The chemical and physical factors affect productivity, abundance and species composition, of any lentic (relatively stagnant terrestrial waters such as lakes and ponds) and lotic (river water) environments.
Temperature is one of important independent factor, which influences aquatic biota. The temperature is regarded as essential parameter for the metabolic activities of aquatic organisms and also considered as a biologically significant factor. Acidity and alkalinity, can be determined by the production of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. The pH of an aquatic ecosystem is closely associated to biological productivity and hence, fluctuation of water, pH, can be caused by excessive primary production. The turbidity/transparency influences number of aquatic parameters like planktonic biomass, visibility and suspended particles of any water body. Dissolved oxygen in water is of great limnological significance as it regulates many metabolic processes of aquatic organisms. Oxygen content is important for direct need of many organisms and affects the solubility of many nutrients and therefore the productivity of aquatic ecosystem. The decrease in the amount of DO in summer may be attributed to high temperature due to which the oxygen holding capacity of water decreases.