Four Layers of the Rainforest

Joel A. Bartsch is an experienced museum curator residing in Houston, Texas. Since 2004, Joel Bartsch has been at the helm of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS). The HMNS is home to the stunning Rainforest Conservatory, which emulates the climate and environment of a tropical forest.

Rainforests are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. Within a single rainforest, there are four distinct layers that experience different conditions and are suitable for different types of life.

The topmost layer is the emergent layer. The trees that can reach this layer can be more than a dozen feet tall. In this region, there is less competition for sunlight, so trees tend to grow large leaves. Most animal species living in the emergent layer have the ability to fly or are lightweight enough to balance from treetop to treetop. Common emergent layer creatures include birds, bats, and gliding rodents.

Just below the emergent layer is the dense canopy layer. Plants that stop growing at this level are more likely to produce fruit to spread their seeds. This abundance of food encourages immense biodiversity, and this is the most populated layer.

The thick fauna of the canopy prevents light and rain from reaching the lower understory layer. For this reason, the understory tends to be very dark, humid, and calm. Plant species adapt to the lack of light by producing huge flowers or strong scents. The understory is usually populated by species that thrive in humid conditions, such as amphibians. Other mammals like gorillas and elephants also live in this layer.

The bottom-most layer is the forest floor. Since it is devoid of sunlight, it is not suitable for plants. However, many animals consume decaying matter that falls from higher layers. In some rainforests, the presence of a freshwater source will attract different animals, such as crocodiles or dolphins, to the forest floor.