Abiotic and Biotic Factors

What is a habitat?

The place where an organism lives.

How can habitats be described?

In terms of geographical location and the type of ecosystem.

What two types of factors do organisms need to adapt to in their habitats?

Abiotic and biotic factors.

Define biotic factors.

Living factors that impact feeding, predator-prey relationships, and other interdependent relationships.

What are some examples of biotic factors?

Animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria.

Define abiotic factors.

Non-living physical factors that influence adaptations of organisms.

Give examples of abiotic factors.

Salinity, soil, light, temperature, and pH.

High Habitat

exposed to UV radiation, low temperature, water scarcity and frozen soil which makes rooting and absorption of nutrients and water difficult

What adaptations do plants in high altitude environments have?

White reflective woolly hair, small leaves, and thick fleshy leaves.

What is the purpose of white, reflective woolly hair on plants?

Traps air and insulates against low temperature; protects against UV radiation.

Why do plants in high altitudes have small leaves?

To prevent excessive evaporation of water from the leaves by transpiration.

What adaptations help plants growing on sand dunes conserve water?

Thick waxy covering on leaves, rolling leaves, and underground stems (rhizomes).

Dry Habitat

challenge of water conservation and tolerance of high salt concentration

What does the thick waxy cuticle reduce?

water loss through transpiration

What do leaves that can roll up during a drought create?

a humid chamber and reduce exposure to wind

What is the function of the rhizomes in sand dune plants?

Provide stability and access deep water sources.

What does the accumulation of carbohydrates in root and leaf cells help increase?

osmotic potential and to help absorb water

What adaptations do plants in waterlogged soils have?

Pneumatophores (vertical roots), stilt roots, buoyant seeds, and salt glands.

What purpose do pneumatophores serve?

They absorb oxygen from the air.

How do stilt roots help trees in waterlogged habitats?

They anchor the trees into the ground and increase stability.

How do buoyant seeds benefit waterlogged plants?

They can be carried away by currents to fertile soil.

What do the salt glands in leaves help with?

Increase in salt water uptake by removing excess salt

What abiotic factors affect animal distributions?

Water availability and temperature.

What abiotic factors affect plant distributions?

Temperature, water availability, light intensity, soil pH, soil salinity, and mineral nutrient availability.