Exploring Whomerley Wood

Antarctic as few species can adapt to such conditions. However, some have adapted, such as cacti and polar bears. Cacti minimize water loss through evaporation by having a small surface area on their plant while polar bears produce a thick layer of fat and coat for insulation against freezing temperatures.

The presence of food and shelter are key factors in determining the habitat of animals and plants. When there is no competition, these organisms can thrive and their populations can increase. For instance, daffodils can flourish in areas like fields that lack trees which could deplete soil nutrients.

Plants and animals require a habitat that provides ample shelter without compromising access to light. Plants can adjust to shelter by developing shade tolerance, such as early flowering or reduced light dependence, like the Blue bell. However, high levels of trampling, particularly on paths, can be detrimental to plant growth as the intense force exerted on the plant can lead to its demise.

The availability of light is crucial for photosynthesis in plants. Therefore, shade tolerance is relevant in determining their ability to thrive in varying light conditions.

Dog's mercury flourishes in shaded environments without the need to compete for sunlight with other plants, while sun-loving plants like poppies require open areas such as fields with adequate sunshine. Soil pH also plays a role.

Due to the scarcity of bacteria in acidic conditions, the low levels of nitrates in acidic soil limit plant species that can be supported. Moreover, adequate space is essential for plant growth as it reduces competition for resources such as light and nutrients, creating favorable conditions for healthy plant development and reproduction.

Rainfall

or water is crucial for plant growth, but excessive or insufficient amounts can be harmful to plants. When there's too much water, the soil becomes saturated, preventing bacteria from receiving enough air to survive and decompose organic matter. Consequently, dead organisms release acid into the soil, eliminating nitrates necessary for plant growth, and making it hard for plants to thrive in such an environment.

If adequate water is lacking, the soil becomes nutrient-poor, gritty, and loses its ability to retain water, making it inhospitable for plant growth. In such environments, plants may become prey to predators - animals that kill them for food. To survive in such conditions, plants must adapt and protect themselves from being eaten.

It is probable that plants will have higher productivity in environments with fewer predators as their growth may be impeded. Oxygen is an essential requirement for plant survival, which can be obtained from the air or dissolved in water for aquatic plants. The edges of rivers or ponds are preferred by aquatic plants for growth due to a slower diffusion of oxygen in deeper waters resulting in a greater oxygen supply in shallower waters. Additionally, CO2 is also a significant factor affecting plant life.

Photosynthesis is the process of using sunlight energy to combine carbon dioxide and water, resulting in sugars and oxygen for plants. These sugars are then utilized for growth, respiration energy production, and other necessary substances. Higher sugar production and growth rates can be achieved by increasing carbon dioxide concentration, while plant growth may be adversely affected by soils lacking dissolved nitrates as nitrogen is essential for plant health.

Some plants are better suited to low nutrient levels or

no nutrients at all than others. Legumes, including peas, beans, and clover, have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots that allow them to thrive in soils deficient in nitrogen.* Additionally, the existence of pathogens can result in the damage or destruction of plant habitats.

Organisms that cause disease, known as pathogens, can harm the growth and reproduction of plants. These harmful factors fall into two categories: biotic and abiotic. Biotic elements are living factors like predators, competition for space and resources, trampling, shelter, food availability, and diseases caused by pathogens. Abiotic (or edaphic) factors refer to non-living influences.

The abiotic side encompasses various factors such as temperature, light, rainfall/water, pH of soil, wind, oxygen, CO2 and Nitrates. Additionally, food availability, shelter and pathogens are also part of the abiotic side, despite being exceptions.