Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answers based solely on the contents of the passage and the opinion of the author. The grouping or assemblage of plants, animals and microbes we observe when we study a natural forest, a grassland, a pond, a coral reef or some other undisturbed area, is referred to as the area's biota or biotic community. The plant portion of the biotic community includes all vegetation, from large trees down through to microscopic algae. Likewise, the animal portion includes everything from large mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians through to earthworms, tiny insects and mites. Microbes encompass a large array of microscopic bacteria, fungi and protozoans. Thus, the biotic community comprises a plant community, an animal community and a microbial community. The particular kind of biotic community found in a given area is, in large part, determined by abiotic factors such as the amount of water or moisture present, the temperature, the salinity, or the type of soil in the area. These abiotic factors both support and limit the particular community. For example, a relative lack of available moisture prevents the growth of most species of plants, but supports certain species, such as cacti; these kinds of areas are deserts. Land with plenty of available moisture and a suitable temperature supports forests. The presence of water is the major factor that sustains aquatic communities. The first step in investigating a biotic community may be simply to catalogue all the species present. Species are the different kinds of plants, animals and microbes in the community. A given species includes all those individuals which have a strong similarity in appearance to one another and which are distinct in appearance from other such groups. Each species in a biotic community is represented by a certain population - that is, by a certain number of individuals that make up the interbreeding, reproducing group.
Which one of the following does not belong to the biotic community?
Analyzing Biotic Community and Abiotic Factors based on the Passage
The provided passage discusses the concept of a 'biotic community' in a natural area. It defines the biotic community as the grouping or assemblage of plants, animals, and microbes found in a specific environment like a forest, grassland, or pond. The passage also introduces 'abiotic factors', which are non-living elements that influence the biotic community.
Understanding Biotic and Abiotic Components
According to the passage:
- Biotic Community: Comprises living organisms. It includes:
- Plant community (all vegetation from large trees to microscopic algae)
- Animal community (all animals from large mammals to tiny insects and mites)
- Microbial community (microscopic bacteria, fungi, and protozoans)
- Abiotic Factors: Non-living environmental conditions. Examples given are:
- Amount of water or moisture
- Temperature
- Salinity
- Type of soil
These abiotic factors determine and limit the particular kind of biotic community found in an area.
Examining the Options
The question asks which of the given options does not belong to the biotic community. Let's evaluate each option based on the passage's definitions:
- Water: The passage explicitly lists "amount of water or moisture" as an abiotic factor. It states that the presence of water is a major factor that sustains aquatic communities, highlighting its role as a non-living environmental condition, not a living component of the community itself.
- Human: Humans are animals (mammals). The passage includes "large mammals" as part of the animal portion of the biotic community. Therefore, humans belong to the animal community, which is a component of the biotic community.
- Protozoa: The passage lists "protozoans" as part of the array of "microscopic bacteria, fungi and protozoans" that encompass "microbes". The passage clearly states that "Microbes encompass a large array of microscopic bacteria, fungi and protozoans" and that the "biotic community comprises... a microbial community". Therefore, protozoa belong to the microbial community, which is a component of the biotic community.
- Bush: A bush is a type of vegetation or plant. The passage states that the "plant portion of the biotic community includes all vegetation, from large trees down through to microscopic algae". Therefore, a bush belongs to the plant community, which is a component of the biotic community.
Conclusion
Based on the definitions provided in the passage, Water is identified as an abiotic factor, while Humans (as animals), Protozoa (as microbes), and Bushes (as plants) are identified as components of the biotic community.
Therefore, the item that does not belong to the biotic community is Water.
| Item | Classification based on Passage | Belongs to Biotic Community? |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Abiotic Factor | No |
| Human | Animal (Biotic Component) | Yes |
| Protozoa | Microbe (Biotic Component) | Yes |
| Bush | Plant (Biotic Component) | Yes |
Revision Table: Key Concepts from Passage
| Concept | Definition from Passage | Examples/Components |
|---|---|---|
| Biotic Community | Grouping/assemblage of plants, animals, microbes in a natural area | Plant community, Animal community, Microbial community |
| Abiotic Factors | Non-living factors determining/limiting biotic community | Water/moisture, Temperature, Salinity, Soil type |
| Species | Different kinds of plants, animals, microbes with strong similarity in appearance | — |
| Population | Certain number of individuals of a species making up the interbreeding group | — |
Additional Information: Ecosystem Components
The passage focuses on the biotic community and abiotic factors. Together, the biotic community and the abiotic factors of an area constitute an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.
- Ecosystem = Biotic Community + Abiotic Factors
- Understanding both the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) parts is crucial for studying any environment or ecological system.
- The interactions between biotic and abiotic components are fundamental to how ecosystems function, including energy flow and nutrient cycling.
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The nature of the biotic community largely depends on :
1. Biotic components
2. Abiotic components
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Which of the following is not an abiotic factor?
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When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.
The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________
