L1: Habitat and Wild Animal Behaviour

Question 1

Topical Rain Forest
1. Overstorey (Emergent)?
2. Canopy?
3. Understorey?
4. Shrub layer?
5. Floor?

Answer 1

• Overstorey (Emergent): Uppermost level of a
  forest, formed by the tallest trees. Trees grow
  apart, height 100 feet and above, umbrella shaped
  canopy. Small leaves, against hot sun & dry wind.
  Canopy : Close canopy, tree height around 80 feet.
  Sunlight found at the upper sections, gradually
  reduce at the lower layers.
• Understorey: Close canopy, tree height around 60
  feet. Relatively high humidity due to lack of air
  circulation.
• Shrub layer: < 5% of sunlight from upper section.
  Saplings are only able to grow rapidly when there
  is opening between canopy where sunlight could
  reach the bottom layer.
• Floor: richest ecosystem > animals & plants
  (shade tolerant, < 2% sunlight from top layers)

Question 2

Stratified Use of Habitat

Answer 2

• Sky (Aerial)
  ▫ Birds & insects that fly
• Trees (Arboreal)
  ▫ Macaque, squirrel
• Cave (Cave-dwelling)
  ▫ Bat, swiftlet
• On land (Terrestrial)
  ▫ Deer, tiger
• Underground (Fossorial)
  ▫ Mongoose, pangolin
• In water (Aquatic)
  ▫ Water snake, fish

Question 3

Time of Activity

Answer 3

• Diurnal: active during the day
• Crepuscular (means of twilight): active during dawn
  & dusk
• Crepuscular predators are active during twilight
  because their prey is active during that time
  ▫ Prey can use this light to easily spot and avoid
  predators
• Nocturnal: active during the night
• Matutinal: active during the morning.

▫ Matutinal organisms wake up before diurnal
organisms so they have the advantage of consuming
resources without competition

• Vespertine: active in the evening.
  ▫ Vespertine organisms are similar to Nocturnal
  organisms