Hey future biologist! Dive into the captivating world of ranges of tolerance in plants, animals, and the fantastic tools we use to explore these limits! 🌱🐟

Definition: The conditions in which a species can survive based on abiotic factors like temperature, pH, sunlight, etc.

• 🌳 Plants: Some love the sun ☀️, while others thrive in the shade. Different plants prefer different soil pHs.

  Real-World Example: Like how you might love beaches but your friend prefers snow-capped mountains, some plants prefer acidic soils while others love alkaline ones.

• 🐟 Animals: They too have their faves! Some aquatic creatures like high salt concentrations while others need specific temperatures to thrive.

  Real-World Example: Penguins? They love cold temperatures. 🐧 But, try putting them in the Sahara desert, and they'll wish for their icy homes!

Method I: Good old experiments! Method II: Check out where the species naturally live and the conditions there.

• Mosquito Study: In Taiwan, scientists found the mosquito Aedes aegypti needs a minimum nighttime temperature of 13.8°C. Too cold? No mosquitoes! 🦟❄️

Tools to Study

• Transects: Think of them as scientific nature walks, where we look for patterns.

  • Line intercept sampling: Place a tape on the ground, and note organisms touching it.

    Example: It's like drawing a finish line in a race and seeing who crosses it!

  • Belt transects: Estimate the abundance of species between two lines. You can place squares (quadrats) at intervals to count.

    Example: Imagine two parallel roads and counting the houses between them.

  • Observational transects: Walk a route, spot, and record your target species.

    Example: Like a safari tour where you spot and record the animals you see.