Abiotic Factors
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In an ecosystem, organisms are affected by two factors. One of them, which include non-living factors, is called abiotic factors.
Water
Water is one of the main factors of an ecosystem. Although not all animals need water for drinking purposes, as they recieve enough water in their diet, most still require it for survival. In order for chemical reactions to occur, water is needed in the cells of living things. As land animals do not live in or near water, this is the one factor which is very vital. Temperature
Temperature is another factor which comes under Abiotic. Heat is needed, as it addects the speed of chemical reactions in cells. The more heat there is, the faster the rate of reactions. Some animals, such as reptiles and fish, rely on the temperature of the environment for survival. For example, if they get too hot, they can hide in a burrow to cool down, and lie in the sun to warm up. The term used to describe animals like this, is ectothermic. The opposite term is endothermic. This is when animals can control their body heat. Fire
Fire can affect plants in a positive way. This is because they can help with the regrowth of plants. Although they can kill some plants, they can also help others. Light
Light is essential on ecosystems, as it is what is required for photosynthesis. This can be described as the process whereby plants make their food. Gas levels
In order to respirate, organisms require oxygen. For land animals, there is usually enough oxygen, however in water, the oxygen levels can change. |