The Deciduous Forest
The Deciduous Biome is also called the Temperate Forest Biome, it is very close to the Taiga Biome. Deciduous means ’tend to fall off’ which refers to the tree leaves. Tree leaves are usually broad and fall off seasonally. This biome is found in the mid latitude areas. The Deciduous Forest gets the second largest amount of rainfall, second to the Tropical Rain Forest biome.
Location: The Deciduous Forests are found in the Eastern half of North America and the middle of Europe.
Weather: Average rainfall is about 75-150 cm. or 30 to 60 in. Summers are mild in temperature and average about 21°C or 70°F, however, the winter temperatures will often be well below freezing.
Seasons: The Deciduous Forest biome experiences four changing seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter. In the fall the leaves will change color and as fall changes to winter, trees will shed their leaves.
Animals: Animals in the Deciduous Forests are able adapt to the changing weather patterns of each season. They need to survive the cold winters and the hot summers. Some animals will hibernate and some will migrate during the cold winter months. Those animals who don’t hibernate or migrate have special adaptations to survive both weather and winter predators. Animals will develop a warm winter coat, and lose it as the summer approaches. Many of the animals are camouflaged to look like the ground which protects them from predators. Black bears, wolves and coyotes are very common in the Deciduous Forest. The Deciduous Forest is also home to many insects, spiders, slugs, frogs, turtles, salamanders, snakes and many types of birds.
Plants: The soil is very rich in this biome. Trees in the Deciduous Forest biome include maple, elm, oak, and cedar and most of these will shed their leaves. The Deciduous trees adapt remarkably to the seasonal changes by changing color in the fall, losing their leaves in or by winter, sprouting new leaf buds in the spring and grow full leaves in the summer. There are also many shrubs and mosses that grow on the forest floor which doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, making it ideal for these types of plants.
Location: The Deciduous Forests are found in the Eastern half of North America and the middle of Europe.
Weather: Average rainfall is about 75-150 cm. or 30 to 60 in. Summers are mild in temperature and average about 21°C or 70°F, however, the winter temperatures will often be well below freezing.
Seasons: The Deciduous Forest biome experiences four changing seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter. In the fall the leaves will change color and as fall changes to winter, trees will shed their leaves.
Animals: Animals in the Deciduous Forests are able adapt to the changing weather patterns of each season. They need to survive the cold winters and the hot summers. Some animals will hibernate and some will migrate during the cold winter months. Those animals who don’t hibernate or migrate have special adaptations to survive both weather and winter predators. Animals will develop a warm winter coat, and lose it as the summer approaches. Many of the animals are camouflaged to look like the ground which protects them from predators. Black bears, wolves and coyotes are very common in the Deciduous Forest. The Deciduous Forest is also home to many insects, spiders, slugs, frogs, turtles, salamanders, snakes and many types of birds.
Plants: The soil is very rich in this biome. Trees in the Deciduous Forest biome include maple, elm, oak, and cedar and most of these will shed their leaves. The Deciduous trees adapt remarkably to the seasonal changes by changing color in the fall, losing their leaves in or by winter, sprouting new leaf buds in the spring and grow full leaves in the summer. There are also many shrubs and mosses that grow on the forest floor which doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, making it ideal for these types of plants.
Plant and Animal Adaptations
Plants and animals living in the Deciduous Forest Biome must be able to adapt to warm and somewhat hot summers and cold to freezing winters. They also need to adapt to the four distinct seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall) of this biome. There are also large amounts of rainfall and fertile soils in this biome.
Plant Adaptations in the Deciduous Forest Biome
Plants and trees become dormant in order to prepare for the Deciduous Forest winters. Trees have thick bark to protect them in the cold winters. Deciduous trees drop their leaves prior to the winter which lets them store water/moisture and survive the cold winter. When the leaves are dropped, the trees and plants seal the open area to retain moisture. Most of the trees have very broad leaves to capture the sun’s rays. In the fall, trees will cut off sup- plies of moisture to the leaves which causes the leaves to fall off.
Examples of Plants found in the Deciduous Forest Biome:
There are five layers of plant growth in the Deciduous Forest Biome. The ground layer has moss and lichens, the next layer has herbs and shrubs, then the small tree layer which has an abundance of saplings and then the final layer contains the large deciduous trees. Maple Trees, Oak Trees, Hickory Trees, Beech Trees, Magnolia Ash, Black Cherry, Carpet Moss, Pecan, Lady Fern, Guelder Rose.
Plant Adaptations in the Deciduous Forest Biome
Plants and trees become dormant in order to prepare for the Deciduous Forest winters. Trees have thick bark to protect them in the cold winters. Deciduous trees drop their leaves prior to the winter which lets them store water/moisture and survive the cold winter. When the leaves are dropped, the trees and plants seal the open area to retain moisture. Most of the trees have very broad leaves to capture the sun’s rays. In the fall, trees will cut off sup- plies of moisture to the leaves which causes the leaves to fall off.
Examples of Plants found in the Deciduous Forest Biome:
There are five layers of plant growth in the Deciduous Forest Biome. The ground layer has moss and lichens, the next layer has herbs and shrubs, then the small tree layer which has an abundance of saplings and then the final layer contains the large deciduous trees. Maple Trees, Oak Trees, Hickory Trees, Beech Trees, Magnolia Ash, Black Cherry, Carpet Moss, Pecan, Lady Fern, Guelder Rose.
Animal Adaptations in the Deciduous Forest Biome
Migration and hibernation are two adaptations that many of the Deciduous Forest animals have. Animals that hibernate will eat heavily before the winter and their coats will grow in quite thick to keep them warm through the winter hibernation period. Food storage is another adaptation some of the animals have; for instance chipmunks, some jays and squirrels gather nuts in the summer to store for the winter. The cold temperatures help to pre- serve the nuts and seeds. Animals use the forest plants and trees for both food, water and shelter. Most of the birds migrate south to avoid the colder winter. Insects and mammals reduce their activity so that they don’t need as much food for energy. Animals like the deer have sharp hooves to be able to dig for food, they can also run quickly to escape their predators.
Examples of Animals found in the Deciduous Forest Biome:
Marmots, Groundhogs, Black Bears, Beavers, Cougars, Opossums, Gray Squirrels, Raccoons, Wild Boar, Cardinals, Turkeys, Rat Snakes, Goshawks. Deer, Elk.
Migration and hibernation are two adaptations that many of the Deciduous Forest animals have. Animals that hibernate will eat heavily before the winter and their coats will grow in quite thick to keep them warm through the winter hibernation period. Food storage is another adaptation some of the animals have; for instance chipmunks, some jays and squirrels gather nuts in the summer to store for the winter. The cold temperatures help to pre- serve the nuts and seeds. Animals use the forest plants and trees for both food, water and shelter. Most of the birds migrate south to avoid the colder winter. Insects and mammals reduce their activity so that they don’t need as much food for energy. Animals like the deer have sharp hooves to be able to dig for food, they can also run quickly to escape their predators.
Examples of Animals found in the Deciduous Forest Biome:
Marmots, Groundhogs, Black Bears, Beavers, Cougars, Opossums, Gray Squirrels, Raccoons, Wild Boar, Cardinals, Turkeys, Rat Snakes, Goshawks. Deer, Elk.