ABIOTIC EFFECTS AND

ADAPTATIONS
Prepared by: Dr. Jonathan S.
Rubio
BSD DLSU-D
 Objectives
Determine the properties and effects of
light, temperature, water, wind, fire and
soil.
Discuss the adaptations of biotic factors as
exposed to extreme abiotic factors
 Light
is a form of electromagnetic
radiation with a wavelength
perceived by humans as the
colour of the light (visible
light) or, non-visible light such
as: X-rays, gamma rays,
ultraviolet light, microwaves,
and radio waves.
Electro Magnetic Spectrum
 Importance of Light

Needed in photosynthetic reaction

Forms the vision
Forms the visual color
Main source of global temperature
Source of solar energy e.g. solar cells
Affects the morphological, behavioral and
physiological characteristics of organisms.
 Effects of Light
Light is 10% reflected and 90% absorbed in aquatic
while it is reflected as thermal infrared in the terrestrial.
In Plants- photosynthetic reaction, photoperiodism,
transpiration, pigmentation, stomatal movement, nasty
movement.
 Effects of Light cont

In Animals- pigmentation, photokinesis or taxis,

circadian rhythm.
 Temperature
degree or amount of
heat measured by
thermometer.
 Importance of Temperature

Regulates the metabolism, morphology and

physical activities of plants and animals e.g.
Plant-transpiration, absorption, germination,
growth; Animals- Allens rule, pigmentation,
growth.
Interacts with other environmental factors
such as altitude, color of the ground.
Affects the distribution of plants and
animals.
Source of thermal or heat energy.
Global Temperature Classification
Megatherms- refers to tropics with long
period of seasons e.g. Tropical Rain Forest
Mesotherms- refers to temperate
countrieswith alternating high and low
temperatures.
Microtherms- low temperatures prevail and
vegetation is coniferous e.g. Taiga
Hekistotherms- areas with very low
temperatures e.g tundra, polar ice caps.
Temperature in Animals

Animals are either

warm blooded
(homoiotherm) or
cold blooded
(poikilotherm)
Effects of Temperature to Plants
Plants are classified according to their
energy synthesis and temperature such as:
C4- plants adapted to hot, bright and fairly
dry climate e.g. corn, sugarcane;
C3 plants adapted to cool moist and shady
environment e.g. herbs, shrubs, trees
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)-
plants adapted to very dry climates e.g.
cactus
 Effects of Temperature to Animals
Animals- are classified as
warm blooded vs. cold blooded;
Homeotherm vs. poikilotherm implies an
animal that can maintain a specific body
temperature versus an animal that has a
body temperature that varies with the
ambient temperature;
Endotherm vs. ectotherm implies an animal
that produces its own heat from within
versus one that does not.
 Effects of Temperature to
Microorganisms
Microorganisms are classified as
thermophiles (can tolerate 40 to 90 oC;
mesophiles (10-45 oC);
psychrophiles(-5 40 oC).
 Water
most abundant substance inside the
organisms and environment.
75% of the earth surface is covered with
water
97% Marine water,
2% solid water in glaciers and snow
<1% liquid water in lakes,rivers and
streams
 Ecological Types of Water

Atmospheric water- water vapor in humidity

Precipitation-rain, drizzle, snow, glaciers,
sleet, hail etc.
soil water- water on the surface and ground
(water table)
Bodies of water (e.g. ponds, lakes, streams,
rivers, seas and ocean)
 Importance and Properties of
Water
Importance Properties
Regulates temperature High specific heat
and vaporization
Universal solvent Presence of H+ and OH-
Medium for transport Cohesiveness,
of materials cohesion, less viscous
Source of energy High density
e.g. hydroelectric.
Raw materials for Chemical bond of H
Photosynthesis and O
Breaks down materials Acts as polar and e.g.
hydrolysis slightly acidic and basic
 Importance of Water

suitable habitat for

various aquatic
organisms
- has surface tension
causing the organism to
stay in surface
 Types of plants based on water requirements :

- Xerophytes - grow on areas

with little amount of water

- Mesophytes - grow on areas

with moderate amount of water

Hydrophytes more than

enough requirement of water

Halophytes - water with salt

 pH [H+]= 10-1M

pH = log [H+]

Log scale means 10X

change per unit!

