Abiotic Factors

Abiotic Factors
1. Light
2. Heat
Abiotic Factors 3. Wind
4. Water
5. Catchment area
6. Water color
7. pH
8. Habitat permanence

5. Catchment area
• also called the drainage area or the watershed
• region around the lake, pond, or river that drains the
rain into it
• boundary: ridge beyond which the water flows in the
opposite direction

Taal Lake

Catchment area

5. Catchment area 5. Catchment area

• The size, bedrock, soil and vegetation of the
catchment area affects nutrient input, pH, and water
color
• The features of the catchment area determine the
abiotic frame that is presented to the biotic
community
• effect of the catchment area on lake chemistry:

dry periods > wet

wet season water composition: rainwater = lake

larger catchment area > smaller area

catchment with agricultural activity:
• ↑produc-vity (due to runoff with ↑ nutrient content)

catchment with coniferous forest:
• ↓nutrients
• ↑humic content
• ↓pH

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 Abiotic Factors

6. Water color 6. Water color

• Color is mainly derived from particles or substances Humic substances (bogs, streams, lakes, ponds)
that are suspended or dissolved in the water
• large molecules that are
difficult to degrade due to the

organic matter at different
phenols incorporated in them
stages of decomposition  most stable organic matter

concentration of fraction
phytoplankton communities • long-lived compounds and
thus, accumulate in aquatic

weathered rocks and soils + C, N
systems
• impart color of weak tea (low
+ C, N, P to medium concentrations) or
cognac (high concentrations)

6. Water color 7. pH
Humic substances (bogs, streams, lakes, ponds) • Measure of the acidity of a solution
– sources:
• remains of lake organisms (autochthonous) pH = log [1/H+]
• introduced from the catchment area (allochthonous)
• A change in one unit in pH = 10x change in the
although systems with high humic substances
activity of hydrogen ions
suggest low pH, oxygen and light penetration
levels, the input of allochthonous materials is a pH
potential energy source. Most lakes 6–9
Lakes of volcanic origin 2
Bog lakes ≤4
Pure rain 6
Acid rain ~2

7. pH 7. pH
• pH and the CO2-HCO3 complex

CO2 atmospheric input

↓ and respiration
CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3- ↔ CO32- + 2H+
↓ ↓
to photosynthesis CaCO3 precipitation
• Factors affecting pH
– Geology and hydrology of the catchment area • Photosynthesis: uptake of CO2 → ↑pH
– Input of acidifying substances • Respiration: release of CO2 → ↓pH
– Productivity of the system

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 Abiotic Factors

7. pH 7. pH
• Alkalinity • Alkalinity and pH interconversion
– acid-neutralizing capacity
– In regions with a bedrock rich in carbonates (e.g., pH = 7.3 + 0.82 log (alkalinity)*
CaCO3), the weathering of carbonates impart a
high alkalinity *applicable only for pH > 5.4 and alkalinity > 0.005 meq l-1
– low alkalinity (0 – 0.01 meq l-1)  pH drops even
at small additions of acid
– higher alkalinities (> 0.5 meq l-1), pH does not
drop proportionally to acid addition

7. pH 7. pH
• Effects of decreased pH (i.e., acidification)

Zooplankton • High pH
• Dominance of large copepods
imparts a bitter taste
• Reduction of daphnids
water pipes and water-using appliances become encrusted

Bentho-pelagic animals (e.g., molluscs, with deposits
crustaceans, fish, insects)
• Reduced ability to reproduce and grow
depresses the effectiveness of the disinfection of chlorine,
• Decreased abundances and species diversity thereby causing the need for additional chlorine when pH is

Phytoplankton high
• Dominance of large flagellated algae and • Effects of decreased pH
chrisophytes
• Reduction or disappearance of cyanobacteria and – increased solubility of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd)
diatoms – increased water toxicity

Macrophytes  water coming out of an abandoned coal mine can have a
• Dominance of acid-tolerant filamentous algae
and mosses (e.g., Sphagnum) pH of 2
• Reduction in periphytic algal species

8. Habitat permanence 8. Habitat permanence

• Not all freshwater habitats contain water all year. • Characteristics of temporary ponds
• Temporary vernal ponds – Shallow with large surface area to volume ratio
– Fill up in the spring (SA : V)
– Dry out during the summer – Susceptible to weather fluctuations
• Temporary autumnal ponds • Temperature: large diurnal fluctuations
• Water chemistry: large fluctuations
– Dry out during the summer
– Contain organisms highly specialized for a life in a
– Fill up in the autumn (fall)
temporary habitat
– Remain water-filled through winter

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 Abiotic Factors

8. Habitat permanence 8. Habitat permanence

• Succession in temporary ponds • Adaptations among permanent residents
– Burrowing (e.g., fish, crustaceans)
Invertebrate
predators
– Formation of resting eggs (e.g., Anostraca)
Animals with
short aquatic
– Mucous coats (e.g., oligochaetes and leeches)
Aerobic – Encystment (e.g., flatworms)
stage in their Decomposition
Wet life cycle
of organic – Emigration
matter
Detritivores & • Adaptations of temporary residents (e.g.,
Herbivores
Terrestrial insects, amphibians)
Vegetation – Complex life cycles (aquatic and non-aquatic
Rich algal
growth stages)
Dry – Oviposition (egg-laying)
Decaying
vegetation