Science Online - plants and the environment - 0 views
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The distribution and growth of plants in the prairie is affected by numerous living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) factors (see table).Biotic and Abiotic Components of the Environment BioticPlants of the same species, plants of different species, animals, fungi, bacteriaAbioticTemperature, sunlight, water, soil nutrients, topography
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Recently burned areas in the prairie support the dense growth of herbs and grasses because fire enhances nutrient availability in the soil. Bison prefer to graze in recently burned areas because the grasses there are more nutritious. Bison grazing "trims back" the dominant grasses, allowing other plants to establish and grow. Bison urine and dung further enhance nutrient availability in the soil, which supports the growth of some plants and suppresses the growth of others.
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Plants are the foundation of ecosystems. Through photosynthesis, energy in sunlight is converted into sugars or other carbohydrates that plants use as an energy source. Plants also play a vital role in cycling nutrients through ecosystems. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other essential nutrients dissolved in soil water are taken up by plant roots and incorporated into plant tissue. Other organisms consume plants to acquire the energy and nutrients they need to survive.
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