Watch a Life Built on Decay in the Rainforests
In Watch a Life Built on Decay in the Rainforests, narrator Sir David Attenborough notes that the nutrient recycling rate in rainforests happens faster than anywhere else. Learn how slime mold, fungi, and beetle larvae interact to decompose leaf litter. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What creates so much mold in the rainforest?
A: The high humidity creates the proper conditions for the mold to form.
Q: What are the visible parts of the fungi?
A: The visible fungi, such as mushrooms, are just the fruiting body of a vast underground network.
Q: Why can't the rainforest exist without the fungi?
A: The rain leaches out nutrients in the soil, but the fungi consume decay and recycle minerals back into the trees. They also serve as food for insects.
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In Meet the Gliding Leaf Frog, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores gliding leaf frogs. Learn how they only leave the canopy when it is time to breed, and how they slow their descent using webbed feet, which they use as parachutes. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
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