Download 2 - Layers of the rainforest

Layers of the Rainforest
Animals & Their Environment
2016
Four “basic” layers of the rainforest
• The rainforest has 4 basic layers
• Plants and animal have adapted to the various layers
• Each layer has a “MICROCLIMATE”
What is a MICROCLIMATE?
• First – let’s define “CLIMATE”
• Weather conditions, typically over a long period of
time
• Rain, winds, temperature, humidity, etc.
• Microclimate is a smaller climate.
• May exist in just a tiny area (side of a building)
• Warmer/cooler, wetter/dryer, sunny/shady
Four layers of the rainforest
Let’s investigate each layer and it’s microclimate
EMERGENT LAYER
• Also called the “overstory”
• Trees that top the canopy
• Can reach heights of 210’
• FULL sun
• Drier environment with higher
winds
• Birds of prey depend on this
layer
Emergent Layer
• Animals and birds that live up here are very light weight
• Climate conditions are variable and change often
• Diameter of trees that grow into this layer can be 16’
• Hummingbirds and butterflies are prevalent in this layer
• The Macaw nests in holes in the trunks of these trees
• Sloths and spider monkeys live up in this layer
Canopy Layer
• Contains the majority of the
trees of the rainforest
• Light is abundant (on top)
• Trees adapted to intense
sunlight
• Drip Tip – funnels rain water off
the leaf down to the forest
below
Canopy
• 80% of the sunlight is absorbed by this layer
• Most of the rainfall is absorbed by this layer, the floor gets what drips
off
• Food is plentiful for animals in this layer
• Many animals use this layer as shelter from predators
• Animals fly, jump, hop, and glide to move through this layer
• Microclimates change depending on the part of the layer
• Topmost – hot, dry, sunny, windy
• Lower – cooler, more humid, less sunlight, less wind
Understory
• Contains short trees, young
trees, shrubs, and the trunks of
the canopy and emergent trees
• Limited sunlight
• Dense shade is common under
the canopy
Understory
• Receives less than 5% of the sunlight coming into the forest
• Little or no wind, very hot and humid as moisture is “trapped”
• Leaves of the plants are dark, and large to absorb more sunlight
• Growth not as thick, or dense, as upper layers as insufficient light to
support growth
• Insects, especially mosquitoes, enjoy this dark, humid environment –
prey of birds and geckos
• Common animals are bats, monkeys, jaguars, snakes, lizards, frogs
• Camouflage is the key adaptation of species in this layer (both
predator and prey)
• Competition for food is fierce at this level
The Forest Floor
• Includes the rivers and streams
of the forest
• Less than 2% of the light ever
reaches the forest floor
• Very little vegetation
• Filled with decaying plant and
animal matter
• Fungus and moss are common
Forest Floor
• Dark and humid (95% humidity is not uncommon)
• Only rainwater to reach the floor comes from the tree trunks dripping
down
• Very little vegetation, seeds lie dormant until an opening in the canopy
appears (tree dies)
• Largest animals live on the forest floor, mainly carnivores and herbivores
• Jungle cats, rainforest pigs (warthogs, wild boar), reptiles, insects
• Army ants – will eat anything they come in contact with - even humans!
• Fish and other aquatic species in the rivers, lakes, and streams
Life in the rainforest
• Insects make up the majority of animals that live in tropical
forests
• All animals make adaptations to survive in the rainforest
• Color – to blend in or stand out
• Patterns – to blend in and hide
• Vocalizations – typically loud to communicate
• Diets – adapt to the level they live in – fruits, insects, prey
species available