Names ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Biotic And Abiotic Factors of an Ecosystem

What is the difference between the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Using the ecosystem diagrams, complete the table.

Ecosystem

Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors

Tundra(terrestri

al)

Pond(aquatic)

Forest(terrestri

al)

Can abiotic and biotic factors affect one another? Provide an example.___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TUNDRA ECOSYSTEM

BIOTIC ABIOTIC

Arctic Fox

Snowy Owl

Lemming

Strong Wind

Little precipitation

Permafrost

Poor soil

POND ECOSYSTEM

BIOTIC ABIOTIC

Algae

PhytoplanktonFish

Plants

AmphibianAcidity

Salinity

Temperature

Dissolved Oxygen

FOREST ECOSYSTEM

BIOTIC ABIOTIC

Biotic And

Abiotic Factors

Teacher NotesObjective

Students will identify the

characteristics and interactions of biotic and abiotic components of

several ecosystems, and describe the importance of these components in a sustainable ecosystem.ProcedureThe STUDENT HANDOUT should be distributed, one per student. The teacher should read through the handout along with the class, and explain the activity to come. After resolving another questions about the procedure, students should be instructed to complete Question 1.In this activity, small groups of students will classify factors as either biotic or abiotic. Each factor will be listed as a picture,

Trees

Squirrels

Birds

Insects

Black bears

Hares

Changing Weather

Fertile soil

Precipitation

Long growing season

with an appropriate descriptive caption. Each student will drag one factor to the side of the board corresponding to either “BIOTIC” or “ABIOTIC”. When the factors for the Tundra ecosystem have been placed, proceed with the Pond and, finally, the Forest ecosystem. Students should be completing the table in the handout as the activity progresses.Upon completion of the activity, the teacher should ask students the following question:“How does human activity affect each biotic or abiotic factor?”While answers may vary, if students require assistance, proceed with a few scaffolding questions:“Which biotic factor in a forest ecosystem serves as a habitat for many animals?” “How are trees affected by human activities?”“How does this impact the animals in the ecosystem that rely on those trees?”The teacher should go around the classroom and check for completion of the student handout. Note that this activity should not be evaluated, but used as an assessment for learning, and the handout should remain in each student’s binder of notes.