Subject: What are the factors that govern survival in a physical environment?

Certain organisms are only able to survive in a certain area of Earth like the 
ice caps while others only thrive in tropical environments. What determines 
their ability to surivive in a hot or cold habitat? What is it that prevents a 
tropical fruit from being grown in a temperate country? Is there any way to 
make them adapt to them surroundings?

Re: What are the factors that govern survival in a physical environment?