Rainforests

Question 1

What are the layers of the rainforest?

Answer 1

shrub layer / forest floor, under canopy / understory, canopy, emergent layer

Question 2

emergent layer

Answer 2

topmost layer, tallest trees here, swinging and flying creatures, fluctuating climate, sunlight zone

Question 3

canopy

Answer 3

beneath emergent and above understory, densest layer of trees, blocks sunlight from penetrating, most creatures live here

Question 4

understory / under canopy

Answer 4

below canopy and above shrub layer, dark and humid, young trees and saplings, still & moist air,

Question 5

shrub layer / forest floor

Answer 5

very little sunlight, dark and moist —> organic matter decomposes quickly —> lots of nutrient cycling —> nutrient rich, big animals, lots of roots and shoots and leaves

Question 6

what is latosol

Answer 6

red iron - rich soil found in rainforests, top thin layer is humus layer and is very nutrient rich (nutrient cycling happens very quickly), however the rest of the latosol is infertile due to leaching (heavy rainfall washes away nutrients)