Unit D: Changes in Living Systems

Lesson 1.1: Water: An Essential Abiotic Factor

In this lesson your attention will be drawn to the non-living components—the abiotic factors—of an ecosystem. The primary abiotic factors of an ecosystem are light, temperature, water, nutrients, and the wind. The focus of this lesson is water. You will also consider environmental issues relating to both the application of fertilizers and the use of fresh water

Figure 1:  Woodland Frog
    1. distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors
    2. define habitat and nutrient
    3. give two reasons why water is called ‘the Solvent of Life’
    4. outline the steps in the development of harmful algae blooms
    5. explain why water is a finite resource
    6. outline the issues involved with water use in oilfield injection

    1. istinguish between biotic and abiotic factors

    2. define habitat, nutrient and nutrient

    3. give two reasons why water is called ‘the Solvent of Life’

    4. outline the steps in the development of harmful algae blooms

    5. explain why water is a finite resource

    6. outline the issues involved with water use in oilfield injection

  1. define habitat, nutrient and nutrient

  2. give two reasons why water is called ‘the Solvent of Life’

  3. outline the steps in the development of harmful algae blooms

  4. explain why water is a finite resource

  5. outline the issues involved with water use in oilfield injection
  • Read pages 406 to 408 of the textbook, ending at the investigation. Consider the practice questions as you encounter them.  A similar question will be on your assignment, so check you answers below. 

 

Science 20 Textbook.  Albert Education

If there is salt in water, the water is not drinkable. The salt in ocean water makes it unsuitable for drinking. How does salt affect the growth of plants? The next investigation deals with the effects of salinity on seed germination.


  • Read the investigation on pages 408 and 409 of the textbook.

    Follow the directions, and answer the questions and check them below.

Science 20 Textbook.  Albert Education


 Salinity is an abiotic factor that affects seed germination and plant growth.  Although some species of plant are more tolerant to salt, saltwater is damaging to most species and changes the ecosystem.

When scientists search for life on other planets, what they actually search for is liquid water.  They know that liquid water is a requirement for life to exist.  What is said to be the solvent of life.  There are two reasons for this:  first, water is a universal solvent, that means the most things will dissolve in water; and second, matter needed by cells is moved between cells dissolved in water.

  • Read page 409 in the textbook, and view the section below called Algal Blooms. 




Algal Blooms

  1. Too many nutrients, mostly nitrogen and phosphorus, enter the water.  These are called waste nutrients.
  2. The population of algae increases
  3. Sunlight is blocked by algae so aquatic plants die.  this stops oxygen from being produced.
  4. Bacteria populations increase as they consume the dead algae and plants, using up all the oxygen in the water.
  5. All animals, like fish and snails, die without oxygen.
  6. A dead spot is left in the water body.

  • Answer the textbook questions and check your work below.

 

Science 20 Textbook.  Albert Education


  • Read page 410 in the textbook and figure 3 below.   

Figure 3:  Distribution of water on Earth

Although water covers 70% of the Earth's surface, almost all of it is saltwater that is unusable.  Three percent of the water is freshwater, but most of it is locked up in glacial ice, and a lot is found deep underground.  It turns out that very little of the remaining water is left for human use.  We are concerned that much of that water is polluted.  Water really is a limited or finite resource.


For years there have been warnings of severe freshwater shortages to come in many regions of the world, including the Canadian prairies. Fresh water may yet become a scarce resource in Alberta. The next investigation deals with a controversial use of Alberta’s fresh water.

 
  • Read the investigation on pages 410 and 411 of the textbook.  Follow the directions, and answer the questions.
    Check your answers below.

 
Science 20 Textbook.  Albert Education


 
  • Read “1.1 Summary” on page 411 of the textbook. Then, complete “1.1 Questions” on page 412.  Check your answers below.

 

Science 20 Textbook.  Albert Education


  1. Biotic is living and abiotic is non living factors in the environment.
  2. Habitat refers to the biotic and abiotic factors that make up the living space for an organism.  It is a tricky concept because environment could be the whole Pacific Ocean or it could be a droplet from a sneeze.
  3. Water is called the solvent of life because most things dissolve in water, and matter moves between cells while dissolved in water.
  4. Algal blooms happen when too many nutrients cause an explosion in the population of algae.  They multiply until they block the plants that produce oxygen (including algae).  Bacteria feed on the dead plants using up all the oxygen, so animals die.  In the end, there is a dead spot in the water body.
  5. Very little of the water on Earth is fresh and available for human use.  It is a finite resource.
  6. society relies on petrochemicals.  Injecting fresh water into wells to recover oil and gas permanently removes water, a finite resource, from the water cycle.

Go to Assignment 1.1: Water: An Essential Abiotic Factor.