Searching for sunlight | Life

Duration: 7'16''

Synopsis

Different species of plants adopt a variety of ingenius techniques to secure much needed sunlight.

Further Information

More clips from Life

9: Plants | Life

9: Plants | Life

BBC HD | 2009 | 58'19''

The nature series turns to plants and looks at the ingenious solutions that they employ to counter life's challenges, such as spring-loaded traps, suckers a...

A resilient forest | Life

A resilient forest | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 4'24''

Two species of tree weather incredibly harsh conditions and seasonal change to ensure their survival.

Cunning Cacti | Life

Cunning Cacti | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 6'12''

This cacti deploys a variety of methods to maximise its chances of successful seed dispersal.

Flower power | Life

Flower power | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 5'15''

Flowers lure pollinators to ensure that plants can reproduce.

9: Plants | Life

9: Plants | Life

BBC HD | 2009 | 58'19''

The nature series turns to plants and looks at the ingenious solutions that they employ to counter life's challenges, such as spring-loaded traps, suckers a...

A resilient forest | Life

A resilient forest | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 4'24''

Two species of tree weather incredibly harsh conditions and seasonal change to ensure their survival.

Cunning Cacti | Life

Cunning Cacti | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 6'12''

This cacti deploys a variety of methods to maximise its chances of successful seed dispersal.

Flower power | Life

Flower power | Life

BBC One | 2009 | 5'15''

Flowers lure pollinators to ensure that plants can reproduce.

More resources about Living Things and Their Habitats

4: Big Blue | Blue Planet II

4: Big Blue | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 58'23''

The wildlife documentary series narrated by David Attenborough explores a vast ocean desert where sperm whales must dive 1,000 metres just to feed.

1: One Ocean | Blue Planet II

1: One Ocean | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 57'59''

Wildlife documentary series presented by David Attenborough, revealing new worlds and animal behaviours throughout the planet's oceans.

Biodiversity | Our World

Biodiversity | Our World

BBC News | 2020 | 2'35''

A team of botanists from Kew discuss the importance of protecting biodiversity.

Episode 2 | The Great American Buffalo

Episode 2 | The Great American Buffalo

BBC Four | 2024 | 1'54'22''

By the late 1880s, the buffalo teeter on the brink of extinction, but an unlikely collection of Americans have started a few private h...

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

01: The Living Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'14''

The Living Forest looks at all the animals & plants that live in the forest on the ground to the forest canopy, & shows how they live in ba...

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

02: People of the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 18'54''

People of the Forest looks at the Baka of the Cameroon & the Kayapo of South America & how their lives work in balance with the rainforest.

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

03: Destroying the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'12''

By the next century, the rainforests of the world could have disappeared for ever, destroyed by outside influences and economic pressur...

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

04: Saving the Forest | Landmarks

BBC Two | 1990 | 19'16''

Despite the destruction, there are ways to save the forest, by careful harvesting, protecting, learning, replanting, policing - and campaig...

1: Cauldron of Life | Galapagos

1: Cauldron of Life | Galapagos

BBC One | 2017 | 58'05

Liz Bonnin joins a scientific team aboard the research vessel the Alucia on an expedition across the Galapagos Islands.

1: Island of Marvels | Madagascar

1: Island of Marvels | Madagascar

BBC HD | 2011 | 58'41''

Series exploring Madagascar and its unique wildlife. David Attenborough reveals the most bizarre places and their inhabitants on this ecolo...

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

1: The Cold Blooded Truth | Life in Cold Blood

BBC One | 2008 | 57'40''

David Attenborough reveals the surprising truth about the cold-blooded lives of reptiles and amphibians.

1: The Infinite Variety | Life On Earth

1: The Infinite Variety | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'12''

The first ever episode of the landmark natural history series Life on Earth. David Attenborough explores the wildlife and landscape t...

1: Travelling | The Private Life of Plants

1: Travelling | The Private Life of Plants

BBC One | 1995 | 49'02''

David Attenborough begins his incredible journey into the world of plants with a look at how plants move from place to place.

10: Primates | Life

10: Primates | Life

BBC HD | 2009 | 58'54''

The nature documentary examines primates, including armies of Hamadryas baboons battling on the plains of Ethiopia, and macaques in Japan lounging in the...

10: Themes and Variations | Life On Earth

10: Themes and Variations | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 52'46''

David Attenborough looks at some of the huge variety of mammals. The tree shrew has attracted great interest as it shows how mammal...

11: The Hunters and the Hunted | Life On Earth

11: The Hunters and the Hunted | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'15''

David Attenborough explores the eternal duel between the hunters and the hunted - one of the driving forces of evolution.

