Abiotic factors of the environment and their effect on living organisms

Abiotic factors of the environment are determined by climatic conditions, as well as by soil and water.

Classification

There are several classifications of abiotic factors. One of the most popular divides them into such components:

• Physical factors (light, temperature, barometric pressure, humidity);
• Chemical factors (composition of the atmosphere, mineral and organic substances of the soil, pH level in the soil, etc.)
• Mechanical factors (wind, landslides, movements of water and soil, terrain, etc.)

Abiotic environmental factors significantly influence the distribution of species and determine their range, i.e. The geographical zone, which is the habitat of certain organisms.

Temperature

Particular importance is given to the temperature, as this is the most important indicator. Depending on the temperature, the abiotic factors of the environment differ in the thermal belts with which the life of organisms in nature is connected. It is a cold, temperate, tropical and subtropical belt. The temperature, which is favorable for the life of organisms, is called optimal. Almost all organisms are able to live in the range 0 ° - 50 ° C.

Depending on the ability of living organisms to exist in different temperature conditions, they are classified as:

• Eurythermal organisms adapted to the conditions of sharp temperature fluctuations;
• Stenothermal organisms existing in a narrow temperature range.

The organisms inhabiting predominantly the continental climate are considered as eurythermal. These organisms are able to withstand severe temperature fluctuations (Diptera larvae, bacteria, algae, helminths). Some eurythermal organisms may fall into a state of hibernation, if the temperature factor becomes "tougher". The metabolism in this state is significantly reduced (badgers, bears, etc.).

Stenotermal organisms can be found in both plants and animals. For example, most marine animals survive at temperatures up to 30 ° C.

Animals are divided by the ability to maintain their own thermoregulation, i.e. Constant body temperature, on the so-called poikilothermic and homeothermic. The former can change their temperature, whereas in the latter, it is always constant. All mammals and a number of birds are homeothermic animals. All organisms are considered poikilothermic, except for some species of birds and mammals. Their body temperature is close to the ambient temperature. In the course of evolution, animals related to homoiothermal have adapted to protect themselves from cold (hibernation, migration, fur, etc.).

Shine

The abiotic factors of the environment are light and its intensity. Its importance is especially great for photosynthetic plants. The level of photosynthesis is affected by the intensity of solar radiation, the qualitative composition of light, the distribution of light in time. However, bacteria and fungi are known, which can multiply for a long time in complete darkness. Plants are divided into light-loving, heat-enduring and thermophilic.

For many animals, the duration of a light day is important, which affects the sexual function, increasing it during a long day of light and inhibiting it on a short daylight (autumn or winter).

Humidity

Humidity is a complex factor and represents the amount of water vapor in the air and water in the soil. From the level of humidity depends the life span of cells, and, accordingly, the whole organism. The soil moisture is affected by the amount of precipitation, the depth of water in the soil, and other conditions. Moisture is necessary for the dissolution of minerals.

Abiotic factors of the aquatic environment

Chemical factors are not inferior in importance to physical factors. A big role belongs to the gas composition of the atmosphere, as well as the composition of the aquatic environment. Almost all organisms need oxygen, and a number of organisms - in nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide or methane.

The physical abiotic factors of the environment represent a gas composition that is extremely important for those living things that live in an aquatic environment. In the waters of the Black Sea, for example, there is a lot of hydrogen sulfide, because of what this pool is considered not very favorable for many organisms. Salinity is an important component of the aquatic environment. Most aquatic animals live in saline waters, a smaller number - in fresh water, and even less - in slightly brackish water. Distribution and reproduction of aquatic animals is affected by the ability to maintain the salt composition of the internal environment.