All language subtitles for Inside.the.Enchanted.Forests.S01E03.Waterworlds.1080p.DSNP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-NTb_track4_[eng]

[♪ enchanting music]

[narrator] When forests
and water meet,

each can have a transformative
effect upon the other.

Seaweed becomes a force field
protecting an entire species...

A team of misfits convert
a mudflat into a fortress...

Seasonal banquets turn
opportunists into hunters...

And the promise of a new life
beckons creatures

to magically reinvent
themselves.

These are the powers

of our forested water worlds.

Take a journey through
our planet's kaleidoscope

of forest realms.

From the frozen boreal
in the north,

to the tropical jungles
that hug our equator...

From mountain peaks,

to the ocean depths...

Marvel at the magic...

and drama...

that unfolds, as we reveal...

the secrets of
the Enchanted Forests.

♪ ♪

Coastal South Africa,

where hot dry sand...

meets a cold, fertile ocean

is about as far away from
a forest as possible.

And a colony of seals

are not generally considered
to be forest animals

but they are, and their lives
can depend on it.

[seals barking]

In these waters
lies a hidden forest

that for these seals,

acts as a magical force field
against the deep dark ocean.

Despite spending
most of their lives at sea,

Cape Fur Seals are not
natural born swimmers.

They have to learn to swim.

As pups they practice
in shallow, nursery pools.

[pups squeaking]

These teenage seals have
graduated from the baby pool.

Now strong swimmers,

they confidently head out
into the Atlantic Ocean.

♪ ♪

But they are naive
to its dangers.

Luckily, there is a safe space
where they can go.

Between the beach and the perils
of the open ocean...

is the Great African Sea Forest.

A wondrous place made
not from trees...

but of kelp.

♪ ♪

This bamboo kelp is
a superpowered seaweed,

growing as much as
20 inches a day,

fueled by the nutrients
from the surrounding water.

Anchored to the rocky sea bed,

its hollow trunk
filled with air,

keeps it buoyant and upright.

As it dances to
the rhythm of the waves.

It creates a natural,
safe playground

for the teenage seals.

Similar to land forests,

this kelp provides
the foundation

for an entire ecosystem.

The fronds are constantly
releasing spores.

Clouds of tiny creatures,
known as zooplankton,

feed on the spores.

Fish and crustaceans feast
on the zooplankton

and are in turn,
snatched by the seals

who turn everything into a game.

But seals are not at the top
of this food chain.

A seven-gill shark has entered
the forest on the prowl.

But the kelp stems slow him down
and obstruct his line of vision,

allowing the agile seals
to easily out maneuver him.

But as this shark's missing tail
is testament,

there are far more
ferocious predators

that patrol the deep waters
just beyond the forest.

The great white shark -

a specialized seal hunter.

It uses lightning acceleration
to ambush its prey.

But the web of kelp acts
like speed breakers.

So, this killing machine

sticks to hunting
in open water instead.

Next year, these teens
will have to venture out

beyond their kelp forest,

joining the other adults
to brave these sharks

when fishing further afield.

But for now, they are safe.

Further along the coast,
grows a formidable forest

that not only protects
entire coastlines

but also safeguards

the future of coral reefs
miles offshore.

On a vibrant and bustling reef,

new life is spawned daily.

But survival on the reef

is a never-ending cycle
of eat... or be eaten.

For newborns, life expectancy
here is dangerously low.

In desperate need of protection,
they head towards land,

into the nurturing embrace
of a mangrove forest.

Lining the coasts and estuaries,

these welcoming trees
extend their limbs seaward,

inviting millions
of tiny juvenile fish

into their fortress of roots.

But for a tree to thrive here

in a place that is not quite
land, and not quite sea,

requires new levels of
resilience and problem solving.

The only water available to
drink is a hundred times saltier

than any other tree
could withstand.

But these trees have the ability

to filter out the salt
internally

and banish it into their leaves.

