Levels of the Rainforest
The Emergent Layer
The emergent layer of the rainforest is a layer of trees stretching 50 to 60 meters above the forest floor. These trees thrust their leafy heads above the canopy layer and are the homes to many creatures. These trees are spread out very thinly with only one or two emergent trees in every acre of forest and are drenched in direct sunlight. When these giants fall after being weakened by old age or disease they create a wide clearing, known as the tree fall gap, allowing the sunlight to reach the smaller trees below them. These smaller trees will grow taller and eventually replace the emergent layer.
The Canopy
The canopy of the tree forest is made up of the limbs and leaves of trees which form a dense platform of vegetation 20 to 45 meters off the ground. This layer supports most of the rainforest animals. Insects hum and nibble on plants, reptiles slither along the branches and trunks of trees, monkeys chatter back and forth as they swing through the branches, and brightly coloured birds dart among leaves. The canopy offers such an abundance of shelter that many of the animals living in this layer never need to descend from it. The canopy also catches most of the sunlight allowing only a small amount to reach the forest floor, they also absorb the first impact of rain. The leaves of the trees in the canopy generally have pointed shapes so that water will run off of them, this keeps the leaf surface dry and discourages the growth of mildew and mold. The leaves on these tree are also enourmous to absorb as much sunlight as possible, some leaves can be 7 meters across.
The Understory
The understory rises to about 20 meters and is made up of the trunks of canopy trees, shrubs, plants and smaller trees. Some of the young saplings in this layer are very slow growing, just waiting for an emergent tree to come crashing down to give them sunlight and space to grow larger. Most of them remain in the shadows, growing tall pointed crowns as they grow upwards seeking light. Many of the plants living in this level have adapted to growing in the shade and don't need much light for photosynthesis. Others, like woody vines called lianas, attach themselves to young trees. As the saplings grow, the vines get a free ride towards the light and once the reach the canopy they will spread out among the trees.
The Forest Floor
Since very little sunlight reaches the forest floor plant life is quite sparse in this level of the rainforest.
Soil quality in the rainforest is also very poor although a lot of "litter" falls to the ground from the upper levels of the rainforest. The many leaves, limbs of trees and remains of dead animals that fall fall to the forest floor break down quickly because of the high temperature, humidity, and the activity of termites, earthworms and fungi. This organic material, recycled into nutrients stays on the surface of the soil where it is quickly absorbed by the shallow roots of the many rainforest trees.
Interesting Web Pages to Learn about Levels in the Rainforests
Levels in the Rainforest
The Levels of the Rainforest
Rainforest Layers
Layers of the Rainforest
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