Structure and Adaptation of rainforests

Adaptations

Drip-tips allow water to flow off the leaves and reduce the chances of bacteria and fungi from growing on them. Waxy surfaces help leaves to minimise the loss of moisture through transpiration.

Smooth bark allows rainwater to flow easily from the crown to the root of the trees.

Fruits are colourful and strong -smelling as this would help to disperse the fruits as wind dispersal as the wind is very stale and does not move much under the canopy.

Shallow roots have access to more nutrients as it is on the topsoil. Butress roots to support the heavy weight of the trees.

Emergent layer

Trees in this layer have tall, straight and smooth trunks with few branches

Consists of the tallest trees in the rainforests(up to80m)

Upper layer where some trees rise and tower above other trees.

Canopy layer

Trees are very dense and have crowns that interlock to form an almost continuous cover.

Lianas are thick woody vines that twine on trees and epiphytes which are plants that grow on trees are found in this layer.

The trees between 20-30m.

Undergrowth layer

Vegetation is sparse and underdeveloped

Thin layer of leaf litter

They have much bigger leaves than the trees in other layers.