c. abiotic factors

Question 1

distribution

Answer 1

where organisms are found in an ecosystem

Question 2

abiotic factors

definition

Answer 2

non-living factors affecting distribution (e.g., rain)

Question 3

belt transect

Answer 3

• shows the effect of abiotic factors on distribution of organisms.
• abundance of abiotic factors & population of organisms are measured in each quadrat
• changes in abundance shows which abiotic factor has greatest effect on organisms.

Question 4

abiotic factors

temp., water, light

Answer 4

1) temp: all organisms have adaptations that make them suited to life at certain temps, however long-term changes in temperature in an ecosystem will change distribution of some organisms.
2) drought/flooding: very few organisms survive in drought and flood-prone regions. if the climate changes, resulting in more drought/flooding, many community species will die out.
3) light: essential for plants and other producers to grow. lack of light leads to producers dying out, causing domino effect in other trophic levels in a food chain, leading to many deaths of organisms.

Question 5

pollutants

Answer 5

substances that cause harm to the environment (pollution)