Organisms exhibit adaptations which enable them to survive and reproduce in their particular environment. The differences in specific environments affect the type of adaptations required by organisms in those environments. The physical conditions influence the habitat of organisms. Each abiotic factor may be well-suited to the organism, or present it with problems to be overcome. Adaptations allow the organism to exploit the resources of the habitat.

Abiotic factors include: light intensity and availability; temperature variations; availability of water among others. Table 1.1 shows the differences in abiotic factors in Open Sclerophyll Forest and Rainforests.

Hypothesis: The differences in adaptations shown between organisms in a closed rainforest community and an open sclerophyll forest community are dependent on varying abiotic factors

ABIOTIC FACTORS IN OPEN SCLEROPHYLL AND RAINFOREST

b) The leaves of the trees in the Open Sclerophyll forest are thinner, smaller, waxier, lighter and differently arranged compared to those in the Rainforest. This is because it is less humid (drier) and hotter than the Rainforest. The types of leaves of the trees in the Open Sclerophyll Forest are designed to minimize water loss. The leaves are waxy, which inhibits the movement of water from the leaf to the air by waterproofing them; they are thin, which minimizes water loss through the leaves due to smaller surface area. The leaves hang down, so that they are not as exposed to the sunlight’s heat that causes water loss and so they can create a more humid micro-climate to minimize evaporation. Because they are lighter in colour they can reflect some of the sun’s rays. Because the Rainforest is cooler and there is less sunlight, the leaves can be broader and darker because water loss is not such an important issue. This is because in the rainforest it is not only cooler, but more humid. The leaves need to be broader and darker so that they can absorb more sunlight, as sunlight is scarce due to the thick canopy. They are also flatter and more horizontally arranged for this reason. ‘Drip tips’ help water run-off so that the leaves can continue to transpire.

It is clear from the above results that the communities of organisms living in Open Sclerophyll Forests and Rainforests vary considerably.

Dominant Species · Most dominant species Acacia trees and eucalyptus trees Rainforest Species

Some topics in this essay:
Sclerophyll Forest, Introduction Understanding, Scarce Heavy, Diagrams Tall, Forests Rainforests, Rainforests Hypothesis, Rainforests Canopy, Proportion Grass, Lianes· Strangling, sclerophyll forest, Ground Cover, abiotic factors, leaf litter, trees sclerophyll, water loss, trees sclerophyll forest, sclerophyll forests, dominant species, dependent varying abiotic, closed rainforest, rainforest community, organisms closed rainforest, varying abiotic, shown organisms closed, differences adaptations shown,