Understanding Environmental Factors and Natural Components

The environment is the set of internal and external physical, social, and biological processes that determine the way of being and living of all organisms.

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Environmental Factors

The environment consists of both living and non-living elements. Living things are classified as biotic factors, while non-living elements are abiotic factors.

Biotic Factors

Biotic factors are defined by the relationships between living organisms and their interactions. These include representative power dynamics among different species. In summary, biotic factors represent the living components of an ecosystem.

Abiotic Factors

Abiotic factors include nutrients, solar energy, and chemical or environmental conditions such as:

• Water
• Atmosphere
• Temperature
• Light and humidity
• Chemical composition of soil

The most critical factors for the survival of organisms are energy, air, soil, altitude, and latitude.

Basic Components of the Natural Environment

The natural environment is composed of the following elements:

• a) Air, atmosphere, and outer space.
• b) Waters in any physical state (limnic, estuarine, marine, continental, maritime, ground, or surface).
• c) The land, soil, and subsoil, including beds and bottoms of water courses.
• d) Terrestrial or aquatic plants, native or exotic.
• e) Terrestrial or aquatic fauna, wild or domestic.
• f) Microflora and microfauna of the land, soil, and water bodies.
• g) Genetic diversity and its regulating flow patterns.
• h) Primary energy sources.
• i) Outstanding topographic energy potential.
• j) Natural underground heat sources for geothermal energy.
• k) Mineral deposits, including clay, salt, sand, rocks, and other construction materials.
• l) The weather and its determining factors.
• m) Essential ecological processes, such as photosynthesis, natural soil regeneration, and nutrient recycling.
• n) Environmental systems that are vulnerable, rare, or symbolic of the country's ecosystems.