The environment in one way or another affects the living organisms that live in it. This effect may be direct or indirect. All elements of the environment that surrounds us, affecting living organisms, are environmental factors. Depending on the nature of origin, they are divided into biotic, anthropogenic and abiotic.
The latter include all elements of inanimate nature. This includes climatic conditions, light, radiation background, soil and water composition, etc. So, for many plants, light and water are important. The condition of the soil affects the nature of the vegetation.
Biotic factors are the interaction of living organisms and their influence in the process of this communication on each other. The presence of certain vegetation affects the fauna of a given territory, and vice versa. Some parasites and bacteria can cause death or decreased viability of a living organism. Some representatives of the animal world can not tolerate certain types of plants.
Anthropogenic factors are manifested as a result of human activity. Recently, they have had the greatest impact on the environment. This is due to the development of science and technology and an increase in population.
All three types of factors can affect living organisms simultaneously to a greater or lesser extent.
How environmental factors affect organisms depends on the strength with which they act. Since this effect is constant, under normal conditions it does not have a detrimental effect. This is called an environmental optimum.
If deviations up or down occur, the viability of the organisms decreases. There is an endurance limit that they can withstand. This indicator may differ for each individual species or even individual. This factor also affects the results of natural selection. Those living organisms that can adapt to external factors survive and continue to exist.
For every living organism, environmental factors have their own significance. The influence of each of them can be different in relation to each individual. For example, some plants cannot do without light and some mineral compounds. Animals need food and water, oxygen. The presence of the latter is vital.
Environmental factors can affect the strength of each other's actions. Some are important for more living organisms, others are not so in demand.
Changing just one of them can affect the condition of all living organisms.
The main abiotic environmental factors are light, water and temperature.
Light is important for the photosynthesis of many plants. Its presence determines the vegetation cover and, accordingly, the presence of animals.
Water is also considered one of the most important elements. Metabolic processes in every living organism take place with its participation. The presence of water also affects the number of populations and the nature of settlement.
Temperature affects many vital processes of organisms.
Anthropogenic factors depend on human activities. But today they are the most influential. With the unreasonable use of resources and environmental pollution, its change occurs, the disappearance of some living organisms. Sometimes these consequences can be eliminated. Some of them do not require human intervention. Nature is capable of self-healing. In some cases, man must help nature renew its potential. But sometimes nothing can be fixed.
Environmental factors also affect humans. Therefore, one should more carefully and rationally organize their activities.
