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(SCIENCE TREK MUSIC)

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JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST: To 
understand a forest, you need to

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look at its layers or zones.

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At the bottom is the first zone, 
the forest floor.

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It's where de-composition takes 
place, making the soil rich for

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plants to grow.

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It's where most animals and 
insects live.

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And the stuff you find on the 
floor. it has a name.

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It's called duff.

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Next, is the understory.

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That's the area where small 
bushes, plants and saplings

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live.

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In rainforests, it tends be 
darker and more humid than the

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area above.

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Flowers here tend to be brighter 
to attract pollinators.

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And it's a good place for 
reptiles to live.

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The next zone is called the 
canopy.

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It's at, what's called, the 
crown of the trees, where the

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tops of the branches can 
intertwine.

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The canopy can block out as much 
as 95 percent of available

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light.

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Many creatures spend much of 
their lives just living in the

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canopy.

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In rain forests, there's a 
fourth zone called the emergent

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layer.

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Here a few tall trees stick out 
above the canopy.

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And because they get so much 
sun, the leaves in this zone may

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be small and waxy to survive in 
hot weather.

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For more information about 
forests, check out the Science

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Trek website.

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You'll find it at 
ScienceTrek.org.