Temperature as an ecological factor in plants. Ecological Factors in Plants: Top 4 Types (With Diagram) 2022-12-31
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Temperature is a vital ecological factor that affects the growth, development, and distribution of plants. In general, plants have evolved to thrive within a narrow range of temperatures, and deviations from this optimal range can have significant impacts on plant health and survival.
At the cellular level, temperature can influence the rates of chemical reactions within plants, including those involved in photosynthesis and respiration. As a result, temperature can affect plant growth and productivity. For example, higher temperatures can increase the rate of photosynthesis, leading to faster plant growth. However, extreme temperatures can also have negative effects, such as reducing the efficiency of photosynthesis or damaging plant tissues.
Temperature also influences the distribution and abundance of plant species. Plants have adapted to specific temperature ranges and can be found in regions where temperatures are within their optimal range. For example, tropical plants are adapted to warm temperatures and are found in regions with high average temperatures, while arctic plants are adapted to cold temperatures and are found in regions with low average temperatures. In addition, temperature can affect the timing of plant growth and development, such as the timing of flowering or the production of seeds.
Temperature can also interact with other ecological factors to influence plant growth and distribution. For example, temperature can affect the availability of water, as higher temperatures can increase the rate of evaporation and reduce soil moisture. In addition, temperature can influence the distribution and abundance of herbivores, as warmer temperatures can increase the activity of insects and other herbivores.
Overall, temperature is a critical ecological factor that affects the growth, development, and distribution of plants. Understanding the ways in which temperature impacts plants can help us to better understand and manage plant ecosystems and the services they provide, such as the production of food, fiber, and medicine.
Ecological Factors in Plants: Top 4 Types (With Diagram)
The claims that the presence of a forest causes an increase in rainfall over the amount which would fall on bare ground seem to have been based on insufficient data. Crop quality Low temperatures reduce energy use and increase sugar storage. Very few plants can tolerate inadequate aeration and as a result many perish. It also may be absorbed from the air and is a by-product of combustion. The ability to survive freezing temperatures varies greatly in different species and is one of the important factors which determine northward and altitudinal distribution.
It is more in water than air. The basic reaction of the soil is usually due to the presence of free calcium carbonate. Tree branches often develop only on the side away from the wind. Violent winds often break off twigs or branches of plants and sometimes even uproot the trees and shrubs. Interrelationship between Plants and Animals Occupying the Same Area: Animals and plants interact in different ways, such as given below. Epsom salts at a rate of 1 teaspoon per gallon may be used two times per year. However, individual species within a plant community, shows particular internal structures which are modified in relation to the operation of the light factor.
Fluorescent grow-lights attempt to imitate sunlight with a mixture of red and blue wavelengths, but they are costly and generally no better than regular fluorescent lights. Intense grazing results in almost disappearance of the vegetation and the soil is no longer protected from erosive influences of wind and water. Thus the biotic factors of the habitat so-called because they have origin in the activities of plants and animals depend directly on the action of living organisms on the vegetation. Generally, cool-season crops e. The soil organisms include bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, rotifers, nematodes, earthworms, molluscs, arthropods etc. A windbreak is generally a densely planted strip of tall trees usually about a thirty metre wide and placed at right angles to the direction of the prevailing wind, in order to reduce its velocity and this may be a good protection for fields and orchards.
ADVERTISEMENTS: Within each area embraced by one particular macroclimate there may exist several microclimates, some of which may differ so much from the macroclimates as to be of considerable ecological importance; as for examples marked local climates on mountain summits, on steep slopes, in deep ravines, etc. Biotic Factors: Biotic factors have their origin in the activities of living organisms, such as green and non-green plants, and all animals, including man. Those that survive this change adapt themselves by developing adventitious roots at successively higher levels on the stem as sand deposition, caused by wind, occurs. Hygroscopicity : The amount of water available in the soil depends upon the size of the soil particles, their volume and closeness. Calotropis, Ficus, flowers of family Compositae etc. In comparison to plants grown in shade sciophytes , species thriving best under full sunlight conditions heliophytes usually exhibit some characteristic features, e. A remarkable property of clay is its plasticity when damp.
If the peat is strongly acid in reaction, due to oxygen deficiency and shortage of calcium, it may be called acid peat or acid humus. If temperature rises above maximum limits, the plant becomes inactive, and may develop choruses. On very steep slopes most of the humus is carried away along with rain water Fig. In general, northern slopes usually bear a vegetation adjusted to wetter conditions than southern slopes in the Northern Hemisphere opposite is true in case of Southern Hemisphere and often the same communities of vegetation establish in the southern slopes at higher altitudes, as in general, greater the altitude, wetter is the climate. Peaches are a prime example; most varieties require 700 to 1,000 hours between 32° and 45°F before breaking their rest period and beginning growth. Directly it operates in two important ways: i It affects the rate of different physiological processes of the plants and consequently influences their germination, rate of growth and development.
To minimize the risk of this type of injury, make sure your plants go into the winter well watered. These interactions may be beneficial or harmful: 1. With alumino-silicates are associated various elements which form alkaline salts, e. When transferred to a greenhouse in midwinter, they begin to grow, and flowers are ready to cut in three to four weeks. Sandy soils absorb heat during the day and lose it at night quicker than the finer grained silt and clay. Plants look green to us because they reflect, rather than absorb, green light. This type of water in the soil is also not available to the plants.
Ecological Factors that Affect the Growth of Plants (With Diagrams)
The term microclimate or microenvironment refers to strictly local combination of atmospheric factors which owing to local variations in the climate, topography or other factors differ from the prevalent general climate of the region macroclimate. Duration Duration, or photoperiod, refers to the amount of time a plant is exposed to light. Photosynthesis and respiration Thermoperiod refers to daily temperature change. Plants growing in extremely warmer regions are usually succulent, their leaves very much reduced and stomata are sunken and covered with hairy outgrowths. Climatic Factors: The climatic factors of the habitat are rainfall, dew precipitation , atmospheric humidity, velocity of wind, temperature of the air and light.
Temperature an Ecological Factor blog.sigma-systems.com
Succulent growth; dark green color; weak, spindly growth; few fruits. In fact, there may not be a single species in common in the two slopes separated only, say by 90-120 metres of rock face. The very fine silt and clay offer considerable resistance to penetration by roots and hence clay soils are unsuitable for many plants. With increase in temperature sexual eggs which after fertilization develops into either male or female. As a result, in general all organs are dwarfed.
Light and temperature, light and temperature as ecological factors
Plants may be classified ecologically according to their relative requirements of sunlight and shade; those growing best in full sunlight are called heliophytes and those preferring shade low light intensities are sciophytes. Figure 2 Comparison between the torsion of a track machined on a granite block and an aluminum beam on a real machine in the presence of a thermal cycle. The relative humidity in the air spaces between leaf cells approaches 100 percent. Moderately limited mobility in plants. Plant Diseases: Soil borne diseases of plants that cause tremendous losses every year are initiated by a number of fungi, bacteria and nematodes living in the soil.
Temperature of Ecological Factors (complete information)
Sometimes introduction of new animals by men brings about significant effect on the existing vegetation. Green plants certainly add much more to the soil than what they extract from it. It adheres very firmly to the soil particles and cannot be removed from there easily. Terrestrial ecosystems exhibit seasonal fluctuations in the temperatures and other factors like humidity, water and wind greatly affect it. This week we dig deep into the science of how hedgerows contribute to pollinator health. In moist climates, vegetation tends to be a complex series of tall trees, low trees, shrubs, herbs, mosses, etc. Cold air drainage is an important factor in determining the distribution of particular plant communities in hilly regions.
