EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Roots of trees or plants in general can biologically weather rocks by growing into the cracks and fractures of rocks and soil. As a result, they become more prone to breakage and eventually fall part. Burrowing animals like shrews, moles, earthworms, and even ants contribute to biological weathering.

Detailed explanation-2: -Biological weathering occurs when plants break up rocks with roots or root exudates. The process is slow, but may strongly influence landscape formation.

Detailed explanation-3: -Biological weathering is caused by the movements of plants and animals. For example, a rabbit can burrow into a crack in a rock making it bigger and eventually splitting the rock, or a plant may grow in a crack in a rock and, as its roots grow, cause the crack to widen.

Detailed explanation-4: -Plants and animals can be agents of mechanical weathering. The seed of a tree may sprout in soil that has collected in a cracked rock. As the roots grow, they widen the cracks, eventually breaking the rock into pieces. Over time, trees can break apart even large rocks.

Detailed explanation-5: -Biological weathering only refers to weathering caused by plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms such as bacteria. It is contributed to or removal of ions and minerals from the weathering environment and physical variations due to movement or development of organisms.