Question

What are the key elements that lead to so much variation in the physical and chemical conditions of different habitats?

Answer 1

There are 2 types of components, biotic and abiotic. This determines the characteristics of the habitat.
Abiotic components, most importantly soil, temperature, water and light, collectively referred to as physico-chemical components, determine the variety of biotic components that can be present in the habitat.

The type of vegetation in an area is dependent on characteristics such as:
● pH
● Mineral composition
● Topography
● Water holding capacity of soil
This in turn determines the kind of animals in the region.

Temperature affects the enzyme kinetics and thus metabolic rates and physiology of the organisms.

Salinity and pH of water decides the kind of organisms that live in that place. The species present in the seas, oceans, rivers, lakes, hydrothermal vents are all different as they have appropriately adapted to the physical and chemical components of the water.
































Light is important for photosynthesis and flowering. Animals use light intensity for migration, foraging and reproductive activities. The light intensity in deep seas and surface of the sea is different which makes different compositions of flora and fauna in different niches.