Here, it is either excreted
through specialized glands

or stored and eventually
discarded.

Being flooded twice a day

makes access to oxygen
a challenge for the trees.

So they send their root tips
to poke up through the mud,

allowing them to breathe through
hundreds of tiny snorkels.

Even their seeds
are specially designed

to anchor themselves in the mud

and prevent them from being
washed away with the tide.

Over time,

they'll grow to add another set
of buttress roots

to this forest barricade.

These mangroves
don't just nurture life,

they also shield the coastline
from the wrath of the ocean.

Safe in their fortified refuge,

the little fish are bulking up
on nutrients

from the forest floor
and growing strong.

This latest generation
of reef inhabitants

will only leave when they are
ready to fend for themselves.

But to support
this underwater creche,

the mangrove forest relies on an
entire team above the waterline

to keep the whole setup
functioning.

[narrator] As the tide's ebb reveals
last night's detritus.

it kickstarts
a flurry of activity.

Red claw mangrove crabs fight
over the unstuck seed pods.

♪ ♪

These are highly desirable,
and tasty items.

Any leftovers
will rot in the burrows,

returning the finite nutrients
to the mud

for the trees to recycle.

Other seeds may be abandoned
within a burrow

and inadvertently planted.

Either way, it's a positive
outcome for the forest

Whilst the mangrove crabs
wrangle,

the smaller fiddler crabs
are all about showing off.

Their one jacked up claw...

is not for fighting.

It's to impress the females

and beckon them
over to their burrows.

But their giant claw
can also help the forest.

To accommodate
this outsized limb,

these tiny crabs dig larger
and deeper burrows,

creating deep air pockets that
turn into channels in the mud

helping the mangrove trees
to stretch their roots further.

The tide has turned...
and creeps back inland.

The working day
is coming to an end

and the forest floor
is ship-shape.

Now it's time
to batten down the hatches.

This extraordinary mangrove
environment

only functions through teamwork.

This curious band of misfits
all work together

so that the forest can provide
an invaluable service

to protect both land and sea.

[Birds singing]

As the mangroves trees stretch
their reach further inland,

saltwater starts to mix
with freshwater.

Found amongst these brackish
estuaries of Sri Lanka

is a fish that
hunts its forest prey

with fearsome accuracy.

These ants are looking
for a new nest site.

But as they venture
closer to the water,

they are entering
the strike zone.

This seven-spot archerfish
has a remarkable talent.

He can shoot a jet of water
into the air

at precisely the right force
and direction to hit his target.

Giving him access to food
in the surrounding trees

that other species in this
stream can only dream of.

The archerfish doesn't have
any additional body parts

to achieve this technique -

just some extra special
adaptations.

His mouth is modified
like a water pistol.

By taking in water,
and quickly closing his gills,

he creates a pressurized
liquid bullet

with five times more
striking power

than any vertebrate muscle
can produce.

But it is his 'dual vision'
that gives that powerful shot

such incredible accuracy.

The upper part of his eye
is perfectly tuned

to the colors of his underwater
environment.

While the lower part

is designed for looking up
above the surface.

[water splatting]

However, his eyes do not correct

for the light refraction
of the water.

This is something
he has to calculate

and calibrate on his own.

All this talent still
doesn't guarantee a meal.

Other fish are all too eager

to capitalize
on his shooting skills.

These crack shot archerfish
have found a unique way

to target their forest
surroundings

and supplement their supper.

Nothing within spitting distance
is safe.

[narrator] A river
carving its path through

a forest is far more than
just a source of water.

It serves as a superhighway

enabling a tree to plant
its offspring hundreds,

sometimes thousands,
of miles away.

[birds singing]

The Mighty Mekong

begins as a distant icy
headwater

in the Tibetan Plateau.

From here, glacial streams
turn into freshwater rivers

over 2700 miles long,

flowing into the forested
Mekong delta.

