microbes

In the intricate dance of life within a forest, one of the most critical players is often overlooked: light. While towering trees compete for sunlight in the canopy, the forest floor experiences its own unique interplay with this essential element. The effect of light on the ecosystem of the forest ground is profound, shaping everything from plant growth to nutrient cycling and animal behavior. At the heart of the forest floor's relationship with light lies the canopy above. The varying densities of leaves and branches create a dynamic mosaic of light conditions below. In areas where the canopy is dense,…