physical features of environment which affect organisms

1) light intensity: It affects the distribution and growth of both plants . green plants grow in areas where there are sufficient light .for survival the plants have got adaptations which enable them to get light .there are also some plants which are adapted to screen off excess light.
2) Temperature: it affects rate of reactions of enzymes , which control metabolic activities of plants and animals .many organisms are not able to tolerate extreme temperature. This is hazardous as too high or low a temperature is able to kill an organism. some flowering plants are adapted to change in seasons as they have special attributes like storing food during winter
3) Amount of available water: this is one of the most essential factors as no organism is able to sustain without water for a prolonged period of time. This factor is also dependent on amount of rain and pattern in which rain falls the whole year. Only those organisms with certain adaptation are able to survive in places where water is scarce. Xerophytes reduce their rate of transpiration by shedding leaves or reducing leaves to spine.
4) Oxygen content: most organisms are aerobic thus they require oxygen for respiration , and are not able to survive in places with a lack of oxygen. However there are a few exceptions . these organisms possessed unique adaptations so as to get oxygen. Like mangrove plants which have pneuatophores.
5) Salinity: this refers to the salt concentrations of water and soil . the organisms living in sea have adaptations , to prevent water loss from body . amoeba have contractile vacuoles to prevent excess water in body which enters by osmosis
6) Ph: this term refers to the acidity or alkalinity of a solution . the ph in the habitat affects the organism as some species are ph sensitive , and drastic change in ph could cause death. Some fishes adapt by secreting the excess salts taken by the body through the skin