Rainforests have continuous rainfall, very warm temperatures, and powerful tropical sunlight.
As part of the earth's oldest ecosystem, numerous animals and plants of the rainforest have adapted to the special environment, which has created an astonishing biodiversity. The abundance of water in the rainforest could be equally destructive as it is necessary. In order to combat the potentially hazardous conditions that an influx of steady rain would cause, the rainforest is structured in four protective layers. The Emergent Layer is comprised of the tallest trees, which emerge from the dense rainforest to expose themselves to the direct sunlight, rainfall, and wind. More often than not hardwood evergreens, these trees have wide trunks and broad, wax covered leaves-attributes that help them from being uprooted in strong winds, and defend them from over saturation of heavy rainfall.