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| Rainforests |
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Five Distinct layers
Tropical rainforests consist of five distinct layers. The top emergent layer can reach 50m to get as much sunlight for photosynthesis as possible. Lianas, epiphytes, rattan, tree ferns and climbers grow in this layer.
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Lianas
(Photograph taken by Dr Tan Yoke Lin) |
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The understorey layer consists of shorter trees as there is less available sunlight here. The shrub layer supports shrubs, ferns and lianas.
Lastly, the ground layer supports plants not requiring much sunlight. These include ferns, herbaceous plants and mushrooms. The vegetation in this layer is sparse as little sunlight reaches the forest floor.
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| Sources: |
| Goh Cheng Leong. (1998). The World's Natural Vegetation. (p. 42-54). Singapore: Federal Publications. |
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