Final answer:
The critical factors for survival include the ability to reproduce, access to carbon dioxide for plants, and sunlight. Without sunlight, plants cannot perform photosynthesis, leading to negative impacts on the entire food chain. Organisms also need to exchange matter with their environment to grow, reproduce, and maintain structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors required for survival such as reproduction, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sunlight are central to the existence of life on Earth.
Almost all plants, which are primary producers in ecosystems, rely on photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, using the energy from the sun. If plants do not receive adequate sunlight or water, they cannot perform photosynthesis, eventually leading to their death.
This would have a cascading effect on the food chain, as organisms that rely on plants for sustenance would also suffer and potentially perish due to lack of available food.
Therefore, sunlight and water are critical for plant life, which in turn is essential for the survival of many organisms, including humans.