Soil Types
Soils are not all the same. Some have more nutrients than others and some soils hold water better than others.
Water
Water is essential for the chemical reactions in all living organisms. All living organisms require water in order to survive, but not all need to drink it. Some organisms obtain water through their food. For land animals, the availability of water is the most important factor for survival.
Temperature
Heat affects the speed of chemical reactions in the cells of living organisms.The body temperature of cold-blooded organisms, such as lizards and frogs, depend on the temperature of the environment. These animals can influence their body temperatures in some ways, such as laying in the sun to keep warm or burrowing underground to cool down. Organisms that are "cold-blooded" and require heat from the environment are called ectothermic, while the organisms that have the ability to generate body heat internally ("warm-blooded") are called endothermic.
Fire
Some fires start because of lightning hitting trees, or because of human impacts. Australian Aborigines have used fire for thousands and thousands of years to improve the growth of plants and to keep the bush open. They knew that many Australian plants were adapted to re-grow quickly after fire. Bushfires can kill some organisms, but it may help others. Some plants drop their seeds while others flower better after a fire. Many flowers germinate after a fire due to the chemicals released by the smoke.
Light
Light is necessary for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process in which plants produce their own food. Changes in the amount of light available over the seasons trigger plant growthand flowering in many species.
Gas Levels
Most organisms require oxygen for respiration and survival. There is usually enough oxygen in the air for these organisms to survive, but the amount in the water can change greatly. Warmer water contains less oxygen than colder water does.