Biodiversity

Although rainforests make up only about six percent of the Earth's surface, they account for at least 50 percent of all of the species of organisms on our planet, if not more. There are also hundreds of species yet to be discovered.

This biodiversity, or variety of life, is mostly based on the plant life found in rainforests.

Some trees in rainforests grow up to 70 metres tall, but generally average about 50 metres. The topmost branches of the trees form a canopy, which provides a rich habitat for innumerable species of insects, mammals, reptiles and birds.

Below this is the vegetation forming the understorey, and underneath that lies the forest floor, which provides different habitats that support other species of animals and plants.

With the canopy acting like a roof, the forest floor receives very little sunlight. The leaves that fall off the tree decompose on the forest floor, making them suitable for detrivores (rotting material feeders), including many species of fungi, to live on. Rainforests produce an incredible diversity of life, much of which is still unknown to science.