Which factor is a biotic element that may impact wildlife populations?

Parasitism is a crucial biotic factor affecting wildlife populations as it involves interactions between species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of another, the host. This relationship can significantly impact the health, reproductive success, and survival of the host species, leading to fluctuations in wildlife populations. For example, high levels of parasitism can weaken individuals, making them more susceptible to disease, reducing their ability to reproduce, and ultimately influencing population dynamics within an ecosystem.

While soil quality, water availability, and temperature regulations are important factors, they are primarily abiotic elements—non-living environmental conditions that also play significant roles in the habitat and the overall ecosystem structure. Parasitism directly affects living organisms and highlights the complex interactions among species within an ecosystem, making it a distinctly biotic component impacting wildlife populations.