Factors of the abiotic group, like biotic ones, are also in certain interactions. For example, in the absence of water, mineral nutrition elements found in the soil become inaccessible to plants; a high concentration of salts in the soil solution makes it difficult and limits the plant’s absorption of water; wind increases evaporation and, consequently, the loss of water by the plant; increased light intensity is associated with an increase in the temperature of the environment and the plant itself. Many connections of this kind are known, sometimes upon closer examination they turn out to be very complex.
When studying the relationship between plants and the environment, one cannot contrast the biotic and abiotic components of the environment, or imagine these components as independent, isolated from each other; on the contrary, they are closely connected, as if interpenetrating each other.
Thus, the lifelong remains of all plants (and animals), entering the substrate, change it (biotic influence), introducing, for example, elements of mineral nutrition that were in a bound state in the body of organisms; Due to these elements (abiotic influence), the fertility of the substrate increases to some extent, and this is reflected in the amount of plant mass, i.e., in strengthening the biotic component of the environment (biotic factor). Such a simple example shows that both biotic and abiotic factors are closely intertwined. Thus, the environment of each plant is drawn as a unity, as a holistic phenomenon called the environment.
Abiotic factors are divided into three groups - climatic, edaphic (based on soil and soil) and orographic (related to the structure of the earth's surface). The first two groups combine factors that directly influence certain aspects of a plant’s life. Orographic factors mainly act as modifying the influence of direct ones.
Among climatic factors, light and heat, associated with the radiant energy of the sun, occupy an important place in the life of plants; water; air composition and movement. Atmospheric pressure and some other phenomena included in the concept of climate are not significant in the life and distribution of plants.
Light and heat come to the Earth from the Sun. The energy flow, passing through the atmosphere, is weakened, and the ultraviolet part of the spectrum is most weakened. The weakening of the flow of solar energy depends on the thickness of the atmosphere through which the sun's rays pass, and therefore on the geographic latitude, season and time of day. It is very important to keep in mind that the amount of energy received by a unit of the earth's surface depends on the angle of inclination of the surface receiving the energy flow. Calculations show that at the latitude of Leningrad (60° N), the southern slope with a steepness of 20° receives a slightly greater amount of solar radiation than the horizontal surface at the latitude of Kharkov (50° N). At the same time, at the latitude of Kharkov, the northern slope, which has a steepness of 10°, receives less solar radiation than the horizontal surface at the latitude of Leningrad.
The flow of energy reaching the solid and water shells of the Earth (lithosphere and hydrosphere) is qualitatively different from that which enters the upper rarefied layers of the atmosphere. From all ultraviolet radiation, only hundredths and thousandths of calories per 1 cm2 per minute reach the earth's surface, and rays with a wavelength of 2800-2900 A are not detected here, while at an altitude of 50-100 km ultraviolet radiation still contains the entire wavelength range, including the shortest ones.
Rays with wavelengths from 3200 to 7800 A, covering the visible (human) part of the spectrum, make up only a small part of the flow of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface.
Introduction
Every day, rushing about business, you walk down the street, shivering from the cold or sweating from the heat. And after a working day, you go to the store and buy food. Leaving the store, you hastily stop a passing minibus and helplessly sit down on the nearest free seat. For many, this is a familiar way of life, isn't it? Have you ever thought about how life works from an environmental point of view? The existence of humans, plants and animals is possible only through their interaction. It cannot do without the influence of inanimate nature. Each of these types of impact has its own designation. So, there are only three types of impact on the environment. These are anthropogenic, biotic and abiotic factors. Let's look at each of them and its impact on nature.
1. Anthropogenic factors - influence on the nature of all forms of human activity
When this term is mentioned, not a single positive thought comes to mind. Even when people do something good for animals and plants, it happens because of the consequences of previously doing something bad (for example, poaching).
Anthropogenic factors (examples):
- Drying swamps.
- Fertilizing fields with pesticides.
- Poaching.
- Industrial waste (photo).
Conclusion
As you can see, basically humans only cause harm to the environment. And due to the increase in economic and industrial production, even environmental measures established by rare volunteers (the creation of nature reserves, environmental rallies) are no longer helping.
