limiting factor. Interaction of factors

Environmental factors always act on organisms in combination. Moreover, the result is not the sum of the influence of several factors, but is a complex process of their interaction. At the same time, the vitality of the organism changes, specific adaptive properties arise that allow it to survive in certain conditions and tolerate fluctuations in the values ​​of various factors.

The influence of environmental factors on the body can be represented in the form of a diagram (Fig. 94).

The most favorable intensity of the environmental factor for the body is called optimal or optimum.

Deviation from the optimal action of the factor leads to inhibition of the body’s vital functions.

The limit beyond which the existence of an organism is impossible is called endurance limit.

These boundaries are different for different species and even for different individuals of the same species. For example, the upper layers of the atmosphere, thermal springs, and the icy desert of Antarctica are beyond the limits of endurance for many organisms.

An environmental factor that goes beyond the limits of the body's endurance is called limiting.

It has upper and lower limits. So, for fish the limiting factor is water. Outside the aquatic environment, their life is impossible. A decrease in water temperature below 0 °C is the lower limit, and an increase above 45 °C is the upper limit of endurance.

Rice. 94. Scheme of the action of an environmental factor on the body

Thus, the optimum reflects the characteristics of the living conditions of various species. In accordance with the level of the most favorable factors, organisms are divided into heat- and cold-loving, moisture-loving and drought-resistant, light-loving and shade-tolerant, adapted to life in salt and fresh water, etc. The wider the limit of endurance, the more plastic the organism. Moreover, the limit of endurance in relation to various environmental factors varies among organisms. For example, moisture-loving plants can tolerate large temperature changes, while the lack of moisture is detrimental to them. Narrowly adapted species are less plastic and have a small limit of endurance; widely adapted species are more plastic and have a wide range of fluctuations in environmental factors.

For fish living in the cold seas of Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean, the temperature range is 4–8 °C. As the temperature rises (above 10 °C), they stop moving and fall into thermal stupor. On the other hand, fish from equatorial and temperate latitudes tolerate temperature fluctuations from 10 to 40 °C. Warm-blooded animals have a wider range of endurance. Thus, arctic foxes in the tundra can tolerate temperature changes from -50 to 30 °C.

Temperate plants tolerate temperature fluctuations of 60–80 °C, while tropical plants have a much narrower temperature range: 30–40 °C.

Interaction of environmental factors is that changing the intensity of one of them can narrow the limit of endurance to another factor or, conversely, increase it. For example, optimal temperature increases tolerance to lack of moisture and food. High humidity significantly reduces the body's resistance to high temperatures. The intensity of exposure to environmental factors is directly dependent on the duration of this exposure. Long-term exposure to high or low temperatures is detrimental to many plants, while plants tolerate short-term changes normally. The limiting factors for plants are the composition of the soil, the presence of nitrogen and other nutrients in it. Thus, clover grows better in soils poor in nitrogen, and nettle does the opposite. A decrease in nitrogen content in the soil leads to a decrease in the drought resistance of cereals. Plants grow worse on salty soils; many species do not take root at all. Thus, the organism’s adaptability to individual environmental factors is individual and can have both a wide and narrow range of endurance. But if the quantitative change in at least one of the factors goes beyond the limit of endurance, then, despite the fact that other conditions are favorable, the organism dies.

The set of environmental factors (abiotic and biotic) that are necessary for the existence of a species is called ecological niche.

An ecological niche characterizes the way of life of an organism, its living conditions and nutrition. In contrast to a niche, the concept of habitat denotes the territory where an organism lives, i.e. its “address”. For example, the herbivorous inhabitants of the steppes, cows and kangaroos, occupy the same ecological niche, but have different habitats. On the contrary, the inhabitants of the forest - squirrel and elk, also classified as herbivores, occupy different ecological niches. The ecological niche always determines the distribution of an organism and its role in the community.

Environmental factors have a quantitative expression (Figure 6). In relation to each factor, one can distinguish optimum zone (zone of normal life activity), pessimum zone(zone of oppression) and endurance limits body. Optimum is the amount of environmental factor at which the intensity of vital activity of organisms is maximum. In the pessimum zone, the vital activity of organisms is suppressed. Beyond the limits of endurance, the existence of an organism is impossible. There are lower and upper limits of endurance.

