Final answer:
Abiotic factors such as temperature and rainfall directly influence the living conditions of habitats, affecting the distribution and abundance of organisms. These factors determine the biomes where specific plants and animals can live. Abiotic conditions also affect behaviors, such as migration and reproductive patterns, leading to changes in community composition over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Do Abiotic Factors Affect the Distribution, Abundance, and Behaviour of Organisms?
Abiotic factors such as temperature, rainfall, salinity, and sunlight are essential components that determine the viability of habitats for different organisms, thereby influencing their distribution, abundance, and behavior. For example, temperature and rainfall patterns are critical in defining biomes - large ecosystems with specific climates and organisms. Plants and animals are distributed according to the abiotic conditions that they can tolerate and thrive in. Changes in these factors can lead to migration, where species move into or out of areas to find suitable conditions. Additionally, factors like ocean upwelling and seasonal turnovers can regulate the distribution of nutrients, thereby affecting the location and productivity of aquatic life.
In terrestrial systems, energy sources, water availability, nutrients, and soil quality are limiting factors that affect the distribution and net primary productivity of organisms. Elevation and latitude also play significant roles in determining abiotic conditions, with typical changes in community composition being observable as these geographical factors vary. The interaction between abiotic and biotic factors helps define a biome's unique ecosystem.