The emergent level is composed of trees, which may reach a height of more than 120 feet or more. The environmental conditions in which these trees survive include: wide variation in temperature, low humidity, strong winds, and the constant exposure to the sun’s rays. Due to these harsh conditions the trees have adapted structurally to their environment. These adaptions include: hardwoods to absorb the gusts of strong winds, aerodynamic leaf structures which allows air to move around them, waxy leaves to retain water, photosynthetic activity during early morning and evening when humidity is high, and reproductive systems, such as flowers and fruits which take advantage of the winds for population and dispersal.

The canopy, just beneath the emergent level contains tree

The understory contains small trees and shrubs, which vary in height from about 10 to 20 feet. Some plants have adopted specifically to live their entire lives in the understory, while others are canopy or emergent trees that are waiting for the other trees to fall. When that happens, they quickly grow to their full height. Many animals live in the understory and feed on the abundance of fruits, leaves, and other animals. This environment is one of the diffuse light, high humidity, and stable temperatures.

In the Caosta Rican rainforest there is one particular caterpillar I found very interesting with vibrant colors, which is the hawk moth caterpillar. Hawk moth caterpillars are usually brightly colored and marked; and some species look just like snakes when threatened. Some have eyespots (false eyes). This small caterpillar reaches a meager four inches, and can be found munching on leaves of various trees in Costa Rican rainforests. The life span of the caterpillar is usually 3 – 4 weeks, after which they look for a spot to build a cocoon.

The forest floor is inhabited by plants and animals, many of which surv

Some topics in this essay:
Forests Tropical, Costa Rican, Caosta Rican, emergent level, tropical rainforests, brazil nut, conditions trees, sun’s rays, environmental conditions, environmental conditions trees, tropical rain forests, brazil nut tree, plants survive, forest floor, plants grow, contains trees,