WEBVTT

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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.