Biotic stress

Biotic stress is a process that occurs when an organism faces stress conditions as a result of other living organisms within its ecosystem. These stress conditions can include, but are not limited to, pathogens, parasites, predators, and competitors. Biotic stress can have a significant impact on the growth, health, and survival of an organism, and is a key factor in the survival of species and the evolution of biodiversity.

Causes of Biotic Stress

Biotic stress is caused by living organisms within an ecosystem. These can include:

• Pathogens: These are disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They can cause significant damage to an organism, leading to disease and potentially death.

• Parasites: These are organisms that live on or in another organism, known as the host, from which they obtain nutrients. Parasites can cause a range of health problems for the host, including disease and death.

• Predators: These are organisms that hunt and kill other organisms for food. Predation can cause significant stress for prey species, affecting their behavior, population size, and evolution.

• Competitors: These are organisms that compete with others for resources such as food, water, and space. Competition can lead to stress as organisms struggle to obtain the resources they need to survive and reproduce.

Impact of Biotic Stress

Biotic stress can have a significant impact on the health and survival of organisms. It can lead to a range of physiological changes, including reduced growth and reproduction, increased susceptibility to disease, and in severe cases, death. Biotic stress can also have a significant impact on the structure and function of ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Management of Biotic Stress

The management of biotic stress involves a range of strategies, including the use of pesticides and herbicides, biological control methods, and the development of resistant varieties of plants and animals. These strategies aim to reduce the impact of biotic stress on organisms and ecosystems, and to promote the health and survival of species.

See Also

• Abiotic stress
• Stress (biology)
• Ecology
• Biodiversity