Trees en route
drop their seeds into the flow,

sending their offspring
down river

to seek their own fortunes.

These waterborne seeds
can last up to a year

on their river cruise,

spreading their species
influence

over many countries
and habitats.

But the seeds
need to get off the ride

before they hit the sea.

And these long-tailed macaques
are their way out.

They've learnt that the river

is a conveyor belt
of seasonal delights.

And they are only too willing
to dive right in!

[playful music]

As the macaques move about
their forest range,

their droppings disperse
the tree seeds further inland,

where they can take root.

So, a seed from China
could be planted in Vietnam...

with the help of
a formidable river...

and a hungry monkey.

During the monsoon season,
riches from a distant forest

can turn a dedicated scavenger
into a fisherman.

The air around this lake
in Southern Sumatra

is heavy with expectation.

The arrival of a Brahminy Kite

to the lake's surrounding
forest

is a sign.

The monsoon rains are coming.

He has flown here from
the other side of the island.

He is an opportunistic
scavenger,

usually content feasting
on anyone's leftovers.

But he knows

that when torrential rains pour
in this region,

it brings a different
kind of opportunity.

The changing winds
usher in moisture laden air

which builds up
over the mountains.

[thunder clapping]

[rain pouring]

This sudden deluge of water
breaks through the canopy,

flooding the forest floor,

and flushing rich organic matter
down the mountains...

and into the lowland lakes.

This influx of water,

packed with vital nutrients
from fallen and decaying trees,

acts as a fertilizer.

And the lake's aquatic life
goes into overdrive.

The boom in insects and larvae
at the surface

draws the freshwater fish
up from the depths.

This is the moment
the kite has been waiting for.

Feasting at the surface,

the fish are now within reach.

Well, almost.

Brahminy kites' talons
are relatively weak

compared to other raptors.

So he just has to
keep... on... trying.

But now he has competition.

[adventure music]

[narrator] Despite
the crowds,

eventually
perseverance pays off.

Forest nutrients
move up the food chain,

from land, to lake, to sky

and eventually
back to the forest once again.

The building blocks of life

being constantly
transferred and recycled.

[majestic music]

Next monsoon season,

this rain chasing visitor

will be back
to improve his skills.

In some regions,
the humble woodland pond

can support an even greater
range of plants and animals

than any lake or river.

♪ ♪

Down in the silt of a pond,

amongst the vegetation

live nature's real-life
transformers.

Diving Beetles,

dragonflies,

salamanders,

all start their lives
underwater,

waiting for the secret signal

for them to reinvent themselves
from aquatic to forest creature.

But it's a nymph eat nymph
world.

Each competing to make it
out of the pond alive.

Over time, legs grow,

tails disappear

and the forest world
calls to them.

This fire salamander

is going through his awkward
teenage transition stage.

His nymph gills are shrinking,
and he's covered in spots.

He is on the cusp of change.

When the length of daylight
and temperature is just right,

after years spent underwater,

it's time to enter adulthood.

This dragonfly is undergoing

one of nature's most
spectacular metamorphoses.

[magical music]

She'll only live
another few months...

just enough time to find a mate
and lay her eggs.

The fire salamander
has also left the pond

and is exploring
his new forested world.

His bright spots will help him
in this unfamiliar environment,

by shouting out the message
that his skin is now poisonous.

More than 80,000 known
insect and amphibian species

start their life in freshwater.

They all need a clean,
cool place

to spend their formative years.

But ponds are fragile places,

and in a warming and
increasingly crowded world,

they are disappearing.

Without them and the life
they nurture,

the entire forest food web
would soon collapse.

[wildlife chattering]

[narrator] These are North America's
steamy subtropics.

Here, a terrestrial forest

has been slowly shaping
these wetlands for centuries,

giving birth to a swamp.

Fluctuating water levels are fed

by rainwater
and underwater springs.

But it's the trees that
truly shape these habitats.

