open habitat

open habitat, part of a landscape that is not enclosed by trees. Open habitat may include plains, tundra, polar barrens, forest clear-cuts, and other areas free of tree cover. It may be limited to certain portions of ecosystems, or it may encompass whole ecosystems or biomes, such as grasslands or deserts. In open habitats the ground is more exposed to wind, rain, and light. Plants in open habitats tend to be short in stature, because...