Abiotic Factors

Temperature - Extreme temperatures affect enzymes in the organism and therefore its overall metabolism. If the temperature is too cold, the enzyme will not have enough KE to catalyse reactions quickly - overall activity will drop and may not be sufficient for survival. If too high then enzymes will start to denature and the overall activity will decrease, reducing survival rate. Organisms can also experience problems with water loss. Can be measured by thermometer or data logger w/ temperature probe.

Light Intensity - Light is needed for photosynthesis, therefore the more light available, the higher the rate of photosynthesis. More photosynthesis = more energy = population will grow. The more plants grow, the more food is available…