Abiotic factor/ components of ecosystem
Temperature as ecological/ abiotic factor of
environment
Explain the temperature as ecological / abiotic/ physical factor of
environment.
The physical or abiotic factors such as temperature, light, soil, water,
PH, atmospheric gases etc are much important which influences various activities of biotic components
(Plants and animals)
Temperature is most familiar environmental abiotic factor having
multisided effect on plants and animal.
Temperature regulates all chemical process of metabolism and much
physical process. It controls feeding, respiration, growth, survival,
reproduction, migration, geographical distribution of plants and animals.
1.
Variation in temperature
The range of temperature variation in different environment is different
such as fresh water, marine water, terrestrial environment varies vary
greatly. There is variation in
temperature during day and night is called as diurnal variation.
2.
Range of temperature tolerance
Whatever necessary metabolic process are occurs in plants and are always
in certain limit of temperature range. The metabolic processes for life begins at
certain minimum temperature and increases with increases temperature until it reaches
the maximum level of temperature, which
is called as optimum temperature.
The temperature at which the organism can live in an active state is
termed as minimum survival temperature.
The temperature at which the physiological processes or activities of
animals and plants are maximum is called optimum
temperature.
The maximum temperature at which rate of reaction stops is called maximum temperature.
On the basis of temperature regulation animals are classified as Homoeothermic and poikilothermic All animals are classified into two
groups.
1. Cold blooded animal
2. Warm blooded animal
The cold blooded animals are also called as poikilothermic. These
includes fishes, amphibians and
reptiles. In poikilotherms are
the animal which body temperature changes according to the environment
Eg.
Body temperature of fishes will be same as that of water in which they found.
Warm blooded animals are also called as homiothermic animals. These animals are able to maintain their
constant body temperature.
Eg. In human being body temperature at constant level at 37 0C.
Effect of temperature on plants and animals
Temperature plays an important role in
shaping the structure and guiding physiological process, behavior, distribution
of plants and animals.
Effect of temperature on biotic factor of
organisms are as follows.
a.
Effect
on metabolism
b.
Effect
on cell
c.
Effect
on development
d.
Effect
on reproduction
e.
Effect
on development
f.
Effect
on sex ratio
g.
Effect
on growth
h.
Effect
on crossing over
i.
Effect
on coloration
j.
Effect
on distribution
k.
Migration
a.
Effect of temperature on metabolism:
In every organism metabolic activities are
regulated by different enzymes. The
activity of enzymes are influenced by temperature. The activities of enzymes increase with
increase in temperature but at certain temperature activity is stops. For ex. activity of arginase enzyme is found
increase gradually with the increase in temperature from 170 C to 480
C. but beyond 480 C and below 170 C the enzyme activity decrease rapidly .
Optimum Temperature Minimum Temperature
Effect of temperature on Cell:
The minimum and maximum temperatures have adverse effect on the
cells. At very low temperature cell
protein get destroyed. While at higher
temperature coagulation of protein is takes place in the cell.
Effect of temperature on Reproduction:
Temperature plays an important role in the maturation of gonads,
gametogenesi and release of gametes. As compare to colder region maximum
reproductive activities are observed in tropical areas.
Eg. In Blow fly the number of laying increases with increase in temperature
up to 32.50C.
Effect of temperature on Development:
Temperature influence the speed and success of development of plants and
animals. For the development certain
limit of temperature is required.
Eg. In Ground beetle Plerostichus
oblongpunctatus entire development
from egg to mature beetle at 150 C takes 82 days. while at 250 C it takes 45 days
for the complete development.
Effect of temperature on growth:
The growth rates of different animals and plants are also influenced by
temperature.
Eg. In Oyster the length of body increases from 1.4 to 10.3 mm when
temperature is increased from 10 0c to 20 0 c. Corals are
also do not flourish well when water temperature drops below 21 0 c.
In plants lower and higher temperature have adverse effect. Low
temperature cause cold injury while
extremely high temperature causing and finally death of plant is occur called
as heat injury.
Effect of temperature on sex ratio:
In some species environmental temperature determines sex ratio.
Eg. In Copepod Macrocyclopes albidus number of male
significantly increases with increase in temperature.
Effect of temperature on Colouration:
Temperature influenced on body color and color pattern in animal. In warm
and humid climate, many animals like insects, birds and mammals have shows
darker color or pigmentation than the races of same species found in cool and
dry climate. This phenomenon is known as
Gloger’s rule. In Hyla (Tree frog),
Phrynosoma low temperature causes dark
pigmentation (Coloration).
Effect of temperature on Crossing over:
Crossing over and somatic
expression of gene character
influenced by lower and higher temperature in some animals.
Eg. In drosophila the development of wing, eyes and other characters are
influenced when larvae and pupae are
exposed to low or higher
temperature.
Effect of temperature on animal Distribution:
For the distribution and survival of animal, range of
favorable temperature is very
much important. Temperature influences
the distribution of animals and plants.
Eg. Coral reef requires minimum temperature of 210 c for
their survival and existence. The coral
reefs are completely absent in colder region oceans
Rotifers found in ponds when temperature is below 240 c and
disappear when temperature increases above 240c.
Thermal adaptations due to temperature
Animals and plants during the course of time develops several methods to
overcome harmful effect of extreme temperature.
Which are as follows.
1.
Formation
of heat resistant spores, cysts, seeds coat. etc.
2.
Dormancy
(It includes hibernation (Winter sleep)
Aestivation (Summer sleep)
3.
Thermal
migration
Formation of heat resistant spores, cysts,
seeds etc.
To withstand at higher temperature some animals and plants produces heat
resistant cysts, eggs, pupae seeds spores etc which can tolerate extremes
environmental temperature.
Dormancy
To avoid extreme hot and cold temperature animals and plants have develops
certain adaptations Called dormancy.
Or
For certain period plants and
animals are remain in inactive state which is called as dormancy.
Some animals pass winter in dormant condition is called winter sleep or hibernation.
Dormancy of animal during summer is called summer sleep or Aestivation. Eg. Some invertebrates, lung fishes,
amphibians some mammals and plants.
Thermal migration: To avoid extreme condition of environment (High temperature
and cold) some animals moves from one place to another place is called as Thermal Migration.