Figure 6: Dependence of the action of an environmental factor on its action

The ability of living organisms to tolerate quantitative fluctuations in the action of an environmental factor V to one degree or another is called ecological valency (tolerance, stability, plasticity). Species with a wide tolerance zone are called eurybiont, with a narrow - stenobiont (Figure 7 and Figure 8).

Figure 7: Ecological valency (plasticity) of species:

1- eurybiont; 2 - stenobiont

Figure 8: Ecological valence (plasticity) of species

(according to Yu. Odum)

Organisms that tolerate significant temperature fluctuations are called eurythermic, while those adapted to a narrow temperature range are called stenothermic. In the same way, in relation to pressure, eury- and stenobate organisms are distinguished, in relation to the degree of salinity of the environment - eury - and stenohaline, etc.

The environmental valences of individuals do not coincide. Therefore, the ecological valence of a species is broader than the ecological valence of each individual individual.

The ecological valence of a species to different environmental factors can differ significantly. The set of environmental valences in relation to various environmental factors is ecological spectrum kind.

An ecological factor, the quantitative value of which goes beyond the endurance of the species, is called limiting (limiting) factor. This factor will limit the spread of the species even if all other factors are favorable. Limiting factors determine the geographical range of the species. Human knowledge of the limiting factors for a particular type of organism allows, by changing environmental conditions, to either suppress or stimulate its development.

We can highlight the main patterns of action of environmental factors:

law of relativity of environmental factors - the direction and intensity of the action of an environmental factor depend on the quantities in which it is taken and in combination with what other factors it acts. There are no absolutely beneficial or harmful environmental factors: it’s all a matter of quantity. For example, if the ambient temperature is too low or too high, i.e. goes beyond the endurance of living organisms, this is bad for them. Only optimal values ​​are favorable. At the same time, environmental factors cannot be considered in isolation from each other. For example, if the body experiences a shortage of water, then it is more difficult for it to tolerate high temperatures;

law of relative replaceability and absolute irreplaceability of environmental factors - the absolute absence of any of the mandatory conditions of life cannot be replaced by other environmental factors, but the deficiency or excess of some environmental factors can be compensated by the action of other environmental factors. For example, the complete (absolute) absence of water cannot be compensated for by other environmental factors. However, if other environmental factors are at their optimum, then it is easier to tolerate a lack of water than when other factors are in deficiency or excess.

Environmental factors always act on organisms in combination. Moreover, the result is not the sum of the influence of several factors, but is a complex process of their interaction. At the same time, the vitality of the organism changes, specific adaptive properties arise that allow it to survive in certain conditions and tolerate fluctuations in the values ​​of various factors.

The influence of environmental factors on the body can be represented in the form of a diagram (Fig. 94).

The most favorable intensity of the environmental factor for the body is called optimal or optimum.

Deviation from the optimal action of the factor leads to inhibition of the body’s vital functions.

The limit beyond which the existence of an organism is impossible is called endurance limit.

These boundaries are different for different species and even for different individuals of the same species. For example, the upper layers of the atmosphere, thermal springs, and the icy desert of Antarctica are beyond the limits of endurance for many organisms.

An environmental factor that goes beyond the limits of the body's endurance is called limiting.

It has upper and lower limits. So, for fish the limiting factor is water. Outside the aquatic environment, their life is impossible. A decrease in water temperature below 0 °C is the lower limit, and an increase above 45 °C is the upper limit of endurance.

Rice. 94. Scheme of the action of an environmental factor on the body

Thus, the optimum reflects the characteristics of the living conditions of various species. In accordance with the level of the most favorable factors, organisms are divided into heat- and cold-loving, moisture-loving and drought-resistant, light-loving and shade-tolerant, adapted to life in salt and fresh water, etc. The wider the limit of endurance, the more plastic the organism. Moreover, the limit of endurance in relation to various environmental factors varies among organisms. For example, moisture-loving plants can tolerate large temperature changes, while the lack of moisture is detrimental to them. Narrowly adapted species are less plastic and have a small limit of endurance; widely adapted species are more plastic and have a wide range of fluctuations in environmental factors.

