Final answer:
pH is the one that cannot be considered a resource as it is a property rather than a consumable item. Oxygen, light, and physical space are all resources that organisms can utilize for sustaining life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks which of the following cannot be a resource: 1) Oxygen, 2) Physical space, 3) Light, 4) pH. In ecological and environmental biology, a resource is typically defined as something an organism can utilize to maintain life processes. Among the options, pH stands out as the one that cannot be categorized as a resource. While it can affect biological processes and influence organism behavior, pH itself is a property of a solution (how acidic or basic it is), not a consumable that organisms can use directly as a resource. Oxygen and light, however, are consumable resources as they are crucial for processes like respiration and photosynthesis, respectively. Physical space can also be considered a resource since organisms occupy and use space for various activities, including shelter, foraging, and reproduction.