Definition of Abiotic Factor
The factors of ecosystem which do not have life but are necessary for life are called abiotic factors. In others words the factors which form environment are called abiotic factors as temperature, light, humidity, water, air, soil and pressure etc.
Temperature as Abiotic Factor
Temperature is a form of heat, it is measured in Fahrenheit of degree centigrade. The main source of temperature on the earth is the sun.
Temperature varies in different parts of earth is the sun. The temperature of cold seas is -3°C, Fresh water sources has. 0°C. In Siberia temperature is up to -7°C and in desert areas temperature is recorded up to 85°C. Mountains are cold than the plains. At every height of 150 meters 1°C temperature is lowered. There are different aspects of temperature study.
Animals on the basis of temperature
On the basis of temperature tolerance animals are divided in two categories:
➤ Eurythermal animals: The animals which can tolerate wide range of temperature are called erythermal animals. Ex-man, lizard, toad, oysters and cyclopes.
On the basis of temperature tolerance animals are divided in two categories:
➤ Eurythermal animals: The animals which can tolerate wide range of temperature are called erythermal animals. Ex-man, lizard, toad, oysters and cyclopes.
➤ Stenothermal animals: The animals which can tolerate only small fluctuation of temperature are called stenothemnal animals. Ex-corals, snails, termite, fishes, some insects and reptiles.
Optimum temperature
➤ The temperature at which life process of animals run smoothly is called optimum temperature. At this temperature neither animals feels hot nor cold optimum temperature is different for animals, its average range is in between 10-48 C.
➤ Optimum temperature for man is 27°C. For body activities of animals temperature is necessary. The minimum temperature at which animals remains active is called minimum temperature.
➤ Under minimum effective temperature animals becomes inactive, this stage is called chill coma. If the animal becomes inactive due to high temperature it is called heat coma. That maximum temperature at which animal remains active is called maximum effective temperature.
Body temperature of animals
On the basis of body temperature animals are of two types:
➤ Poikilothermic animals: The animals whose body temperature is not constant it increases or decreases with environmatic temperature are called poikilothermic or cold blooded animals e.g. fishes, frog, reptile etc.
➤ Homothermic animals: the animal whose body temperature remain constant and does not influenced by environmatic temperature are called homothermic or warm blooded animals. Birds and mammals (man) are the example of homothermic animals.
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Effect of temperature on life
Temperature is an important abiotic factor which effects the life process as follows:
Temperature is an important abiotic factor which effects the life process as follows:
➤ Effect of temperature on life: Temperature influences metabolic activities of animals. If the temperature increases in a limit then rate of metabolism also increases. The metabolic activities of poikilothermic animals are slowed in winter. To avoid low and high temperature animals enter in hibernation and aestivation respectively. Enzymes of body are most active at optimum temperature. At 60°C enzymes become inactive and at 70°C these are completely destroyed.
➤ Effect of temperature on growth and development: For the proper growth and development of organisms optimum temperature is the best. The life cycle of Dragon fly completes within two years. Corals are developed only in that sea whose temperature is more than 21°C. The eggs of Trout fish develop 4 times rapidly it temperature is decreased from 15°C to 5ºC.
➤ Effect of temperature on reproduction: In different species gametes are formed at definite temperature. For this vacation the breeding season of animals are different. Chrotgonus trachyterus insect attains sexual maturity 20-30°C but the female produced maximum eggs at 20°C. In some animals sexual ratio is also influenced by temperature. In Daphina and cyclopes (both are crustacears) females are produced parthenogenetically at normal temperature but after in temperature both males and females are produced.
➤ Effect of temperature on animal behavior: Temperature influences behavior of animals. In winter the birds of mountains migrate towards the plains. Rattle snake and viper find out their prey of these snakes are mammal as rat whose body temperature higher than the snakes. Aestivation and hibernation is also influenced by temperature.
➤ Effect of temperature on animal distribution: Temperature plays an important role in distribution of animals on earth. Atlantic lobster is found in those areas where temperature is 0-17°C. Corals are grown in those seas whose temperature is more than 21°C. Reptiles are found in warm climate.
➤ Effect of temperature on body colours: Generally the animals which are found in cold climate are white and the animals which are found in hot climate are black. The influence of temperature an also been on skin of man. The colour of prawn becomes lighter with the increase of temperature. Walk stic insect shows brown colour at 25°C and it becomes at 15°C.
Now a days temperature is also being used in genetics. By lowering or increasing temperature genetic variations can be produced, as in drosophila. The heaviest animals are found in cold countries. In cold climate menstrual cycle in, human female is comparatively long than the hot climate. The fishes which are found in cold seas have more number of vertebra in their backbone.
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