For fish living in the cold seas of Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean, the temperature range is 4–8 °C. As the temperature rises (above 10 °C), they stop moving and fall into thermal stupor. On the other hand, fish from equatorial and temperate latitudes tolerate temperature fluctuations from 10 to 40 °C. Warm-blooded animals have a wider range of endurance. Thus, arctic foxes in the tundra can tolerate temperature changes from -50 to 30 °C.

Temperate plants tolerate temperature fluctuations of 60–80 °C, while tropical plants have a much narrower temperature range: 30–40 °C.

Interaction of environmental factors is that changing the intensity of one of them can narrow the limit of endurance to another factor or, conversely, increase it. For example, optimal temperature increases tolerance to lack of moisture and food. High humidity significantly reduces the body's resistance to high temperatures. The intensity of exposure to environmental factors is directly dependent on the duration of this exposure. Long-term exposure to high or low temperatures is detrimental to many plants, while plants tolerate short-term changes normally. The limiting factors for plants are the composition of the soil, the presence of nitrogen and other nutrients in it. Thus, clover grows better in soils poor in nitrogen, and nettle does the opposite. A decrease in nitrogen content in the soil leads to a decrease in the drought resistance of cereals. Plants grow worse on salty soils; many species do not take root at all. Thus, the organism’s adaptability to individual environmental factors is individual and can have both a wide and narrow range of endurance. But if the quantitative change in at least one of the factors goes beyond the limit of endurance, then, despite the fact that other conditions are favorable, the organism dies.

The set of environmental factors (abiotic and biotic) that are necessary for the existence of a species is called ecological niche.

An ecological niche characterizes the way of life of an organism, its living conditions and nutrition. In contrast to a niche, the concept of habitat denotes the territory where an organism lives, i.e. its “address”. For example, the herbivorous inhabitants of the steppes, cows and kangaroos, occupy the same ecological niche, but have different habitats. On the contrary, the inhabitants of the forest - squirrel and elk, also classified as herbivores, occupy different ecological niches. The ecological niche always determines the distribution of an organism and its role in the community.

Despite the wide variety of environmental factors, a number of general patterns can be identified in the nature of their impact on organisms and in the responses of living beings.

Law of tolerance (law of optimum or W. Shelford’s law) – Each factor has certain limits of positive influence on organisms. Both insufficient and excessive action of the factor negatively affects the life activity of individuals (too much “good” is also “not good”).

Environmental factors have quantitative expression. In relation to each factor, one can distinguish optimum zone (zone of normal life activity), pessimum zone (zone of oppression) and endurance limits body. Optimum is the amount of environmental factor at which the intensity of vital activity of organisms is maximum. In the pessimum zone, the vital activity of organisms is suppressed. Beyond the limits of endurance, the existence of an organism is impossible. There are lower and upper limits of endurance.

The ability of living organisms to tolerate quantitative fluctuations in the action of an environmental factor to one degree or another is called ecological valence (tolerance, stability, plasticity).

The environmental factor values ​​between the upper and lower endurance limits are called zone of tolerance. Species with a wide tolerance zone are called eurybiont, with a narrow one - stenobiont . Organisms that tolerate large temperature fluctuations are called eurythermic, and adapted to a narrow temperature range – stenothermic. In the same way, in relation to pressure, they distinguish evry- and stenobate organisms, in relation to the degree of salinity of the environment – evry- And stenohaline, in relation to nutrition evry- And stenotrophs(in relation to animals the terms are used evry- And stenophages) etc.

The environmental valences of individuals do not coincide. Therefore, the ecological valence of a species is broader than the ecological valence of each individual individual.

The ecological valence of a species to different environmental factors can differ significantly. The set of environmental valences in relation to various environmental factors is ecological spectrum of the species.

An ecological factor, the quantitative value of which goes beyond the endurance of the species, is called limiting (limiting) factor.

