Transcript Layers of the Rain Forest

Layers of the Rain
Forest
Science
4th Grade
TLW: Name the layers of the rain
forest and a fact about each.
The rain forest has four layers
Emergent Layer
Canopy
Understory
Forest Floor
Emergent Layer
• The emergent layer is
•
•
home to the rain
forest’s tallest trees.
The trees in this layer
can reach up to 200 ft
tall.
The leaves of these
trees are waxy to
allow the water to
easily drain off.
Canopy
• The canopy is the
•
•
most dense part of
the rain forest.
It houses trees that
reach from 50-100
feet tall.
Thousands of species
of birds and insects
live in the canopy.
Understory
• The understory
•
•
contains trees that
reach only about 20 ft
tall.
Fig trees and orchids
are included in the
understory.
Moths, butterflies,
and many other forest
creatures are also
located here.
Forest Floor
• Fallen leaves and
decaying plant matter
cover the forest floor.
• Ants and other insects
help to break down the
organic matter.
• A few small plants such
as ferns and ginger grow
here as well.
• Many species of frogs can
be spotted in this layer
also.
The Rain Forest has four layers:
Emergent layer
Canopy
Understory
Forest Floor
These four layers make up the dense, lush ,
complex ecosystem that we call a rain
forest.
For more
information, go to:
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/rforest.htm
http://www.earthsbirthday.org/biggift/k12lessons/