Name: ___________________
Hour: ___________________
ABIOTIC FACTORS
A complete study of Earth's ecosystems includes learning about the non-living environment in which living
things exist. The non-living parts of an organism's environment are called abiotic factors. Examples of
abiotic factors include such things as air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil type.
Abiotic factors have large effects on living things and often determine which species of organisms will
survive in a given area. For example, a lack of rainfall in an area will only allow drought tolerant plants and
animals to survive. Continued drought would reduce the total amount of plant matter in the area, which
would then reduce the number of plant-eating animals that could survive in the area.
1.
Time for us to step outside! Below, list all of the abiotic (non-living) things that make up the
environment you are in. List at least 10 things. Next to each item on your list, tell what would
happen to you if that item either didn’t exist or changed drastically.
Abiotic Factor
What would happen to you if item didn’t exist?
2.
Compare your list with a friend. What items did you find on both lists? What abiotic items were only on one
list?
3.
Look at the photograph of Cathedral Valley, Utah. Describe the abiotic differences between where you live and
Cathedral Valley.
4.
Now observe the image of a Hawaiian volcano. Abiotic factors limit the kinds of organisms that will survive in
an environment. What is the most important limiting factor in this photo?
5. Look at the picture of the stream of water flowing away from a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. The
colors are caused by different organisms living in the water. What variations do you observe? What abiotic
factor might be affecting these variations?
HOMEWORK: Find a photograph of an environment on Earth that you think looks cool. You may use a book, magazine,
or the Internet as a reference. Print or cut out the picture and attach to this sheet. Identify all of the abiotic factors you
can below (at least 5).