A Discussion on how Historical, Physiological and Biotic Filters Dictate the Occurrence of Plant Species in Contrasting Environments

A Discussion on how Historical, Physiological and Biotic Filters Dictate the Occurrence of Plant Species in Contrasting Environments

In modern times it is pivotal to understand that plant species have distinct responses to adapt to change in their diverse environment that depend on unique complex relationships to their ecological attributes, such as abiotic tolerance, history, dispersal capacity and biotic interactions in their environments, taking note that each vary in time and space (Lortie et al. 2004). Biotic interactions within plant species play a vital role as they are known to affect plant species spatial patterns through different mechanisms like predation, spatial heterogeneity, natural resources, natural enemies, facilitation and competition (Bascompte 2009). Plant species pursue the rewards of water, nutrient, sunlight and territory for their everyday survival, if there are sufficient resources plant species will compete by their performance for reproductive ability therefore when plant species tend to compete less strongly for resources they are more likely to coexist in the same environment (Garrett 1960).