2. Ambiguity of the factor’s effect on different functions – Each factor affects different body functions differently. The optimum for some processes may be a pessimum for others. Thus, for many fish, the water temperature that is optimal for the maturation of reproductive products is unfavorable for spawning.

3. Diversity of individual reactions to environmental factors – the degree of endurance, critical points, optimal and pessimal zones of individual individuals of the same species do not coincide. This variability is determined both by the hereditary qualities of individuals and by gender, age and physiological differences. For example, the mill moth butterfly, one of the pests of flour and grain products, has a critical minimum temperature for caterpillars of -7 °C, for adult forms -22 °C, and for eggs -27 °C. Frost of -10 °C kills caterpillars, but is not dangerous for the adults and eggs of this pest. Consequently, the ecological valency of a species is always broader than the ecological valence of each individual individual.

4. Relative independence of adaptation of organisms to different factors– the degree of tolerance to any factor does not mean the corresponding ecological valency of the species in relation to other factors. For example, species that tolerate wide variations in temperature do not necessarily also need to be able to tolerate wide variations in humidity or salinity. Eurythermal species can be stenohaline, stenobatic, or vice versa.

5. Discrepancy between the ecological spectra of individual species– each species is specific in its ecological capabilities. Even among species that are similar in their methods of adaptation to the environment, there are differences in their attitudes to certain individual factors.

6. Interaction of factors– the optimal zone and limits of endurance of organisms in relation to any environmental factor can shift depending on the strength and in what combination other factors act simultaneously. For example, heat is easier to bear in dry rather than humid air. The risk of freezing is much greater in cold weather with strong winds than in calm weather.

7. The law of the minimum (J. Liebig’s law or the rule of limiting factors) – The possibilities for the existence of organisms are primarily limited by those environmental factors that are furthest from the optimum. If at least one of the environmental factors approaches or goes beyond critical values, then, despite the optimal combination of other conditions, the individuals are threatened with death. Thus, the movement of the species to the north may be limited (limited) by a lack of heat, and into arid regions by a lack of moisture or too high temperatures. Identifying limiting factors is very important in agricultural practice.

8. Hypothesis of the irreplaceability of fundamental factors (V. R. Williamson)– complete absence in the environment; complete absence in the environment of fundamental environmental factors (physiologically necessary; for example, light, water, carbon dioxide, nutrients) cannot be compensated (replaced) by other factors. Thus, according to the Guinness Book of Records, a person can live up to 10 minutes without air, 10–15 days without water, and up to 100 days without food.

In nature, environmental factors act together, that is, in a complex manner. The complex of factors under the influence of which all the basic life processes of organisms, including normal development and reproduction, are carried out is called living conditions. Conditions in which reproduction does not occur are called conditions of existence.

1. General Provisions. The environment is everything that surrounds the organism, i.e.

this is that part of nature with which the organism is in direct or indirect interactions. Under environment We understand the complex of environmental conditions that affect the life of organisms. The complex of conditions consists of various elements - environmental factors ..

Not all of them affect organisms with the same force. Thus, a strong wind in winter is unfavorable for large, open-living animals, but it does not affect smaller ones that hide under the snow or in burrows, or live in the ground. Those factors that have any effect on organisms and cause adaptive reactions in them are called environmental factors The influence of environmental factors affects all life processes of organisms and, above all, their metabolism. Adaptations of organisms to their environment are called

2. adaptations.

The ability to adapt is one of the main properties of life in general, since it provides the very possibility of its existence, the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce. Classification of environmental factors

.- these are forms of influence of living beings on each other. The surrounding organic world is an integral part of the environment of every living creature. Mutual connections between organisms are the basis for the existence of populations and biocenoses.

Anthropogenic factors- these are forms of human action that lead to changes in nature as the habitat of other species or directly affect their lives.

The action of environmental factors can lead to:

– to the elimination of species from biotopes (change of biotope, territory, shift in population range; example: bird migration);

– to changes in fertility (population density, reproductive peaks) and mortality (death with rapid and sharp changes in environmental conditions);

– to phenotypic variability and adaptation: modification variability - adaptive modifications, winter and summer hibernation, photoperiodic reactions, etc.

