7.1.3: Biotic factors
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Biotic factors: living factors which can affect a community.
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Availability of food can affect organisms in a community.
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New predators arriving can affect organisms in a community.
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New pathogens can affect organisms in a community.
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One species may outcompete another so the numbers are no longer sufficient to breed.
Common exam mistakes
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Do not include temperature, light or water as biotic factors; those are abiotic factors.
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Competition for food is biotic because it depends on other organisms.
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Pathogens count as biotic factors even though viruses are not cells.
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When a graph shows a population drop, do not assume predation; food shortage, disease or competition could also explain it.