Different forms of plants and animals have evolved in harmony on the forest floor to recycle decaying materials such as leaves and trce trunks. returning valuable nutriems back to the soil. In time Ihese are take up by other plams. sustaining the incredible diversity that exists in the forest and thereby continuing the natural cycle [...]
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This is a solitary nocturnal primate with large eyes and a thickly furred body. Slow Loris The scaly armor plating of the pangolin allows il to roll inlo a tight ball when threatened. It feeds exclusively on allts and termites. Pangolin Living in tall sccondaly forests, the clouded leopard is a nocturnal predator that feeds on pigs, deer, monkeys and smaller animals. Clouded Leopard The largest land mammal in Thailand, the Asian elephant is now a rare sight, with fewer than 3,000 animals remaining. Most of them are found in the national parks of the northeast. Elephant This is the largest member of the cat family; fewer than 250 now survive in Thailand. Tiger The agile small-toothed palm civet is a nocturnal species that searches for insects, fruit and small mammals in the branches of tall secondary forests. Palm Civet Resembling a small bear, the binturong has a bushy, prehensile tail that enables it to feed in the trees as well as on the ground. Binturong While in temperate forests a high proportion of nutrients is held in the soil (left-hand colunms. above); in the poorer tropical soil, Ihey are held in the biomass (right-hand columns, above). Because the scarce soil nutrients are found near the surface. the roots of the trees seldom grow deeper than 26 feet. Nutrient Storage 162 Feet :: Emergent Layer The few emergent trees above the canopy are home to insectivorous bats and birds such as eagles and bornbills. 122 Feet :: Canopy Layer The canopy is a continuous layer of foliage about 22 feet deep that supports a broad variety of animals. Mammals like flying squirrels, gibbons and macaques feed on the [...] |
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