Structural design of a Tropical Rainforest

Tropical rainforests such as the ones in Australia have five levels. They are the emergent layer which is made up of the tallest trees. The trees in the emergent layer may be as tall as 45 metres. There is enough space for some sunlight to reach to the canopy (which is the next layer down). The canopy contains trees about 100 to 120 feet (30-37 meters) tall. Canopy trees are evergreens which mean they don’t lose all their leaves at the same time the broad leaves provide shade for the lower levels. It provides food for insects and birds. The animals that live there knock down food from the trees for the animals that live on the forest floor . Understorey (the middle layer is made up of bushes and small trees such as palms that have adapted to grow in the shade. Some trees grow quicker to replace a canopy tree if it falls otherwise they stay small. The trees have very big leaves to capture the sunlight. Vines, ferns and mosses grow over the trunks of the smaller trees. Frogs such as the northern red eyed frog live there. The shrub layer is made very small trees and shrubs. The density of this layer varies on how much light is able to get through the upper layer. The herb layer is the final layer of trees in the tropical forest. It is made up of very small plants. The undergrowth on the forest floor includes ferns, grasses,lichens,mossens and small flowering plants because they do not require a lot of light to grow. Forest floor is the bottom level of the rainforest. Insects, worms and small animals live there. Small mammals search here for food. Bigger animals like the Cassowary and the Red legged pademelon (a kangaroo) also live on the floor to.