Question -
Answer -
Abiotic environmental factors are formed by all the non-living components of an ecosystem which includes the following:
• Temperature –
It is one of the most significant factors which varies seasonally on land, progressively decreases from the equator towards the poles, from plains to the mountain tops. From sub-zero levels in polar areas to temperatures greater than 50 degree Celsius in tropical deserts in summers, their range is wide. Some unique habitats such as deep sea hydrothermal vents, thermal springs sees average temperature exceeding more than 100 degree Celsius. Entities who can withstand a range of temperatures are termed as eurythermals example – birds and mammals whereas stenothermals are entities who can bear a narrow range of temperature, example – polar bears.
• Water –
Life cannot sustain without water. For marine entities, pH, water temperature, chemical composition etc is significant. It is also affected by water salinity that is less than 5 parts per thousand in inland water, 30-35 parts per thousand in sea etc
Euryhaline are entities which can bear a wide salinity range whereas stenohaline are entities that can tolerate a narrow range of salinity. Most of the fresh water animals cannot sustain in sea water for long due to osmotic issues that arise due to high salinity and vice-versa
• Soil –
Properties and nature of soil varies from place to place, depending on the following factors
-climate
-soil development process
-Weathering process
Characteristics such as grain size, aggregation, soil composition determine the water holding capacity and percolation of soil. Along with these, some other features such as pH, topography, mineral composition etc determine the type of type of plant that can grow in a specific habitat.
• Light –
All autotrophs depend on light to carry out photosynthesis, releasing oxygen during the process. In forests, small herbs and shrubs are adapted to photosynthesis under very low light intensities as they are overshadowed by tall trees. Also, most plants depend on sunlight to meet their photoperiodic necessities for flowering. Several animals are dependent on diurnal and seasonal differences in light intensity as prompts for timing their reproductive, foraging and migratory activities. Light availability on land is closely associated with that of temperature, as Sun is the ultimate source. In deep oceans, it is dark perpetually. Spectral quality of solar radiation is necessary for life. For many entities, UV component of light is harmful. Different components of visible spectrum is available for marine plants active at different oceanic depths. Hence, different algae types such as brown, green and red algae occur at various depths in the middle, upper and lowest levels of water respectively.