Environmental Factors

Environmental factors are the physical, chemical, and biological components of an organism's surroundings that directly or indirectly influence its growth, development, and survival.

Physical Factors

Temperature: The degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment.
Light: The amount and intensity of light in an environment, which can affect plant growth and animal behavior.
Water: The availability and quality of water in an environment, which is crucial for the survival of all living organisms.
Topography: The physical features of the land, such as mountains, valleys, and plains, which can influence the distribution of plants and animals.

Chemical Factors

Soil Composition: The combination of minerals, organic matter, and living organisms in the soil, which can affect plant growth.
Air Quality: The presence of pollutants and gases in the atmosphere, which can impact the health of living organisms.
Water Quality: The chemical makeup of water, including factors such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and pollutants, which can affect aquatic life.

Biological Factors

Competition: The struggle for resources such as food, water, and space among organisms of the same or different species.
Predation: The act of one organism feeding on another, which can impact the population size and behavior of both predator and prey species.
Symbiosis: The interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Study Guide

When studying environmental factors, it is important to understand the interrelationships between physical, chemical, and biological components of an ecosystem. Consider the following questions:

How do temperature and light levels affect the growth of plants?
What are the impacts of air and water pollution on human health and the environment?
Describe the different types of symbiotic relationships and provide examples of each.
Explain how changes in topography can lead to the formation of different habitats.