3. Limiting factors.Shelford's and Liebig's laws

Body reaction the effect of a factor is determined by the dosage of this factor. Very often, environmental factors, especially abiotic ones, are tolerated by the body only within certain limits. The effect of a factor is most effective at a certain optimal value for a given organism. The range of action of an environmental factor is limited by the corresponding extreme threshold values ​​(minimum and maximum points) of a given factor at which the existence of an organism is possible. The maximum and minimum tolerable values ​​of the factor are the critical points beyond which death occurs. The endurance limits between critical points are called environmental valency or tolerance

living beings in relation to a specific environmental factor. The distribution of population density follows a normal distribution. The closer the factor value is to the average value, which is called the ecological optimum of the species for this parameter, the higher the population density. This law of distribution of population density, and therefore vital activity, is called the general law of biological persistence. The range of beneficial effects of a factor on organisms of a given species is called optimum zone (or comfort zone). The points of optimum, minimum and maximum constitute three cardinal points that determine the possibility of the body's reaction to a given factor. The greater the deviation from the optimum, the more pronounced the inhibitory effect of this factor on the body. This range of factor values ​​is called(or zone of oppression). The considered patterns of the influence of a factor on the body are known as optimum rule .

Other patterns have been established that characterize the interaction of the organism and the environment. One of them was established by the German chemist J. Liebig in 1840 and was named Liebig's law of minimum

, according to which plant growth is limited by the lack of a single biogenic element, the concentration of which is at a minimum. If other elements are contained in sufficient quantities, and the concentration of this single element drops below normal, the plant will die. Such elements are called limiting factors. So, the existence and endurance of an organism are determined by the weakest link in the complex of its environmental needs. Or the relative effect of a factor on the body is greater, the more this factor approaches the minimum compared to others. The size of the harvest is determined by the presence in the soil of that nutrient element, the need for which is least satisfied, i.e. This element is in minimal quantity. As its content increases, the yield will increase until another element is at a minimum.

Later, the law of the minimum began to be interpreted more broadly, and currently they talk about limiting environmental factors. An environmental factor plays a limiting role in the case when it is absent or is below a critical level, or exceeds the maximum tolerable limit. In other words, this factor determines the ability of the organism to try to invade a particular environment. The same factors can be either limiting or not. An example with light: for most plants it is a necessary factor as a supplier of energy for photosynthesis, while for fungi or deep-sea and soil animals this factor is not necessary.

Phosphates in seawater are a limiting factor in plankton development. Oxygen in soil is not a limiting factor, but in water it is a limiting factor. Shelford's law of tolerance the existence of a species is determined by both a deficiency and an excess of any of the factors having a level close to the limit of tolerance by a given organism. In this regard, all factors whose level approaches the limit of the body’s endurance are called.

4. limiting Frequency of environmental factors

.

The action of a factor can be: 1) regularly periodic, changing the strength of the impact in connection with the time of day, season of the year or the rhythm of ebb and flow in the ocean; 2) irregular, without a clear periodicity, for example, catastrophic phenomena - storms, showers, tornadoes, etc.; 3) directed over certain periods of time, for example, global cooling, or overgrowing of water bodies. Organisms always adapt to the whole complex of conditions, and not to any one factor. But in the complex action of the environment, the importance of individual factors is unequal. Factors can be leading (main) and secondary.

The leading factors differ for different organisms, even if they live in the same place. They also differ for one organism at different periods of its life. Thus, for early spring plants the leading factor is light, and after flowering - moisture and sufficient nutrients. Primary

5 . periodic factors (daily, lunar, seasonal, annual) – adaptation of organisms takes place, rooted in the hereditary basis (gene pool), since this periodicity existed before the appearance of life on Earth. Climatic zonation, temperature, ebb and flow, illumination. It is with primary periodic factors that climate zones are associated, which determine the distribution of species on Earth. Secondary

1)periodic factors. Factors resulting from changes in primary factors (temperature - humidity, temperature - salinity, temperature - time of day)..

