There are many different factors that affect the shrublands. With the climate, organisms, resources and a lack of resources, there's a lot of things happening in shrublands. The factors we'll be looking over here are biotic factors, abiotic factors, and limiting factors.
Abiotic factors are non-living factors in an environment. One abiotic factor in the shrublands is its climate. As we discussed on the "Shrublands" page, there are plenty of different places considered to be shrublands, and they have different characteristics and climates. However, shrublands generally have hot, dry summers, and cool, moist winters. Another unique abiotic factors in the shrublands is their fires. Shrublands periodically have fires, often caused by lightning storms, because they have such little rain, and their plants are so flammable. Furthermore, shrublands generally have mostly nutrient-poor soil; another reason why they're not suited to large trees.
Biotic factors are factors in an environment caused by living things. Like all biomes, organisms in the shrublands are at risk of predation. Primary consumers usually have varied diets of grasses, leaves and shrubs to sustain themselves, and animals are often small and burrow to avoid the sun's searing heat. Plants often have waxy coatings on their leaves to maintain moisture.
Limiting factors are any factors that limit, or control, the population size of organisms. Many of these include the factors we discussed above, such as the rough climate, quickly spreading fires, and predation. Limiting factors could also include competition, limited resources, disease, parasites, and cramped conditions.
From what we've looked at so far, the shrublands seem like a harsh place to live in. So how do organisms survive here at all? The answer to this is the organisms' adaptations, which we'll learn about on the next page. Click the "Next" button if you're ready to continue, or click the "Previous" button if you want to return to the "Shrublands" page.
Abiotic factors are non-living factors in an environment. One abiotic factor in the shrublands is its climate. As we discussed on the "Shrublands" page, there are plenty of different places considered to be shrublands, and they have different characteristics and climates. However, shrublands generally have hot, dry summers, and cool, moist winters. Another unique abiotic factors in the shrublands is their fires. Shrublands periodically have fires, often caused by lightning storms, because they have such little rain, and their plants are so flammable. Furthermore, shrublands generally have mostly nutrient-poor soil; another reason why they're not suited to large trees.
Biotic factors are factors in an environment caused by living things. Like all biomes, organisms in the shrublands are at risk of predation. Primary consumers usually have varied diets of grasses, leaves and shrubs to sustain themselves, and animals are often small and burrow to avoid the sun's searing heat. Plants often have waxy coatings on their leaves to maintain moisture.
Limiting factors are any factors that limit, or control, the population size of organisms. Many of these include the factors we discussed above, such as the rough climate, quickly spreading fires, and predation. Limiting factors could also include competition, limited resources, disease, parasites, and cramped conditions.
From what we've looked at so far, the shrublands seem like a harsh place to live in. So how do organisms survive here at all? The answer to this is the organisms' adaptations, which we'll learn about on the next page. Click the "Next" button if you're ready to continue, or click the "Previous" button if you want to return to the "Shrublands" page.
If you think you're ready, go ahead a scroll down to the bottom of the "Home" page to answer the questions!