Indoor Air sciences CSMI Practice Exam

Which type of factors influence mold growth?

1. Autotrophic and heterotrophic

2. Biotic and abiotic

3. Mass and energy

4. Organic and inorganic

The correct answer is: Biotic and abiotic

Mold growth is significantly influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors refer to living components that can affect mold, such as the presence of other microorganisms or organic material that provides the necessary nutrients for mold growth. For instance, certain bacteria may either promote or inhibit mold establishment and proliferation. Abiotic factors encompass the non-living environmental conditions that mold requires to thrive, including moisture levels, temperature, light, and humidity. For example, high humidity and warm temperatures create an ideal environment for mold spores to germinate and grow. Together, these biotic and abiotic factors create specific conditions that either encourage or discourage mold growth, making them critical to understanding how to manage and control indoor environments to prevent mold infestations. Other choices like autotrophic and heterotrophic relate more to the nutritional modes of organisms rather than mold specifically, while mass and energy describe physical properties and systems rather than the environmental conditions essential for mold. Organic and inorganic also describe material types rather than the broader influencing factors needed for mold growth.