Depends on the main factors: latitude and position of the continents. Climatic zoning led to the formation of biogeographic zones and belts (tundra zone, steppe zone, taiga zone, deciduous forest zone, desert and savannah zone, subtropical forest zone, tropical forest zone). The ocean is divided into Arctic-Antarctic, boreal, subtropical and tropical-equatorial zones. There are many secondary factors. For example, monsoon climate zones that form a unique flora and fauna. Latitude has the greatest effect on temperature. The position of the continents is the reason for the dryness or humidity of the climate. The internal regions are drier than the peripheral ones, which greatly influences the differentiation of animals and plants on the continents. Wind regime (an integral part of the climatic factor) plays an extremely important role in the formation of life forms of plants.

The most important climatic factors: temperature, humidity, light. Temperature.

All living things are in the temperature range - from 0 0 to 50 0 C. These are lethal temperatures. Exceptions. Space cold. Eurythermic 1 and stenothermic organisms. Cold-loving stenothermic and heat-loving stenothermic.

The abyssal environment (0˚) is the most constant environment. Biogeographical zonation (arctic, boreal, subtropical and tropical). Poikilothermic organisms are cold-water organisms with variable temperatures. The body temperature approaches the ambient temperature.

Homeothermic - warm-blooded organisms with a relatively constant internal temperature. These organisms have great advantages in using the environment. Humidity.

2)Water in the soil and water in the air are factors of great importance in the life of the organic world. Hydrobionts (aquatic) - live only in water.

3)Hydrophiles (hydrophytes) – very humid environments (frogs, earthworms)..

6. . Temperature, pressure, chemical composition (oxygen, salinity). According to the degree of salt concentration in the aquatic environment, organisms are: freshwater, saltwater, marine euryhaline and stenohaline (i.e. living in conditions of a wide and narrow range of salinity, respectively). Based on the temperature factor, organisms are divided into cold-water and warm-water, as well as a group of cosmopolitans. Based on their lifestyle in the aquatic environment (depth, pressure), organisms are divided into planktonic, benthic, deep-sea and shallow-sea.

.

7. Anthropogenic factors These are factors that control the relationships of organisms in populations or communities. There are two main types of such relationships:

– intraspecific – population and interpopulation (demographic, ethological);

.Although humans influence living nature through changes in abiotic factors and biotic relationships of species, human activity on the planet is of particular importance. The main methods of anthropogenic influence are: importation of plants and animals, reduction of habitats and destruction of species, direct impact on vegetation cover, plowing of land, cutting and burning of forests, grazing of domestic animals, mowing, drainage, irrigation and watering, atmospheric pollution, creation of ruderal habitats (garbage dumps, wastelands) and dumps, creation of cultural phytocenoses. To this should be added various forms of crop and livestock farming activities, measures for plant protection, protection of rare and exotic species, animal hunting, their acclimatization, etc. The influence of the anthropogenic factor has been constantly increasing since the appearance of man on Earth. Currently, the fate of the living surface of our planet and all types of organisms is in the hands of human society and depends on the anthropogenic impact on nature. 2.Noise pollution of the environment. Noise protection. (Noise (acoustic), pollution English Noise pollution German Lärm ) - annoying noise anthropogenic origin, disrupting the life of living organisms and humans. Annoying noises also exist in nature (abiotic and biotic), but it is incorrect to consider them pollution, since living organisms.

have adapted

In cities, noise pollution in residential areas can be greatly increased by poor urban planning (e.g. airport in the city).

In addition to transport (60÷80% of noise pollution), other important sources of noise pollution in cities are industrial enterprises, construction and repair work, car alarms, barking dogs, noisy people, etc.

With the advent of the post-industrial era, more and more sources of noise pollution (as well as electromagnetic) also appears inside a person’s home.

The source of this noise is household and office equipment.

More than half of the population of Western Europe lives in areas where the noise level is 55÷70 dB.

