3.2 Abiotic Environmental Factors

Flashcards covering abiotic factors, species distribution influences, tolerance ranges, and cognitive verbs from the 3.2 Abiotic Environmental Factors lecture.

What three categories are included in abiotic features?

Climate, soil, and geography.

According to the syllabus objectives, what are some biotic factors that influence the distribution and abundance of species?

Food availability, competition for resources, predation, and disease.

According to the syllabus objectives, what are some abiotic factors that influence the distribution and abundance of species?

Space, shelter, availability of water, nutrients, and environmental conditions.

What are the physical conditions of habitats that act as abiotic factors?

Temperature, humidity, wind, air currents, water currents, pH, and the availability of light, water and nutrients.

What occurs when an organism is outside its optimal range but within its tolerance range?

The organism experiences physiological stress.

What is the term for the range where an organism experiences physiological stress?

The marginal niche.

Which abiotic factors are categorized under Climate?

Temperature, water, radiant energy, humidity, and wind and air currents.

Which abiotic factors are categorized under Soil (substrate)?

pH, mineral salts and trace elements, and water retention.

Which abiotic factors are categorized under Geography?

Water currents, salinity, topography, shelter, and the size/depth of an area.

What are the two ranges shown on either side of the optimum range in a population graph?

Stressed range and lethal range.

How is the cognitive verb 'Identify' defined?

To distinguish; locate, recognise and name; establish or indicate who or what someone or something is; provide an answer from a number of possibilities; recognise and state a distinguishing factor or feature.

How is the cognitive verb 'Classify' defined?

To arrange, distribute or order in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics.

How is the cognitive verb 'Compare' defined?

To display recognition of similarities and differences and recognise the significance of these similarities and differences.

How is the cognitive verb 'Consider' defined?

To think deliberately or carefully about something, typically before making a decision; take something into account when making a judgment; view attentively or scrutinise; reflect on.

Which organism type is listed in the glossary for this module?

Cryptic organism.