The tree's extensive roots
bolster the banks

and slow the flow of water,

allowing more plants
and algae to bloom.

Creating the perfect home
for the American alligator.

The surrounding forest
offers shelter for many birds,

reptiles and small mammals.

[splashing]

A pantry of delights
for this apex predator.

In stagnant water, forest debris
doesn't wash away.

It simply sinks to the bottom.

Over time, layers of rotting
vegetation build up,

creating an underbelly
of thick sediment

which soaks up the water
and slackens it even further.

Even this silt is a bonus
to the alligator.

It not only colors the water
to match his skin,

its murkiness raises
the water temperature,

and gently warms his cold blood.

This male is so content
in his swamp surroundings,

he is not prepared to share it.

Unless it's breeding season,
of course.

[♪ flamboyant
guitar music]

His low, guttural mating calls
make the water dance...

[alligator growling]

...enticing a nearby female.

[growling]

[♪ flamboyant music]

He invites her in,

solely for courtship and mating.

After some brief moments
of tenderness,

she retreats to her own swamp

to find a secluded spot amongst
the vegetation to lay her eggs.

After months of watching
over her nest,

she hears the distinct sound
she has been waiting for.

[hatchlings purring]

For an alligator,
swamps make the best nurseries.

As a little warmth
can make a big difference

in her babies' gender.

[hatchlings purring]

The decomposing vegetation
makes an ideal incubator.

If the internal temperature
reaches 93° Fahrenheit or above,

mostly males will emerge,

whereas a cooler temperature

will produce predominantly
female offspring.

The forest swamp ecosystem

will nurture these alligator
hatchlings

as they move their way
up the food chain.

As adults and top predators,
they will rule these waters,

and keep all other populations
of prey in check.

Swamps are often given
a bad rap.

But they're an important
and thriving habitat.

They store twice as much
greenhouse gas

in their vegetation and mud
than land forests.

And, along with rainforests
and coral reefs,

swamps are some of the most
productive ecosystems

in the entire world.

♪ ♪

[narrator] The ancient partnership between
forests and water

has created
many diverse settings,

enabling life on earth
to flourish.

In Hawaii,
these forest lined rivers

present the ultimate paradise
for one tiny ocean fish...

who is prepared to undergo
a full body transformation,

to take on the challenge
of a lifetime.

These goby fish have spent
the last six months

feeding out at sea,

and now the wooded wonderland
of their birthplace

is calling them home.

But Hawaii is a volcanic island,

with steep rock faces
and no easy route inland.

So the gobies gather
in their thousands,

clinging to the rocks at
the base of a steep waterfall

waiting for a miracle.

For an ocean dwelling fish,

the flow of freshwater
has magical powers.

Just by allowing the falls
to wash over it,

its juvenile body
starts to change.

Its mouth, once positioned
at the front of their heads,

migrates to the underside.

Now it has two clamps
(mouth and belly sucker)

ready for rock climbing.

Legions of gobies inch their way
out of the water,

and begin their momentous climb.

Propelled forwards
by their pectoral fins,

they use their mouths
to inch up the wet rock

while their belly sucker
clings on for dear life.

The sheer force of water
proves too much for some.

But the promise
of a new forest home

is enough to keep the rest
fighting for the summit.

♪ ♪

For the gobies
who make it to the top,

this is their slice of heaven.

The woodland canopy
keeps the water cool,

allowing in just enough sunlight
for algae to grow,

ensuring the gobies
won't go hungry.

And unlike the ocean,
there are no predators here.

Having passed the ultimate
endurance test to get here

the gobies never need
to leave the forest again.

It's the perfect place
to start a family

and live out
the rest of their lives

in their Hawaiian Island
paradise.

Forests like these
are the guardians

of our planet's waterways.

Standing tall,
they temper the water's force,

offering sanctuary
and seasonal opportunities

whilst nurturing
and protecting life

both above and below the
waterline.