Cards (11)

  • what are abiotic factors?
    Non-living factors
  • abiotic factors that may affect an ecosystem
    • light intensity
    • temperature
    • moisture
    • soil pH and mineral content
    • O2 level
    • CO2 level
    • wind intensity and direction
  • why might light intensity affect an ecosystem?
    different species of plants may have different optimum light intensities for growth
  • why does temperature affect an ecosystem?
    different species of plants and animals may have different optimum temperatures for growth and survival
  • how does soil pH affect an ecosystem?
    • certain plants may grow better in either alkaline or acidic soil
    • soil pH may affect the appearance of the plant
  • how does moisture level affect an ecosystem
    • many plants can’t survive in waterlogged soil as their roots can’t respire
    • certain plants are adapted to high moisture levels
  • how does wind intensity affect an ecosystem?
    plant seeds are more likely to germinate in locations with lower WI which may also attract animals that depend on the plant to live nearby
  • how does soil mineral content affect an ecosystem?
    most plants require a high level of soil minerals to grow well
  • example of a type of plants that have adapted to low soil mineral content
    carnivorous plants catch insects to compensate for the low level of soil mineral content
  • how does carbon dioxide concentration affect an ecosystem?
    higher CO2 concentration leads to more plant growth
  • how does oxygen concentration affect an ecosystem?
    aquatic animals cannot survive in areas with low oxygen concentration