 Vertical
layering – usually of plants.
 Vertical
layering – usually of plants.
 Best seen in a forest

 Vertical
layering – usually of plants.
 Best seen in a forest
 Animals can also form vertical layers in the
soil, and in lakes/sea

o
Dragonfish
The deep sea dragonfish is a ferocious predator in spite
pf its small size. The dragonfish has a long barbel
attached to its chin. This barbel is tipped with a lightproducing organ known as a photophore. These fishes
are sexually dimorphic (the males and females look
different). Dragonfishes live in deep ocean waters at
depths of up to 1500 m (5000 feet).
 Vertical
layering – usually of plants.
 Best seen in a forest
 Animals can also form vertical layers in the
soil, and in lakes/sea
 In tropical forests, the animals form verticals
layers through things like – monkeys staying
in the canopy without ever going onto the
ground.
 Vertical
layering – usually of plants.
 Best seen in a forest
 Animals can also form vertical layers in the
soil, and in lakes/sea
 In tropical forests, the animals form verticals
layers through things like – monkeys staying
in the canopy without ever going onto the
ground.
 General layers in a NZ forest:





1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Vertical layering – usually of plants.
Best seen in a forest
Animals can also form vertical layers in the soil, and
in lakes/sea
In tropical forests, the animals form verticals layers
through things like – monkeys staying in the canopy
without ever going onto the ground.
General layers in a NZ forest:
Canopy
Sub-canopy
Tree fern layer
Shrub layer
Forest floor layer
Litter layer
 Fill
in the layers of stratification
1.
2.
3.
4.
Litter layer
Topsoil layer
Sub-soil layer
Soil parent material
 Dominant
plants in canopy – filter sunlight,
cut down the wind, drop the temperature,
and increase humidity.
 There a different micro-climates which form
at each level.
 Dominant
plants in canopy – filter sunlight,
cut down the wind, drop the temperature,
and increase humidity.
 There a different micro-climates which form
at each level.
 EG. Beech forests – uncomplete canopies.
Can be uneven, with sub-canopy filling space
 Dominant
plants in canopy – filter sunlight,
cut down the wind, drop the temperature,
and increase humidity.
 There a different micro-climates which form
at each level.
 EG. Beech forests – uncomplete canopies.
Can be uneven, with sub-canopy filling space
 EG. In soil – leaf-litter animals are dark
coloured and active.
 Dominant
plants in canopy – filter sunlight,
cut down the wind, drop the temperature,
and increase humidity.
 There a different micro-climates which form
at each level.
 EG. Beech forests – uncomplete canopies.
Can be uneven, with sub-canopy filling space
 EG. In soil – leaf-litter animals are dark
coloured and active.
 EG. Topsoil, animals aren’t so dark and are
slower-moving, while sub-soil animals are
usually large, sluggish (pun!) and pale.
 Bands
of organisms may form in relation to a
gradient in a major environmental factor =
zonation.
 Bands
of organisms may form in relation to a
gradient in a major environmental factor =
zonation.
 As you move down a particular environment,
vegetation and animals may change
slowly/rapidly.
 Bands
of organisms may form in relation to a
gradient in a major environmental factor =
zonation.
 As you move down a particular environment,
vegetation and animals may change
slowly/rapidly.
 EG. Rocky shore = bands of organisms form
due to exposure to the air (at low tide)