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In biology, abiotic components are non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment. Abiotic phenomena underlie all of biology. Abiotic factors, while generally downplayed, can have enormous impact on evolution. Abiotic components are aspects of geodiversity.They can also be recognised as "abiotic pathogens"
From the viewpoint of biology, abiotic influences may be classified as light or more generally radiation, temperature, water, the chemical surrounding composed of the terrestrial atmospheric gases, as well as soil. The macroscopic climate often influences each of the above. Not to mention pressure and even sound waves if working with marine, or deep underground, biome.
Those underlying factors affect different plants, animals and fungi to different extents. Some plants are mostly water starved, so humidity plays a larger role in their biology. Many archaebacteria require very high temperatures, or pressures, or unusual concentrations of chemical substances such as sulfur, because of their specialization into extreme conditions. Certain fungi have evolved to survive mostly at the temperature, the humidity, and stability.
For example, there is a significant difference in access to water as well as humidity between temperate rainforests and deserts. This difference in water access causes a diversity in the types of plans and animals that grow in these areas.
Biotic components are the living things that shape an ecosystem. A biotic factor is any living component that affects another organism, including animals that consume the organism in question, and the living food that the organism consumes. Biotic factors include human influence.
Biotic components are contrasted to abiotic components, which are non-living components of an organism's environment, such as temperature, light, moisture, air currents, etc.
Biotic components usually include:
- Producers, i.e. autotrophs: e.g. plants; they convert the energy (from the sun, or other sources such as hydrothermal vents) into food.
- Consumers, i.e. heterotrophs: e.g. animals; they depend upon producers for food.
- Decomposers, i.e. detritivores: e.g. fungi and bacteria; they break down chemicals from producers and consumers into simpler form which can be reused.
The term "environment" means the surroundings of a living creature. It can also refer to all the factors of the external world that affect biological and social activities. There are abiotic (nonliving) environmental factors such as sunlight, air, and water. There are also biotic (living or recently living) environmental factors such as plants, animal predators, and food. The total environment of an organism is the sum total of the biotic and abiotic environments. The study of the relationships between living creatures and their environments is called ecology. A human's abiotic environment includes things such as weather (sun-light, wind, air temperature) and items which give protection from the weather (clothes or houses). Other abiotic factors are the soil and water, and chemicals in the soil and water. A human's biotic environment includes things such as food (plants and animals), other humans, animals, trees, and grasses. The biotic environment also includes how living creatures interact with each other and their abiotic environments. Therefore, a human's biotic environment also consists of social or cultural surroundings. Humans learn from each other how to behave in socially acceptable ways. They also pass along knowledge about language, science, and art. The major components of Earth's physical environment are the atmosphere, climate and weather, land, and bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. The term "environment" is commonly associated with the impact that humans have made on the natural world. Increasing human population and industrial activities have led to problems associated with the pollution of air, water, and soil. Pollution has a negative impact on humans in terms of health and quality of life, as well as on other animals and plants. Human activities such as the dumping of industrial wastewater and poorly treated sewage water have led to the pollution of fresh and salt water. Groundwater, water beneath the land surface that often serves as drinking water for humans, has also been negatively affected. Accidental oil spills from ships and untreated storm-water runoff from urban and agricultural areas also degrade bodies of water. Air pollution results from human activities such as burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gasoline) to create electricity and power automobiles, and manufacturing industrial products such as chemicals and plastic. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, adding billions of extra tons of carbon to the natural carbon cycle. Deforestation and poor soil management also add carbon. Most scientists believe that the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to the potentially devastating warming of the global climate, the so-called "greenhouse effect." Another human impact on the atmosphere has been depletion of the ozone layer. The ozone layer helps filter ultraviolet light and protects Earth's surface from harmful doses of radiation. Many scientists believe that chlorofluoro-carbons used as coolants in air conditioners and refrigeration units destroy ozone when released into the atmosphere. Land pollution is caused by poor agricultural practices, mining for coal and minerals, and dumping industrial and urban wastes. The widespread usage of pesticides has led to pollution of both soils and bodies of water. As more and more environmental problems become evident, humans will have to assess their activities and their impact on the natural world. see also Biome; Ecosystem; Habitat. Denise Prendergast
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Answers:Transpiration from the leaves of plants have a cooling effect and raise the humidity levels within a forest. The leaves falling to the ground and decomposed increases the nutrient levels in the soil, improves water retention and helps insulate the soil against freezing temperatures. The tree canopy helps moderate the soil temperature and decreases the evaporation of water from the soil. The root systems of plants slows soil erosion from wind and water.
Answers:Nitrogen fixing bacteria can convert nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrates. (Biotic factor-bacteria...abiotic factors-nitrogen gas in the air and nitrates in th soil) In this case, the bacteria can affect the amt of nitrates in the soil as well as, to a lesser extent, the nitrogen in the air. Two other similar bacteria are nitrifying bacteria (which convert nitrogen cmpds into nitrates) and denitrifying bacteria (which convert nitrogen cmpds into nitrogen gas) All animals also contribute to the amount of carbon dioxide in the air by respiration. If you want to take it to the extreme, you probably can say that in forests (and even streams in which eutrophication is an issue) the taller plants affect the amount of light available to the smaller/shorter plants beneath. Temperature of an area (eg in a rainforest vs a dessert) is affected by the degree of sheltering from trees. I can think of a bunch of similar examples but I don't want to bore you with too many words. l.o.l. Hope this helped!
Answers:D, but I can think of possible ways that A,B & C could also be true. A is likely since all regions receive sunlight but it is a really badly worded question. Depends on the 'term'. Climate is a better answer than weather In a well-worded question, 'long-term' would not be left as a value judgment.
Answers:I shud have thought it was E as well.. if its not, then its C -Primary producers:plants...