Abiotic factors are elements of the environment that influence the way organisms work, including the regulation of organismal oxidative status. These factors vary largely within and among habitats, and across time, generating environmentally driven variation in exposure of organisms to different challenges for the homeostasis of oxidative status. Elucidating the physiological mechanisms underlying the responses of organisms to environmental stressors is key to understand their adaptability to changing environments. In this chapter, I have synthesised the literature that describes the responses of organisms to ambient temperature, ultraviolet radiation, partial pressure of oxygen, acidification, salinity stress, and availability of water. I have also illustrated the responses of organisms to exposure to multiple abiotic stressors (cocktail effect), and to the ongoing environmental changes, such as deforestation and urbanisation. Finally, I have provided examples of physiological responses that are peculiar to particular evolutionary lineages, and the role of hormesis in priming these responses against abiotic stressors.
Costantini D., 2024. Chapter 5 – Exposome and regulation of oxidative status across different environments. The role of organismal oxidative stress in the ecology and life-history evolution of animals, pp 157–204. Fascinating Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. Chapter. (access restricted)
