Limiting Factors and the Physical Environment

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the limiting factors and physical environment affecting biological systems.

Limiting Factors

Environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of organisms.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.

Adaptation

The process by which organisms adjust to their environment to survive and reproduce.

Thermal Properties of Water

Characteristics of water that include its ability to conduct heat, resist temperature changes, and maintain a liquid state over a broad range of temperatures.

Buoyancy

The ability of an object to float in a fluid, which is influenced by the density of the object and the fluid.

Viscosity of Water

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, which affects how easily organisms can move through the water.

Solvent

A substance, usually a liquid, that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution.

pH

A measure of how acidic or basic a solution is, representing the concentration of hydrogen ions.

Aquatic Organisms

Organisms that live primarily in water environments, which must adapt to their aquatic environment.

Dissolved Substances

Chemicals that have been dissolved in water, influencing its chemistry and the organisms that live within it.