Abiotic Components

Abiotic Components

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water availability
w sunlight
s temperature range
t soil
s wind
w oxygen availability

3. Water is one of nature's most important things in life. Essential to
life, an organism's survival depends on water. Water is necessary for
the digestion and absorption of food; helps maintain proper muscle
tone; supplies oxygen and nutrients to the cells; rids the body of
wastes; and serves as a natural air conditioning system

4. The sun provides light and warmth and is the energy source for
almost all ecosystems on Earth. Sunlight powers photosynthesis by
plants, the main producers in most terrestrial ecosystems.

5. Most life exists within a fairly narrow range of temperatures, from
about 0°C to about 50°C. Few organisms can maintain an active
metabolism below 0°C for long, and most organisms' enzymes are
denatured (they lose their shape and stop working) above 50°C.
However, extraordinary adaptations enable certain species to live at
extreme temperatures. Some species of prokaryotes, for example,
can thrive in hot springs as hot as 80°C and around deep-sea vents,
which are even hotter.

6. Soil is the product of abiotic forces (such as ice, rain, and wind) and
the actions of living things (such as microorganisms, plants, and
earthworms) on the rocks and minerals of Earth's crust. The structure
and chemical makeup of soil and rock in an area affect the types of
plants that grow there. In aquatic environments as well, the
characteristics of the underlying sand or rock affect the types of
plants and algae that can grow. This in turn influences the other
organisms found there.

7. Many plants use wind passively to disperse seeds over relatively long
distances. Dispersal can be defined as the movement of individuals
away from others of the same species. One common reason why
organisms disperse is to find new habitats rich in needed resources.
Strong winds can also destroy things in many places.

8. Oxygen is an important component for life. Most living things
consume oxygen in different forms and quantities. Most of the oxygen
that is used in respiration is to obtain chemical energy from the fats
and carbohydrates in our food.