2. Biotic factors - the influence of living nature on various organisms
Simply put, it is the interaction of plants and animals with each other. It can be both positive and negative. There are several types of such interaction:
1. Competition - such relationships between individuals of the same or different species in which the use of a certain resource by one of them reduces its availability for others. In general, in competition, animals or plants fight among themselves for their piece of bread
2. Mutualism is a relationship in which each species receives a certain benefit. Simply put, when plants and/or animals complement each other harmoniously.
3. Commensalism is a form of symbiosis between organisms of different species, in which one of them uses the host’s home or organism as a place of settlement and can feed on food remains or products of its vital activity. At the same time, it brings neither harm nor benefit to the owner. All in all, a small, unnoticeable addition.
Biotic factors (examples):
Coexistence of fish and coral polyps, flagellated protozoans and insects, trees and birds (eg woodpeckers), mynah starlings and rhinoceroses.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that biotic factors can be harmful to animals, plants and humans, they also have great benefits.
3. Abiotic factors - the impact of inanimate nature on a variety of organisms
Yes, and inanimate nature also plays an important role in the life processes of animals, plants and humans. Perhaps the most important abiotic factor is weather.
Abiotic factors: examples
Abiotic factors are temperature, humidity, light, salinity of water and soil, as well as the air and its gas composition.
Conclusion
Abiotic factors can be harmful to animals, plants and humans, but they still generally benefit them
Bottom line
The only factor that does not benefit anyone is anthropogenic. Yes, it also does not bring anything good to a person, although he is sure that he is changing nature for his own good, and does not think about what this “good” will turn into for him and his descendants in ten years. Humans have already completely destroyed many species of animals and plants that had their place in the world ecosystem. The Earth's biosphere is like a film in which there are no minor roles, all of them are the main ones. Now imagine that some of them were removed. What will happen in the film? This is how it is in nature: if the smallest grain of sand disappears, the great building of Life will collapse.
Introduction
Every day, rushing about business, you walk down the street, shivering from the cold or sweating from the heat. And after a working day, you go to the store and buy food. Leaving the store, you hastily stop a passing minibus and helplessly sit down on the nearest free seat. For many, this is a familiar way of life, isn't it? Have you ever thought about how life works from an environmental point of view? The existence of humans, plants and animals is possible only through their interaction. It cannot do without the influence of inanimate nature. Each of these types of impact has its own designation. So, there are only three types of impact on the environment. These are anthropogenic, biotic and abiotic factors. Let's look at each of them and its impact on nature.
1. Anthropogenic factors - influence on the nature of all forms of human activity
When this term is mentioned, not a single positive thought comes to mind. Even when people do something good for animals and plants, it happens because of the consequences of previously doing something bad (for example, poaching).
Anthropogenic factors (examples):
- Drying swamps.
- Fertilizing fields with pesticides.
- Poaching.
- Industrial waste (photo).
Conclusion
As you can see, basically humans only cause harm to the environment. And due to the increase in economic and industrial production, even environmental measures established by rare volunteers (the creation of nature reserves, environmental rallies) are no longer helping.
2. Biotic factors - the influence of living nature on various organisms
Simply put, it is the interaction of plants and animals with each other. It can be both positive and negative. There are several types of such interaction:
1. Competition - such relationships between individuals of the same or different species in which the use of a certain resource by one of them reduces its availability for others. In general, in competition, animals or plants fight among themselves for their piece of bread
2. Mutualism is a relationship in which each species receives a certain benefit. Simply put, when plants and/or animals complement each other harmoniously.
3. Commensalism is a form of symbiosis between organisms of different species, in which one of them uses the host’s home or organism as a place of settlement and can feed on food remains or products of its vital activity. At the same time, it brings neither harm nor benefit to the owner. All in all, a small, unnoticeable addition.
Biotic factors (examples):
Coexistence of fish and coral polyps, flagellated protozoans and insects, trees and birds (eg woodpeckers), mynah starlings and rhinoceroses.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that biotic factors can be harmful to animals, plants and humans, they also have great benefits.
