BIOTIC FACTORS
PlantsThe plants in the deciduous forest biome, like all producers on earth, produce oxygen as a waste product, and push the PH of the soil towards more favorable levels. Vegetation in this biome is reactive to the seasons. Trees and smaller plants change leaf colors from green to orange or red and lose them during the fall and winter months while during the summer season the leaves grow back on the trees and continue to grow upwards and out until the winter months. The vegetation is not only a producer of necessary factors such as oxygen but they also provide a suitable habitat for many animals. (19) Vegetation in the biome includes but is not limited to:
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AnimalsAnimals in this ecosystem are mainly mammals, however reptiles and birds account for a significant portion of the biomass. The ecosystem is well balanced with a majority of the biomass nearing the bottom. Mammals during the winter months hibernate to avoid exerting energy during a time where energy sources are scarce. Reptiles choose to borrow into the ground where they will be more protected from the freezing temperature which could easily freeze the already the cold-blooded animals. Birds choose to avoid the cold winters and migrate south where the temperatures are warmer. (16) The animals in this biome include but are not exclusive to:
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