Rainforests Layers

Year 8 Geography- Topic 1 – Global Environments - 2011

Layers of the Rainforests

In tropical

rainforests, the

vegetation

grows in four

main layers,

much like a

sandwich has

layers.

Layers of the Rainforests

Paste handout of rainforest layers into your workbook

Layers of the Rainforests

Emergent's

The tallest trees in the

rainforest are emergent's,

towering as high as 40-60

metres above the forest

floor

They are called emergent's

because they ‘emerge’

from the general canopy of

trees.

Sunlight is plentiful

Layers of the Rainforests

Canopy

Rainforest trees form a covering or ‘canopy’ that

restricts the amount of light that makes its way to the

forest floor.

The canopy extends 25-45 metres above the forest

floor.

It is very important to the rainforest ecosystem

because it maintains a moist and cool microclimate

There are many flowers and fruits in the canopy

Layers of the Rainforests

Living in the Canopy

Layers of the Rainforests

Understorey

This layer only gets about 2-5% of the sunlight

available to the canopy.

It is made up of layers of trees whose growth is

limited by the taller trees of the canopy.

Plants in the understorey include the brush

bloodwood, sandpaper fig, prickly tree fern and dwarf

palm.

They rarely grow more than 3.5 metres.

Layers of the Rainforests

Living in the Understorey

Layers of the Rainforests

Forest Floor

The forest floor is thick with leaf litter, seeds, fruit and

branches, which decay to form humus which is the

rich top layer of soil.

The humus provides rich nutrients for further plant

growth.

There is a lot of competition for these nutrients and

that is why many trees are shallow-rooted.

Layers of the Rainforests

Living in the Forest Floor

Layers of the Rainforests

Draw up a table like the one below and

complete it in your workbook.

Refer to your notes and text as necessary

Layers Name Height Plants Animals

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4