The sustainability of our planet highly relies on the range and dispersion of an organism. An organism's range is the area where the species lives during its life. There are many different organisms with many different ranges -- some are very limited because an organism has special, specific needs, and some can be very large because an organism has the ability to survive in many places or migrates during certain times of the year. The pattern of an organism's spacing in an area is called dispersion. Like range, patterns of dispersion can be greatly varied. Local dispersion and temporary range can be affected by a number of biotic and abiotic factors, including but not limited to: predator population, human influence, amount of sunlight,
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Urbanization, for example, can affect many different species in many different ways. Insects and termites are given new areas to live and reproduce, but larger animals, such as deer, may be forced to migrate or live in a decreased range than what is natural. Human activities can increase the dispersion of a species although this is often at the cost of other organisms. With ships and other new forms of travel, organisms can be transported to completely different areas of the continent. When the Europeans increased their migration to the Americas, many non-native species were introduced. Non-native species have the potential to become invasive, which means they harm organisms native to the area. The dandelion is an invasive species to many places in the United States: it is a weed that steals water and nutrients that could go to native species. Invasive species generally have a wide range because of their ability to survive in many different places and quick rate of reproduction. As humans have grown, so has their technology. It is best to keep in mind, though, that these innovations come …show more content…
Abiotic factors (parts of the community that are not alive and never have been) can also be a large influence. All living things need sun and water to survive, which means organisms may need to migrate or completely leave an area if resources have been depleted enough. If a certain place is currently in a drought, the dispersion of a species might decrease as they all move to find a water source. Most plants have specific needs when it comes to sunlight, and as producers, their ability to capture the sun's energy and convert it to chemical energy is a necessity for everything. The ranges of different plants can determine the ranges of the consumers that transfer the energy through the food web. Temperature, as well, plays a role. A sudden drop or increase in temperature may cause a population to suddenly grow or decline; it may cause a species to spread out more or move closer together. The placement of mountains and bodies of water are natural dispersal barriers that can limit the distribution of a population. As much as they may be detrimental, abiotic factors have been around for as long as the life of Earth; they can be extraordinary at pushing a species to adapt and
Urbanization, for example, can affect many different species in many different ways. Insects and termites are given new areas to live and reproduce, but larger animals, such as deer, may be forced to migrate or live in a decreased range than what is natural. Human activities can increase the dispersion of a species although this is often at the cost of other organisms. With ships and other new forms of travel, organisms can be transported to completely different areas of the continent. When the Europeans increased their migration to the Americas, many non-native species were introduced. Non-native species have the potential to become invasive, which means they harm organisms native to the area. The dandelion is an invasive species to many places in the United States: it is a weed that steals water and nutrients that could go to native species. Invasive species generally have a wide range because of their ability to survive in many different places and quick rate of reproduction. As humans have grown, so has their technology. It is best to keep in mind, though, that these innovations come …show more content…
Abiotic factors (parts of the community that are not alive and never have been) can also be a large influence. All living things need sun and water to survive, which means organisms may need to migrate or completely leave an area if resources have been depleted enough. If a certain place is currently in a drought, the dispersion of a species might decrease as they all move to find a water source. Most plants have specific needs when it comes to sunlight, and as producers, their ability to capture the sun's energy and convert it to chemical energy is a necessity for everything. The ranges of different plants can determine the ranges of the consumers that transfer the energy through the food web. Temperature, as well, plays a role. A sudden drop or increase in temperature may cause a population to suddenly grow or decline; it may cause a species to spread out more or move closer together. The placement of mountains and bodies of water are natural dispersal barriers that can limit the distribution of a population. As much as they may be detrimental, abiotic factors have been around for as long as the life of Earth; they can be extraordinary at pushing a species to adapt and