3. Abiotic factors - the impact of inanimate nature on a variety of organisms
Yes, and inanimate nature also plays an important role in the life processes of animals, plants and humans. Perhaps the most important abiotic factor is weather.
Abiotic factors: examples
Abiotic factors are temperature, humidity, light, salinity of water and soil, as well as the air and its gas composition.
Conclusion
Abiotic factors can be harmful to animals, plants and humans, but they still generally benefit them
Bottom line
The only factor that does not benefit anyone is anthropogenic. Yes, it also does not bring anything good to a person, although he is sure that he is changing nature for his own good, and does not think about what this “good” will turn into for him and his descendants in ten years. Humans have already completely destroyed many species of animals and plants that had their place in the world ecosystem. The Earth's biosphere is like a film in which there are no minor roles, all of them are the main ones. Now imagine that some of them were removed. What will happen in the film? This is how it is in nature: if the smallest grain of sand disappears, the great building of Life will collapse.
The natural environment of a living organism is composed of many inorganic and organic components, including those introduced by humans. Moreover, some of them may be necessary for organisms, while others do not play a significant role in their life. For example, a hare, a wolf, a fox and any other animal in the forest are in relationship with a huge number of elements. They cannot do without such things as air, water, food, a certain temperature. Others, for example, a boulder, a tree trunk, a stump, a hummock, a ditch, are elements of the environment to which they may be indifferent. Animals enter into temporary relationships with them (shelter, crossing), but not obligatory relationships.
The components of the environment that are important for the life of an organism and which it inevitably encounters are called environmental factors.
Environmental factors can be necessary or harmful to living things, promoting or hindering survival and reproduction.
Living conditions are a set of environmental factors that determine the growth, development, survival and reproduction of organisms.
The whole variety of environmental factors is usually divided into three groups: abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic.
Abiotic factors- this is a set of properties of inanimate nature that are important for organisms. These factors, in turn, can be divided for chemical(composition of the atmosphere, water, soil) and physical(temperature, pressure, humidity, currents, etc.). The diversity of relief, geological and climatic conditions also gives rise to a huge variety of abiotic factors.
Of primary importance are climatic(sunlight, temperature, humidity); geographical(length of day and night, terrain); hydrological(gr. hydor-water) - flow, waves, composition and properties of water; edaphic(gr. edaphos - soil) - composition and properties of soils, etc.
All factors can influence organisms directly or indirectly. For example, terrain affects lighting conditions, humidity, wind and microclimate.
Biotic factors- this is the totality of the impacts of the life activity of some organisms on others. For each organism, all the others are important environmental factors; they have no less effect on it than inanimate nature. These factors are also very diverse.
The whole variety of relationships between organisms can be divided into two main types: antagonistic(gr. antagonizsma - fight) and non-antagonistic.
Predation- a form of relationship between organisms of different trophic levels, in which one type of organism lives at the expense of another, eating it (+ -)
(Fig. 5.1). Predators can specialize in one prey (lynx - hare) or be polyphagous (wolf). In any biocenosis, mechanisms have evolved that regulate the numbers of both predator and prey. Unreasonable destruction of predators often leads to a decrease in their viability
Figure 5.1 - Predation
Competition( lat. concurrentia - competition) is a form of relationship in which organisms of the same trophic level compete for food and other conditions of existence, suppressing each other (- -). Competition is clearly evident in plants. Trees in the forest strive to cover as much space as possible with their roots in order to receive water and nutrients. They also reach in height towards the light, trying to overtake their competitors. Weeds clog other plants (Fig. 5.3). There are many examples from the life of animals. Intensified competition explains, for example, the incompatibility of wide-clawed and narrow-clawed crayfish in one reservoir: the narrow-clawed crayfish usually wins, since it is more fertile.
Figure 5.3-Competition
The greater the similarity in the requirements of two species for living conditions, the stronger the competition, which can lead to the extinction of one of them. The type of interactions of particular species may vary depending on conditions or life cycle stages.
Antagonistic relationships are more pronounced in the initial stages of community development. In the process of ecosystem development, a tendency is revealed to replace negative interactions with positive ones that increase the survival of species.
