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Does light factor affect the distribution of organisms? Write a brief note giving suitable examples of either plants or animals.

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Light is an important factor in determining the distribution of organisms. We know that green plants need sunlight to carry out photosynthesis, and hence the distribution of green plants is highly dependent on the amount of illumination. This is the reason; tropics have dense plant cover, but poles have negligible plants. Moreover, plants also need sunlight for flowering. This phenomenon is called photoperiodism.

Hence, based on photoperiodism, plants are categorized as short-day plants, long-day plants and day-neutral plants. The area near equator gets a long duration of light as compared to the area near poles. Thus, this affects the distribution of plants on earth.  Animals too depend on light and show certain behavioural pattern based on diurnal and seasonal variations in light. Many animals get up early in the morning and start foraging. The nocturnal animals remain active during the night only, e.g. owl. Reproductive and migratory activities are also governed by the amount period of illumination in many animals.  

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