What Parts of the Forest Help Animals to Survive?

Tree Canopy

• Trees are important to animals. In most forests there are two main tree layers. The rainforest has an even taller level called the emergent layer. The upper forest canopy is important for nesting and safety from predators. Large birds of prey, such as eagles, down to the tiny rufous hummingbird, build their nests there. Even the hollow portions of standing dead trees are important since they house birds like woodpeckers and owls. Insects congregate in dead wood and provide food for birds. Smaller mammals such as flying squirrels find shelter and gather cones in the forest canopy. In the tropical rainforest, some animals rarely leave the safety of the tree canopy. They nest there and find a plethora of fruits and nuts for sustenance. The understory tree canopy consists of food plants that require shelter from the taller trees. In the rainforest, this is where you will find many insects, snakes, and reptiles.

Herb and Shrub Layer

• The shrub layer makes up the middle portion of the temperate forest. This layer begins only a few feet off the ground and rises to meet the understory trees. Fewer animals make their nests in the shrub layer; instead, they use it to gather food, which they bring back to their nests and dens. Animals that feed from the ground, such as bears, find most of their food at the shrub level. Deer and elk rely on shrub foliage as a food source. Rabbits, quail, raccoon, and skunk rely on underbrush to build their homes. Flowering shrubs attract pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. Pollinators are critical to the health of fruiting plants.

Forest Floor

• Meadow grasses, which grow in forest clearings, are a major food source for deer and elk. Some ground-cover plants, such as bearberry and salal, produce edible berries. Birds like killdeer and whip-poor-wills lay their eggs directly on the forest floor in low brush. Small mammals collect materials and build their nests above and below the forest floor. Birds of prey rely on them as a food source. Underground fungi like truffles can be an important winter food for many mammals. Insects and larvae are another source of food found in the soil and duff layers of the forest. Water sources lie at ground level also, providing habitat for fish and drinking water for all wildlife.