Key Differences (Biotic Factors vs Abiotic Factors)
BASIS FOR BIOTIC FACTORS
COMPARISON
DEFINITION The biotic factor or biotic
component is the living
organism that shapes an
ecosystem.
DEPENDENCY Biotic factors depend on
abiotic factors for their
survival and growth.
MEASUREMENT The measurement of the
biotic component is
subjective.
RELATIONSHIP Living organisms might be
directly or indirectly related
to other organisms in an
ecosystem.
ADAPTATION Biotic factors are capable
of adapting to changes in
the environment.
LIMITING FACTORS Changes in one biotic
factor rarely cause
changes in other groups.
COMPONENTS Biotic factors include
various plants, animals,
bacteria, and algae that act
as producers, consumers,
or decomposers.
RESOURCES Biotic resources are forests Abiotic resources include
ABIOTIC FACTORS
Abiotic factors or abiotic
components of an
ecosystem are the
nonliving physical and
chemical composition of
nature.
Abiotic factors do not
depend on biotic factors for
their existence.
The measurement of the
abiotic component is
objective.
Abiotic factors determine
the number and type of
living organisms surviving
in an ecosystem.
Abiotic factors don’t have
the ability to adapt
according to the
environmental conditions.
Changes in any abiotic
factor might bring
significant changes in the
biotic factors.
Abiotic factors include soil
topography, climate, and
natural disturbances of the
ecosystem.
 and forest products,
marine resources like fish,
etc.
ASSOCIATION Biotic factors might form
different associations like
symbiosis, parasitism, and
predator-prey association.
EXAMPLES Humans, insects, wild
animals, birds, bacteria,
etc. are some examples of
biotic factors.
land, water, soil, and coal.
No such associations are
formed between abiotic
factors.
Soil, rainfall, humidity,
temperature, pH, climate,
etc. are some examples of
abiotic factors.