It produces more food for the tree. It increases the nutrients in the soil. It releases more oxygen from the tree. It decreases the competition for resources.
I am hesitating between 4 options to answer the following question, which option should I choose?
Question: Some pine trees are able to live through forest fires because of their thick bark. After a forest fire, new pine trees can grow in the space left by other trees that burned down. How does thick bark help to increase the pine tree population?
Possibilities:
- It produces more food for the tree.
- It increases the nutrients in the soil.
- It releases more oxygen from the tree.
- It decreases the competition for resources.

It decreases the competition for resources.