Canopy (botany)

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/canopy-botany

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the habitat zone?A distinct ecological zone supporting a high concentration of arboreal biodiversity
2. What is the light attenuation?Significantly reduces light intensity reaching lower forest strata, influencing plant community structure
3. What is a forest canopy?The canopy is the upper layer of a forest made of tree crowns and other plants. It is where many animals and plants live, like birds, insects, and vines.
4. Why is the canopy important for plants and animals?It gives light to the lower parts of the forest and creates special homes for many species. The canopy also helps with pollination, seed spread, and keeps the forest healthy.

Arboreal: Living in or adapted to trees.
Epiphyte: A plant that grows non-parasitically upon another plant or object, deriving its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain.
Liana: A woody climbing plant that hangs or trails from trees.
Forest Stratification: The vertical layering of vegetation in a forest ecosystem, from the ground to the canopy.