Non-antagonistic relationships can theoretically be expressed in many combinations: neutral (0 0), mutually beneficial (+ +), one-sided (0 +), etc. The main forms of these interactions are as follows: symbiosis, mutualism and commensalism.
Symbiosis(gr. symbiosis - cohabitation) is a mutually beneficial, but not obligatory relationship between different types of organisms (+ +). An example of symbiosis is the cohabitation of a hermit crab and an anemone: the anemone moves, attaching to the back of the crab, and with the help of the anemone it receives richer food and protection (Fig. 5.4).
Figure 5.4- Symbiosis
Sometimes the term "symbiosis" is used in a broader sense - "living together."
Mutualism(Latin mutuus - mutual) - mutually beneficial and obligatory for the growth and survival of relationships between organisms of different species (+ +). Lichens are a good example of the positive relationship between algae and fungi. When insects spread plant pollen, both species develop specific adaptations: color and smell in plants, proboscis in insects, etc.
Figure 5.5 - Mutualism
Commensalism(Latin commensa/is - dining companion) - a relationship in which one of the partners benefits, but the other is indifferent (+ 0). Commensalism is often observed in the sea: in almost every mollusk shell and sponge body there are “uninvited guests” who use them as shelters. Birds and animals that feed on the leftover food of predators are examples of commensals (Fig. 5.6).
Figure 5.6- Commensalism
Despite competition and other types of antagonistic relationships, in in nature, many species can coexist peacefully(Fig. 5.7). In such cases, each species is said to have own ecological niche(French niche - nest). The term was proposed in 1910 by R. Johnson.
Closely related organisms that have similar environmental requirements do not, as a rule, live in the same conditions. If they live in the same place, they either use different resources or have other differences in function.
For example, different types of woodpeckers. Although they all feed on insects in the same way and nest in tree hollows, they seem to have different specializations. The Great Spotted Woodpecker forages for food in tree trunks, the Medium Spotted Woodpecker in large upper branches, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in thin twigs, the Green Woodpecker hunts ants on the ground, and the Three-toed Woodpecker looks for dead and burnt tree trunks, i.e., different species of woodpeckers have different ecological niches.
An ecological niche is a set of territorial and functional characteristics of the habitat that meet the requirements of a given species: food, breeding conditions, relationships with competitors, etc.
Some authors use the terms “habitat” or “habitat” instead of the term “ecological niche.” The latter include only habitat space, and the ecological niche, in addition, determines the function that the species performs. P. Agess (1982) gives the following definitions of niche and environment: environment is the address where the organism lives, and niche is its profession(Fig. 5.7).
Figure 5.7- Peaceful coexistence of different organisms
Figure 5.8-Ecological niches
Anthropogenic factors- is a combination of various human impacts on inanimate and living nature. With the historical development of mankind, nature has been enriched with qualitatively new phenomena. Only by their physical existence do people have a noticeable impact on the environment: in the process of breathing, they annually release into the atmosphere 1*10 12 kg CO 2, and consumed with food about 5*10 15 kcal. To a much greater extent, the biosphere is influenced by human production activities. As a result, the relief and composition of the earth's surface, the chemical composition of the atmosphere, climate change, fresh water is redistributed, natural ecosystems disappear and artificial agro- and techno-ecosystems are created, cultivated plants are cultivated, animals are domesticated, etc.
Human impact can be direct and indirect. For example, cutting down and uprooting forests has not only a direct effect (destruction of trees and bushes), but also an indirect effect - the living conditions of birds and animals change. It is estimated that since 1600, humans have destroyed 162 species of birds and over 100 species of mammals in one way or another. But, on the other hand, it creates new varieties of plants and breeds of animals, constantly increasing their yield and productivity. The artificial relocation of plants and animals also has a great impact on the life of ecosystems. Thus, rabbits brought to Australia multiplied there so much that they caused enormous damage to agriculture.
Rapid urbanization (Latin urbanus - urban) - the growth of cities in the last half century - has changed the face of the Earth more than many other activities in the history of mankind. The most obvious manifestation of anthropogenic influence on the biosphere is environmental pollution.
