Observe: The Layers of a Forest

A very interesting fact about the forest is that some animals can live their whole lives very close to one another but never interact.  That is because the forest has various layers, and some organisms spend all or most of their time in only a single layer.  A forest has three main layers:

• the canopy, which is the treetops
• the understory, which is the area below the canopy
• the underbrush, which is the part above the forest floor
• the forest floor, which is the part you walk on when you view the forest

The primary layer, the canopy, is made up of the tops of trees. These tree tops block much of the sunlight from entering the forest. Many insects and animals such as birds are found in this layer.

The next layer, the understory, is made of smaller and thinner trees or shrubs that are growing to reach the canopy. Some of the animals found in this layer are birds and squirrels.

The underbrush is the level before the forest floor which includes small mammals such as mice or skunks.

The final layer, the forest floor, contains all of the dead matter. The dead leaves and twigs release nutrients into the soil that will be used by the forest plants. The animals that are found in this layer include decomposers such as beetles, spiders, and earthworms.

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