that break down dead matter, facilitating nutrient cycling and energy flow in ecosystems; they are heterotrophic, relying on organic substrates.
Autotrophs: Organisms that produce their own food using inorganic substances and energy sources; examples include green plants, algae, and certain bacteria.
Omnivores: Animals that consume both plant and animal matter; they can be predators or scavengers depending on their feeding habits.
Herbivores: Organisms that exclusively eat plants; some feed on living plants while others break down dead plant matter.
Carnivores: Animals that primarily consume meat from live or dead sources, with some species considered carnivorous despite low meat intake.

Ecological Succession

Primary Succession: Occurs in lifeless areas with no soil, such as after lava flows or glacier retreats; initiates new ecosystems.
Secondary Succession: Follows disturbances in established ecosystems, like forest fires, allowing recovery and regeneration using preexisting soil.

Branches of Biology

Botany: Study of plant life; encompasses various sub-disciplines and is critical for understanding ecosystems; specialists in this field are called botanists.
Heterotrophs: Organisms that consume other living entities within a food chain, taking on roles of herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

Description

Test your knowledge on biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems with this quiz. Understand how living and nonliving components interact within environments. Expand your understanding of ecological concepts and their definitions.