Biotic Factors: Definition, Types and Examples
The biotic factors are all living organisms, interacting with other living organisms. On the other hand, the relationship between organisms in an ecosystem is also called an abiotic factor. These relationships condition the existence of all the inhabitants of the ecosystem, since they modify their behaviors, their way of feeding and reproducing, and in general the conditions necessary to survive.
Among these relationships are relationships of dependency and competition. In other words, biotic factors are living things but always considered in a network of relationships between flora and fauna.
In the ecosystem there are also abiotic factors, which are those that also condition the existence of living beings, but that are not living beings, such as water, heat, light, etc.
See also: Difference between biotic and abiotic factors
Biotic factors are classified into :
- Individual factor: An organism individually. That is to say, a horse, in particular, a bacterium, in particular, a tree in particular. When studying changes in an ecosystem, it is important to determine whether a single individual of a species can cause significant changes or not.
- Population biotic factor: They are the set of individuals that inhabit the same area and that are of the same species. Population biotic factors always modify the ecosystem in which they are integrated.
- Community biotic factor: They are a group of different biotic populations that live in the same area. The concept of community biotic factors allows observing the relationships between populations but also how the community as a whole is related to other populations that do not belong to the community.
Examples of biotic factors
1. Producers
Producers are those organisms that produce their own food. They are also called autotrophs.
Dandelion | Sunflowers |
Bamboo | Cane |
Acacia | Plum |
Wheat | Palmetto |
Almond | Olive |
Vine | Alfalfa |
Peach tree | Rice |
Grass |
2. Consumers
Consuming organisms are those that cannot produce their own food. This includes herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
cow | snake |
vulture | shark |
crocodile | Tiger |
coyote | caterpillar |
horse | Panda bear |
goat | sheep |
kangaroo | Rhino |
zebra | Eagle |
deer | turtle |
rabbit | Fox |
3. Decomposers
The decomposers feed on organic matter, breaking it down into its basic elements.
Flies (insect) | Azotobacter (bacteria) |
Diptera (insect) | Pseudomonas (bacteria) |
Trichoceridae (insect) | Achromobacter (bacteria) |
Aranea (insect) | Actinobacter (bacteria) |
Calliphoridae (insect) | Mutualistic fungi |
Silphidae (insect) | Parasitic fungi |
Histeridae (insect) | Saprobic fungi |
Mosquito larvae (insect) | Mold |
Carabiners (insect) | Earthworms |
Acari (insect) | Slugs |
Beetles (insect) | Nematodes |
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