Inbiology andecology,abiotic components orabiotic factors are non-livingchemical andphysical parts of theenvironment that affect livingorganisms and the functioning ofecosystems. Abiotic factors and the phenomena associated with them underpin biology as a whole. They affect aplethora of species, in all forms of environmental conditions, such asmarine orterrestrial animals.Humans canmake or change abiotic factors in a species' environment. For instance,fertilizers can affect asnail'shabitat, or thegreenhouse gases which humans utilize can change marinepH levels.
Abiotic components include physical conditions and non-livingresources that affect living organisms in terms ofgrowth, maintenance, andreproduction. Resources are distinguished as substances or objects in the environment required by one organism and consumed or otherwise made unavailable for use by other organisms.[1][2] Component degradation of a substance occurs bychemical orphysical processes, e.g.hydrolysis. All non-living components of an ecosystem, such asatmospheric conditions andwater resources, are called abiotic components.[3]
In biology, abiotic factors can includewater,light,radiation,temperature,humidity,atmosphere,acidity,salinity,precipitation, altitude,minerals,tides,rain, dissolved oxygen nutrients, andsoil. The macroscopic climate often influences each of the above. Pressure andsound waves may also be considered in the context of marine or sub-terrestrial environments.[4] Abiotic factors in ocean environments also include aerial exposure,substrate,water clarity,solar energy andtides.[5]Consider the differences in the mechanics ofC3,C4, andCAM plants in regulating the influx ofcarbon dioxide to theCalvin-Benson Cycle in relation to their abiotic stressors. C3 plants have no mechanisms to managephotorespiration, whereas C4 and CAM plants utilize a separatePEP carboxylase enzyme to preventphotorespiration, thus increasing the yield ofphotosynthesis processes in certain high energy environments.[6][7]
ManyArchea require very high temperatures, pressures, or unusual concentrations of chemical substances such assulfur; this is due to their specialization into extreme conditions. In addition,fungi have also evolved to survive at the temperature, the humidity, and stability of their environment.[8]
For example, there is a significant difference in access to both water and humidity betweentemperate rain forests anddeserts. This difference in water availability causes a diversity in the organisms that survive in these areas. These differences in abiotic components alter the species present by creating boundaries of what species can survive within the environment and influencing competition between two species. Abiotic factors such assalinity can give one species a competitive advantage over another, creating pressures that lead tospeciation and alteration of a species to and fromgeneralist and specialist competitors.[9]
