The Impact of Abiotic Factors on Living Organisms

The abiotic environment supplies living organisms with many of the requirements that they need to
survive. Abiotic factors are important in determining the types and numbers of organisms that exist
in a given environment, i.e. they influence the distribution and behaviour of living organisms. These
factors can be divided into the following:

• edaphic factors • climatic factors • aquatic factors

Climatic factors

The climatic factors affecting terrestrial organisms include light, temperature, humidity, water

availability, wind and atmospheric gases.

• Light

Light intensity and its duration affect living organisms. Light is essential for plants to make food by

photosynthesis and the rate of photosynthesis depends on light intensity. Light also coordinates.

activities of plants and animals with the seasons, e.g. flowering in plants, and migration, hibernation

and reproduction in animals.

• Temperature

Most organisms can only survive within a certain, narrow temperature range. At low temperatures,
ice crystals may form in cells and damage them. At high temperatures, enzymes are denatured.
Temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis and germination in plants and the activity of animals,
e.g. many animals become dormant in low temperatures.

• Humidity

Humidity affects the rates of transpiration in plants and evaporation of water from some animals.

• Water availability

Terrestrial habitats receive water by precipitation from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet and hail.
Water is essential for life. Chemical reactions in cells and most life processes need water in order to

take place (see page 54). It is also essential for photosynthesis in plants.

• Wind

Wind is essential for pollination and seed dispersal in many plants and may also influence migration

of birds. It can affect the rate of transpiration in plants, the rate of evaporation of water from animals
and the growth of vegetation, e.g. branches on the windward side of trees in exposed places

become stunted and deformed. Seed dispersing in the wind Tree exposed to the wind

• Atmospheric gases

The air is a mixture of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour and

pollutants. Oxygen is essential for aerobic respiration in almost all living organisms, carbon dioxide is

essential for photosynthesis in plants and pollutant gases have a negative effect on living organisms.

Aquatic factors

Aquatic factors affect organisms living in aquatic habitats, e.g. ponds, lakes, rivers, oceans and coral

reefs. Aquatic organisms are affected by light, temperature, water availability and pollutants in the

same way as terrestrial organisms. They are also affected by other factors.

• Salinity

Salinity refers to the concentration of salt in the water. Most aquatic organisms are adapted to

survive in a specific salinity and can only tolerate small changes. Some are adapted to live in fresh

water, some in salt (sea) water and others in brackish water, e.g. in estuaries.

• Water movement and wave action

Organisms living in rivers and streams are affected by the constant movement of water, those

living along ocean shorelines are exposed to wave action and to changing water levels as the tide

changes, and those living in oceans are affected by currents.

• Dissolved oxygen

Aquatic organisms use oxygen dissolved in the water for respiration. Oxygen levels in still

or polluted water are often low, whereas habitats exposed to moving water usually have

sufficient oxygen.
Revision questions

2 Distinguish between the following pairs of terms:

a habitat and niche

b population and community

c species and population.

What is ecology?

the study of the interrelationships of living organisms with each other and with their

environment.

Distinguishing between the pairs of terms:

a. Habitat and Niche:

Habitat refers to the specific physical or geographical area where an organism lives. It includes the
biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors present in that location.

Niche, on the other hand, refers to the role or position that a species occupies within its habitat. It
includes the organism's interactions with other species, its feeding habits, reproductive strategies,
and its use of resources within the habitat. Essentially, the niche describes how an organism fits into
its environment.

b. Population and Community:

Population refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in the same geographic area and
capable of interbreeding. It focuses on a single species.

Community refers to all the populations of different species living and interacting in the same
geographic area at the same time. It encompasses multiple species coexisting within an ecosystem.

c. Species and Population:

Species is a fundamental unit of classification in biology, representing a group of organisms that can
interbreed to produce fertile offspring and share common characteristics.

Population is a subset of a species and refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in a
specific geographic area. Populations may have distinct genetic variations but are still part of the
same species.

3.Explain how you would estimate:

a. the total population of a small, named plant growing in an area of wasteland

b. the total number of snails in a garden.

a. Estimating the total population of a small, named plant growing in an area of wasteland:

Quadrat Sampling: Use a quadrat (a defined square or rectangular area) and randomly place it within
the wasteland. Count the number of plants within the quadrat, and then calculate the population
density per unit area. Multiply the density by the total area to estimate the total population.
Suppose you are conducting a study to determine the species density of a particular bird species in a
forested area. You count 45 individuals of this species within a 500-square-meter plot.

