Question

Which are different biotic and abiotic factors involved in ecology and how they play their role?

Answer 1

i. Biotic components: These include the living elements of an ecosystem. Based upon their nutritional relationship, they can be divided into:

a. Autotrophic components (auto=self, trophos=feeder): These include green plants, photosynthetic bacteria and cyanobacteria which can prepare their own food. These are usually called as producers as they form the primary basis of life and provide food, shelter and oxygen to the animals and also maintain CO2/O2 balance of nature.

b. Heterotrophic components (heteros=other, trophos= feeder): These include those organisms which consume either readymade organic food or decompose the complex organic compounds. It includes two classes of consumers:

1. Microconsumers – They are commonly called as decomposers.
2. Macroconsumers – It includes herbivores, carnivores and omnivores

ii. Abiotic components: The abiotic factors of an ecosystem are temperature, water, light and soil.

a. Temperature:

1.  It is considered the most ecologically relevant environmental factor.
2. Average temperature on land varies from subzero levels in polar areas and high altitudes, upto 50ºC in tropical deserts in summer. 
3. Temperature also varies seasonally.
4. It decreases progressively from the equator towards the poles and from plains to the mountain tops. 
5. There are some unique habitats such as hot springs (80 to 100ºC) and deep-sea hydrothermal vents where average temperature is usually 400ºC.

b. Water:

1. Availability of water is an important factor affecting the organisms. The productivity and distribution of plants are also dependent on availability of water. 
2. Chemical composition, temperature and pH of the water are some important factors for the survival of aquatic organisms.