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Are plants important to animals?
Question Date: 2005-10-24
Answer 1:

Animals and humans depend on plants for many things, and without plants, there could be no life on Earth. Here are some point to consider:

1. Plants are the primary producers. They are the only organisms that can make their own food. Animals, who are incapable of making their own food, depend on plants for their supply of food.

2.The oxygen that animals breathe comes from plants. Through photosynthesis, plants take energy from the sun, carbon dioxide from the air, and water and minerals from the soil. They then give off water and oxygen. Animals then use oxygen process called respiration. Respiration is the process used by organisms to release energy from food, and carbon dioxide is given off.

3.Plants also provide habitat for many species of animals. The plants provide food, shelter from weather (rain, sun), nesting place, sleeping ground and hideout from predators.

For example: Different animals live in different parts of the rainforest. Scientists divide the rainforest into zones based on the living environment. Starting at the top:
Emergent: Giant trees that are much higher than the average canopy height, housing many birds and insects.
Canopy: The upper parts of the trees, full of life in a tropical rainforest and includes: insects, birds, reptiles and mammals.
Understory: A dark, cool environment under the leaves but over the ground.
Forest Floor: Most insects and the largest animals in the rainforest generally live here.

So, without plants there would be no life on earth, for animals and humans alike. this is why it is so important to protect out environment and help sustain life for many more years than we can probably even imagine.



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