Species Density (per square meter) = (Number of Individuals) / (Area Sampled)

Species Density = 45 individuals / 500 square meters

Species Density = 0.09 individuals per square meter

So, the species density for this bird species in the sampled area is 0.09 individuals per square meter.

b. Estimating the total number of snails in a garden:

Visual Count: Walk through the garden and visually count the snails you encounter. This method is
straightforward but may underestimate the population if snails are hidden or inactive during the
survey.

Trapping: Set up snail traps (e.g., boards or containers with bait) in different parts of the garden.
After a defined period, collect and count the snails trapped in each. Extrapolate this count to
estimate the total population.

Mark and Recapture: Capture a sample of snails, mark them (e.g., with a small dot of paint), and
release them back into the garden. After a period, recapture snails and note how many of the
marked ones are recaptured. Use this data to estimate the total population using the mark-recapture
formula.

AFTER CLASS

Define the term ‘environment’.

Distinguish between the biotic environment and the abiotic environment.

Describe, using examples, how abiotic factors of the environment affect the distribution of species.

Discuss the importance of EACH of the following edaphic (soil) factors to organisms

living in the soil:

a water

b air

c mineral nutrients.
Discuss the importance of EACH of the following climatic factors to living organisms:

a light b temperature c atmospheric gas

Environment: The term "environment" refers to the sum total of all external conditions, factors, and
influences, both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic), that surround and affect an organism or a
community of organisms within a specific area. It includes everything from the physical surroundings,
such as soil, water, and air, to other organisms and their interactions.

Biotic Environment vs. Abiotic Environment:

Biotic Environment: This refers to the living components of an organism's surroundings. It includes all
other living organisms in the ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and other
microorganisms. Biotic factors interact with each other in complex ways, including predation,
competition, mutualism, and symbiosis.

Abiotic Environment: The abiotic environment consists of non-living or physical factors in an

ecosystem. These include elements such as temperature, humidity, light, soil composition, water
availability, and atmospheric gases. Abiotic factors play a crucial role in shaping the physical and
chemical conditions within an ecosystem.

Impact of Abiotic Factors on Species Distribution:

Abiotic factors significantly influence the distribution of species within ecosystems. Here are some
examples of how abiotic factors affect species distribution:

Temperature: Different species have specific temperature ranges at which they can thrive. For
instance, you'll find cacti in hot deserts because they are adapted to high temperatures, while
mosses and lichens are found in cooler, temperate regions.

Water Availability: Some organisms, like cacti, have adapted to arid environments and can survive
with minimal water, while others, like amphibians, require constant access to water for reproduction
and survival. Water availability determines which species can inhabit a particular area.

Soil pH and Composition: Plants have specific pH and nutrient requirements. Blueberries, for
example, require acidic soils, while cacti thrive in sandy, well-draining soils. Soil factors affect which
plant species can grow in a given area, which in turn influences herbivores and other organisms that
rely on those plants.

Light: The amount of light reaching an area affects plant growth and, consequently, the species
composition. Shade-tolerant plants can grow in low-light environments, while sun-loving species
dominate in areas with ample sunlight.

Atmospheric Gases: The composition of atmospheric gases, particularly oxygen and carbon dioxide,
can affect the respiration of organisms. Aquatic organisms, for example, are highly dependent on
dissolved oxygen levels in water.

Importance of Edaphic (Soil) Factors:

a. Water: Soil moisture is essential for the survival of soil-dwelling organisms, including plants, fungi,
and microorganisms. Adequate soil water ensures the availability of nutrients and facilitates
biochemical processes.

b. Air: Soil organisms require oxygen for respiration. Aeration of soil allows oxygen to penetrate and
ensures that roots and soil-dwelling organisms can breathe. Poorly aerated soil can harm plant roots
and affect soil health.

c. Mineral Nutrients: Soil provides essential mineral nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium necessary for plant growth. These nutrients are crucial for the entire food chain, as plants
are the primary producers supporting higher trophic levels.

Importance of Climatic Factors:

a. Light: Light is essential for photosynthesis in plants, the process that converts sunlight into energy
and organic compounds. It directly impacts plant growth and influences the distribution of species in
ecosystems.

b. Temperature: Temperature affects the metabolic rates of organisms. Cold-blooded animals, like
reptiles, rely on external temperatures to regulate their body heat, while warm-blooded animals, like
mammals, maintain a relatively constant internal temperature. Extreme temperatures can limit
where certain species can survive.
c. Atmospheric Gases: The composition of atmospheric gases, particularly oxygen and carbon
dioxide, affects the respiration and metabolism of organisms. Oxygen is essential for aerobic
respiration in many organisms, while carbon dioxide levels can influence photosynthesis in plants.