Noise protection
Like all other types of anthropogenic impacts, the problem of noise pollution is international in nature. The World Health Organization, taking into account the global nature of environmental noise pollution, has developed a long-term program to reduce noise in cities and towns around the world.
In Russia, protection from noise exposure is regulated by the Law of the Russian Federation “On Environmental Protection” (2002) (Article 55), as well as government regulations on measures to reduce noise at industrial enterprises, in cities and other populated areas.
Technical and technological measures come down to noise protection, which is understood as comprehensive technical measures to reduce noise in production (installation of sound-insulating casings of machines, sound absorption, etc.), in transport (emission mufflers, replacement of shoe brakes with disc brakes, noise-absorbing asphalt, etc.). ).
At the urban planning level, protection from noise exposure can be achieved by the following measures (Shvetsov, 1994):
- zoning with removal of noise sources outside the building;
- organizing a transport network that excludes the passage of noisy highways through residential areas;
- removal of noise sources and arrangement of protective zones around and along noise sources and organization of green spaces;
- laying highways in tunnels, constructing noise-protective embankments and other noise-absorbing obstacles along the paths of noise propagation (screens, excavations, forging holes);
Architectural and planning measures provide for the creation of noise-protective buildings, i.e., buildings that provide the premises with normal acoustic conditions with the help of structural, engineering and other measures (sealing windows, double doors with a vestibule, cladding walls with sound-absorbing materials, etc.).
A certain contribution to protecting the environment from noise impacts is made by the prohibition of sound signals from vehicles, flights over the city, restriction (or prohibition) of aircraft takeoffs and landings at night, and other organizations.
these measures.

However, these measures are unlikely to give the desired environmental effect if the main thing is not understood: protection from noise exposure is not only a technical problem, but also an asocial one. It is necessary to cultivate a sound culture (Bon-Edarenko, 1985) and consciously prevent actions that would contribute to an increase in noise pollution of the environment.

Law of limiting factors

In the total pressure of the environment, factors are identified that most strongly limit the success of the life of organisms. Such factors are called limiting or limiting. In its simplest form, the fundamental law of the minimum, formulated by J. Liebig in 1840, concerns the successful growth and productivity of crops that depend on a substance that is at a minimum compared to other necessary agrochemicals. Later (in 1909), the law of the minimum was interpreted by F. Blackman more broadly, as the action of any ecological factor that is at a minimum: environmental factors that have the worst significance in specific conditions especially limit the possibility of the existence of a species in these conditions in spite of and in spite of optimal combination of other hotel conditions.

In addition to the minimum, V. Shelford’s law also takes into account the maximum environmental factor: the limiting factor can be both the minimum and the maximum environmental impact.

The value of the concept of limiting factors is that it provides a starting point for exploring complex situations. It is possible to identify probable weak links in the environment that may turn out to be critical or limiting.

Identifying limiting factors is the key to controlling the life activity of organisms. For example, in agroecosystems on highly acidic soils, wheat yield can be increased by applying various agronomic interventions, but the best effect is obtained only as a result of liming, which will remove the limiting effect of acidity. To successfully apply the law of limiting factors in practice, two principles must be observed. The first is restrictive, that is, the law is strictly applicable only under stationary conditions, when the inflow and outflow of energy and substances are balanced. The second takes into account the interaction of factors and the adaptability of organisms. For example, some plants need less zinc if they are grown in shade rather than full sun.

The ecological significance of individual factors for various groups and species of organisms is extremely diverse and requires proper consideration.

The world of sounds is an integral part of the habitat of humans, many animals, and is not indifferent to some plants.

The rustling of leaves, the splash of waves, the sound of rain, the singing of birds - all this is familiar to humans. Meanwhile, various and multi-scale processes of technogenesis have significantly changed and are changing the natural acoustic field of the biosphere, which is manifested in noise pollution of the natural environment, which has become a serious factor of negative impact. According to prevailing ideas, noise pollution is one of the forms of physical (wave) pollution of the environment, to which adaptation of organisms is not possible.

According to the World Health Organization, the nervous system's response to noise begins at 40 dB, and at 70 dB or more, significant disturbances are possible. There are also functional disorders in the body, manifested in changes in the activity of the brain and central nervous system, and increased blood pressure. An acceptable level of noise is considered to be such that it does not disturb sound comfort, does not cause unpleasant sensations, and with prolonged exposure there are no changes in a set of physiological indicators.

Noise standards are brought into compliance with the Sanitary Standards for Permissible Noise.