1. Factors affecting plants
Kim Lachler
2010
NCES 6 L 2.2

2. Biotic vs. Abiotic “Bio” – means life “A” – means without
Living or once living
“Bio” – means life
Abiotic
Non living
“A” – means without

3. Biotic They can have a positive affect or negative affect.
What do you think are biotic factors that affect plants?
Some are:
Insects
Birds
Animals
Fungi (mushrooms)

4. Insects Benefits Harmful Help pollinate Eat the plant
Examples:
Bees
Butterflies
Provide nutrients:
Example:
Fly for a venus fly trap
Provide protection:
Lady bugs eat harmful insects
Harmful
Eat the plant
Examples
beatles

5. Birds Benefits Harmful Spread seeds Rid harmful insects Cause damage
Example:
Blue Jays
Rid harmful insects
Woodpecker
Harmful
Cause damage
Example:
Woodpecker
Rid helpful insects
Barn swallow

6. Animals Benefits: Harmful: Spread seeds Fertilize Causing damage
Example:
Squirrels
Fertilize
Cows
Harmful:
Causing damage
Examples:
Humans
Deer
Eating them

7. Fungi Benefit: Harmful: Provide nutrients Weaken healthy plants
Example:
Mushrooms breaking down dead wood into soil.
Harmful:
Weaken healthy plants
Example:
Artist fungi

8. Abiotic They also can have a positive affect or negative affect.
What do you think are abiotic factors that affect plants?
Some are:
Water
Air
Sun light/Temperature
Soil/nutrients

9. Water
Necessary for photosynthesis
Helps provide support

10. Air
Carbon dioxide need for photosynthesis
Oxygen for respiration

11. Sunlight/Temperature
1) Need for photosynthesis
Temperature
1) Affects absorption

12. Soil
1) Provides the necessary nutrients (minerals) to aid in overall health and chemical reactions.
2) Gives the roots support
3) Where the roots absorbs water
4) pH affects adaptations

13. pH The concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution Acidic Base
Low pH
A high hydrogen ion concentration.
Base
High pH
A low hydrogen ion concentration.
Neutral
In the middle.

14. pH continue 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Neutral Acid Base
Neutral
Acid
Base
orange juice/soda
purified water
baking soda
battery acid
soapy water
drain cleaner
coffee

15. Some coping mechanisms
Tropism
Plants are not able to pick up and move if conditions are not favorable.
Plants can change the direction they are growing.
Examples:
Phototropism - plants grow towards light
Gravitropism - plants grow upward
Thigmotropism – responding to touch

16. Coping mechanisms continued
Dormancy
A temporary state of minimal activity or inactivity.
Usually as a response to poor growing conditions.
Examples:
Winter dormancy - Deciduous trees loosing their leaves in the fall.
Intense heat dormancy -Grass stop growing and conserve energy until conditions are better.

17. Bibliography
Plant Tropic Responses accessed 6/1/10
Decelles, Paul, The pH Scale accessed 6/1/10
Iannotti, Maria, Dormancy - What Does it Mean When a Plant Goes Dormant? accessed 6/1/10
The Mysterious Venus’ Flytrap accessed 6/1/10
Woodpecker accessed 6/1/10
Davis, Mark, Artist’s Fungi accessed 6/1/10 ;