[H+]= 10-9 M
 Effects of Water

Plants and Animals in minimal water tend to

become:
water storer- succulent leaves and stem
water escaper- resurrecting plants, estivate
water conserver- water metabolism, fat dissolver
Plants and Animals in abundance of water
tend to become:
water regulator
adapt an osmotic processes
 Wind

Nature of Wind
-horizontal or vertical
movement of air or
gases on the surface of
the ground.
-depends on the
topography, vegetation
masses, position of
seashores, and major
wind paths and region
of calms
 Sources of Wind
-formed due to uneven heating of land and water
causing vertical movement of gases
-large temperature differences between the equator
and the poles
rotational movement of earth
Coriolis effect
 Importance of Wind

Serve as medium for the

transport of materials e.g.
pollination, cloud transport,
rainfall,
Affects all diffusion of gases
between organisms and
atmosphere.
Affects the morphology and
habit of organisms.
 Effects of Wind

Plants in windy places are often shaped by

wind forming a wind brushed or flag tree; have
stunted growth and leaf damage, lodging
(process being laid flat on the ground),
Animals- tend to have thick hides, hair, and
shelter in caves or under the rock.
Land and Aquatic- wind causes abrasion,
erosion and salt spray
 Wind Speed
expressed in kilometers per hour.
Strong breeze 40-60 kph
Gales (Strong wind) 60-90 kph
Storms 90-120 kph
Hurricanes or Typhoons >120 kph
 Fire Factor
natural fire caused by lightning,
volcanic eruptions, or friction of dried
twigs and burning of dried leaves due
to thermal heat.
-anthropogenic caused of fire can be
accidental or controlled application of
fire in the ecosystem.
 Fire can burn at three levels

Ground fires burn the litter and herbaceous

plants in the soil.
Surface fires -burn the shrubs, herbs and
bases of trees.
Crown fires- burn the canopy of trees and
most destructive.

Ecosystems may experience mostly one level

of fire or a mix of the three.
 Effects of Fire
Destroys the vegetation by burning down all
vegetation and drive all away animals.
Plants with scars caused by fire will be prone to
disease and parasites attacked
Eliminates diseases and pest such as fungi,
nematodes. insects
Favors the growth of fire resistant plants e.g.
cogon grass
Returns the organic materials to the soil and
atmosphere
Aerate the soil with carbon dioxide
Alters the light intensity, precipitation and
nutrient cycle once the area is cleared by fire
 Ecological Importance of fire

Removes competition of surviving plants,

pests, parasitism and diseases.
Increases light intensity
Modifies the pH, elements and organic
materials of the soil.
Controls the weeds, and maintains the
grassland and sugarcane plantation
 Soil
Nature of Soil
natural product formed
from weathering of
rocks by the action of
climate and living
organisms.
composition of soil:
water- 25%, gases-
25%, minerals-
40%(e.g. silicon,
aluminum, calcium),
organic materials -10%.
 Soil Types
Can be classified as :
residual soil- formed
where weathering takes
place)
transported soil-moved
from the place by the
action of wind, gravity,
water etc.
Example of Transported
soil:
alluvial-soil deposited by
river flow;
colluvial- deposited by
gravity or landslide;
glacial- deposited by
glaciers;
eolian- deposited by wind.
Soil Profile
refers to the horizon or vertical
layering of soil.
O horizon- organic layer
partly decomposed debris
A Horizon- topsoil with
maximum humus layer dark
colored
E horizon- main leached
layer
B Horizon- subsoil next
layer where maximum
leaching takes place.
C horizon- last mineral
layer composed of
incomplete fragment of
rocks.
Soil Particles-refers to the texture or size of the particles

clay-particles with
diameter less than
0.002 mm
silt- particles with
diameters between
0.002 and 0.02 mm
sand- particles with
diameter between 0.02
to 2mm.

Loam- is used to describe

mixtures of different
size classes of soil
particles.
 Soil Porosity
-refers to the spaces or cavities between soil
particles that contain air.
There are two types:
Micropores- space diameter up to 20
m can hold water and known as
capillary pores
Macropores- space diameter up to 20
50 m cannot hold water and known as
non-capillary pores

Soil Water- refers to the water trapped by

the soil
 Importance of Soil

Source of anchorage, water, and minerals.

Influence plant activities such as
germination of seeds, woodiness of stem,
vigor of vegetative parts.
Serve as shelter of animals, storage of
waste and source of food.
 Topography

concerned with the physical geography of

the surface of the earth caused by
diastrophism.
- diastrophism is the movement of the
solid portion of the earth caused by
volcanic activities or rock deformation
due to thermal pressure.
 Types of Topography
Altitude
Steepness of slope
exposure to sunlight
direction of mountain chains and valleys
Importance of Topography

Influence the vegetation by producing

variations in the climate of geographical
region.
affects the climatic factors e.g. increase in
altitude causes low temperature (1o C lower
per 100 meter above sea level), increase
moisture and high wind velocity, higher
insulation, local mountain and valley breezes
 Effects of Topography
Forms the tree line (edge of the forest at high
altitude or latitude beyond which no tree can
grow)

degree of slope influences the soil structure

and behavior, swift run-off water.

Sunfacing slope with moist wind has

mesophylous plant (plant requiring moderate
amount of water) while nonsunfacing slope
with dry has xerophylous plant (requiring small
amount of water)

Mountains chains interfere drastically with

continental air circulation.