The crowns of the trees are exposed both to the fierce tropical sun and to winds that frequently snap and topple the tallest trees. To reduce evaporation, the leaves at this level are quite small. Many of the epiphytes here take on the form cacti to reduce their loss of water. As you descend trough the upper canopy, you immediately begin to enter a different world of reduced light. Protected from direct sun and wind, the leaves here are larger in size and the struggle for light has begun.