12: Life in the Trees | Life On Earth

12: Life in the Trees | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'01''

David Attenborough's now-legendary encounter with young gorillas is featured in this episode as he looks at the history of primates.

13: The Compulsive Communicators | Life On Earth

13: The Compulsive Communicators | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 54'00''

David Attenborough seeks to explain how we came to dominate life on earth, tracing the African origins of humans to nearly t...

2: Building Bodies | Life On Earth

2: Building Bodies | Life On Earth

BBC Two | 1979 | 53'36''

Sir David Attenborough presents a revised version of the original wildlife series about the remarkable evolution of life on our planet. Th...

2: Civilisations | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

2: Civilisations | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

BBC Four | 2021 | 52'13''

This episode travels to the Congo, Egypt, China and Mexico to reveal how water changed humanity's footprint on the planet.

More from Sir David Attenborough

3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III

3: Deserts and Grasslands | Planet Earth III

BBC One | 2023 | 58'19''

David Attenborough explores earth's greatest wildernesses, where extraordinary life survives in unexpected ways, and nature puts...

The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II

The mystery of the whale shark nursery | Blue Planet II

BBC One | 2017 | 3'08''

Nutrients from the deep provide sustenance for a large gathering of sea life.

Ants vs Cows | Natural World

Ants vs Cows | Natural World

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'09''

The super colony unites in a spectacular attack to defend their nest from curious cows.

3: Jungles | Planet Earth II

3: Jungles | Planet Earth II

BBC One | 2016 | 58'00'''

Jungles provide the richest habitats on the planet - mysterious worlds of high drama where extraordinary animals attempt to survive in the most ...

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

Lizard Heaters | Life in Cold Blood

BBC Two | 2014 | 3'53''

Wall lizards take advantage of foul-smelling dead-horse arums.

How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon

How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? | Horizon

BBC Two | 2009 | 58'22''

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world faces a population crisis and if it is the duty of indiv...

7: Great Plains | Planet Earth

7: Great Plains | Planet Earth

BBC One | 2006 | 58'56''

Documentary series which celebrates Earth in its natural glory. A look at the great plains - wildernesses which support the greatest gathering...

Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer

Weighty wanderers | Life in the Freezer

BBC Two | 1993 | 3'04''

With a wingspan of over 3m, the wandering albatross has the biggest feeding range of any bird. Throughout the winter they remain in n...

Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

Our Precious Isles | Wild Isles

BBC One | 2023 | 57'14''

David Attenborough celebrates the rich variety of habitats in our wild isles, the existence of which is critical for the survival of species ...

2: Water Worlds | The Green Planet

2: Water Worlds | The Green Planet

BBC One | 2022 | 58'13''

A look at the beautiful, bizarre worlds created by water plants. Flowers smother rivers and lakes. Plants fight and hunt. A river bubbles ...

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

David Attenborough | The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

BBC One | 2022 | 1'32''

David Attenborough speaks about the environment. Also, includes footage of the drones that turn into animals.

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

Greta meets David Attenborough | Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

BBC One | 2021 | 3'39''

Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough discuss their hopes for the future of the planet.

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

COP26 delegates and climate scientists | Climate Change: The Facts

BBC One | 2021 | 3'06''

COP26 delegates and climate scientist Hannah Cloke discuss their hopes for the COP26 conference.

The People v Climate Change

The People v Climate Change

BBC Two | 2021 | 1'03'06''

Meet the 108 ordinary Brits who Sir David Attenborough says we should listen to. This warm and honest documentary reveals how everyday people fee...

Mate or die trying | Seven Worlds, One Planet

Mate or die trying | Seven Worlds, One Planet

BBC One | 2021 | 2'46''

A male Jotus spider waves it paddle-like limbs to attract a mate.

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

Poison dart frogs battle it out | Attenborough's Life in Colour

BBC One | 2021 | 1'15''

A poison dart frog fights off a contender until he's sufficiently warned off.

The Weddell seal's adaptations | Life

The Weddell seal's adaptations | Life

BBC Two | 2021 | 4'11''

The Weddell seal is perfectly adapted to survive in the environment it must endure.

Biodiversity loss | Extinction: The Facts

Biodiversity loss | Extinction: The Facts

BBC One | 2020 | 4'12''

An exploration of the devastating impacts of the loss of insect and plant biodiversity.

Buffalo to the rescue | Dynasties

Buffalo to the rescue | Dynasties

BBC One | 2018 | 1'33''

A painted wolf pack is attacked by lions seeking out the pups to kill. But an angry buffalo comes charging in and distracts the lions.

Let's Twist Again | The Blue Planet

Let's Twist Again | The Blue Planet

BBC Two | 2017 | 1'53''

A super pod of spinner dolphins gather together as feeding has been good in the area.