He underbrush is the grouping of small trees or shrubs that grow at the base of the largest trees in a forest. These are in search of as much light as possible that filters through the taller trees to grow.
When the tops of the trees are very dense, the undergrowth is practically nonexistent since without light they can not survive.
Some trees that make up the undergrowth wait decades to be able to develop and in all this process, are able to realize photosynthesis with the little or medium light that reaches its branches.
Characteristics of Underbrush
Vegetation
In the undergrowth can be found under areas full of chestnut and oak and is made up of ferns as the Balantium Antarcticum , which can grow up to five meters and has a trunk formed by dead barks.
Equally, the Thelypteris, which is found in several parts of the world and finally the driopteridáceas, which are a family of ferns.
These are full of epiphytic plants, which usually climb on them but do not take away nutrients. We can also find wild shade flowers that complement the understory anatomy.
The undergrowth takes advantage of the autumn season, where the tallest trees lose part of their branches, to absorb all the amount of light that is passed through these eventual gaps.
This period, which usually lasts a few weeks, is quite important as it allows the plant to keep carbon for the darkest seasons.
Thanks to this permanent shadow, the forest floor does not heat or cool in the way open spaces do, and rainwater does not evaporate so quickly, this allows bacteria, fungi, mosses and other necessary elements to proliferate for the nutrient cycle of plants and animals.
Fauna
Under this grouping of trees, an environment similar to that of the night is created, full of dry leaves and bark remains and fallen logs. This environment is ideal for animals like the myriapods, which is commonly known as the centipede and lives in places with low light.
Also small spiders, snails, lizards, and some mice living in caves. The undergrowth is a refuge for larger animals, and a safer food source than the outside.
Large predators often do not frequent rainforests; however, they can be found during times of drought and to supplement their feeding with smaller animals.
It is quite common to find omnivores like wild pigs, who seek their food on the forest floor, filling it with holes that fill with rainwater and provide them insects, larvae and sometimes small fish.
The anteater also searches for its food in the understory, feeds on ants and termites with the help of its sticky lingo and its smell.
You can also find the armadillo, this one has great claws that allow him to dig and to locate mice, insects, lizards and even small snakes.
References
- "Understory"in Rainforest. Retrieved on September 05, 2017 from SmithSonian Tropical Resarch Institute: stri.si.edu.
- Sharpe, J."Understory fern community structure, growth and spore production responses to large-scale hurricane experiment in Puerto Rico rainforest"(November, 2014) in Science Direct. Retrieved on September 05, 2017 from Science Direct: sciencedirect.com.
- Perez, J. and Gardey, A,"Definition of Underbrush"(2016) in Definition of. Recovered on 06 September 2017 from Definition of: definicion.de.
- Contreras, R."The undergrowth"(August, 2016) in The Guide. Retrieved on 05 September 2017 from The Guide: biologia.laguia2000.com.
- Keeley, A."Seedlings in the undergrowth"in Tirimbina. Retrieved on September 05, 2017 by Tirimbina: tirimbina.org.