Question

What is stratification in an ecosystem?

Answer 1

Hint: An ecosystem is a geographical area in which plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, coexist to form a bubble of life. Ecosystems are made up of both biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) components. Ecosystems can be extremely large or extremely small.

Complete answer:
Stratification in ecology refers to the vertical layering of habitat; the arrangement of vegetation in layers. It primarily classifies vegetation layers based on the various heights to which their plants grow. Different animal and plant communities live in individual layers (stratozones).

A forest community is an excellent example of terrestrial stratification because it contains a variety of strata both above and below the soil.

An overstory stratum can be found in a forest. This stratum is made up of trees that are forty feet or taller. These trees frequently form a canopy. The proximity of the trees determines whether the canopy will be open or densely packed.

The understory stratum extends from twen­ty feet in height to a few feet below the overstory. This stratum's trees are usually shade-tolerant and never reach the height of the overstory.

The transgressive stratum is four feet tall and extends a short distance beneath the understory stratum beneath this stratum. This stratum's trees are also shade-tolerant and have the potential to grow in order to increase density or to replace those species that make up the overstory or understory strata.

A seedling stratum is found between the soil level and the transgressive stratum's lower limit. Hardwood species are represented by these seedlings. Finally, a herbaceous stratum with non-woody plants exists.

Note: Animals that live in the woods are also stratified, but the stratification is not as rigid due to the animals' mobility. Animals migrate from one stratum to another in search of food or as a result of other abiotic factors. Insects, birds, squirrels, and a variety of other animals move from seedling to upper strata.