Wind
The wind is a highly variable, nonliving factor that has a great impact on those
that live in the deciduous forest. Strong winds fell branches and trees,
beginning the decomposition process that returns nutrients captured in plants
back to the soil.
that live in the deciduous forest. Strong winds fell branches and trees,
beginning the decomposition process that returns nutrients captured in plants
back to the soil.
Water
Water is nonliving, and plants and animals rely on it for survival. Whether
falling on the forest plants as rain or drank by animals from a pond or
slow-moving stream, life in the forest would not be able to survive without
it.
falling on the forest plants as rain or drank by animals from a pond or
slow-moving stream, life in the forest would not be able to survive without
it.
Sunlight
All plants need sunlight to survive, and it is this basic building block of life
that has formed much of the structure of the deciduous forest. Trees are
encouraged to grow tall; the taller the trees, the more sunlight is available to
the leaves of the canopy. Beneath these tall, established trees are a shorter
layer, often close to the ground. These ferns and shrublike bushes tend to be
varieties that thrive in shady conditions, as they have to survive on what
sunlight makes it through the trees. In turn, many of the herbivores in the
forest are species that have adapted to live on these smaller
plant.
that has formed much of the structure of the deciduous forest. Trees are
encouraged to grow tall; the taller the trees, the more sunlight is available to
the leaves of the canopy. Beneath these tall, established trees are a shorter
layer, often close to the ground. These ferns and shrublike bushes tend to be
varieties that thrive in shady conditions, as they have to survive on what
sunlight makes it through the trees. In turn, many of the herbivores in the
forest are species that have adapted to live on these smaller
plant.