The Temperate Forest Biome

1
The Temperate Forest Biome

• Ecosystems where dominant plant life are trees
  that lose their leaves after a singe growing
  season. In temperate forests, the leaves change
  color in the autumn and fall from the tree before
  winter. In tropical forests, the leaves off in
  the dry season and grow again when rains arrive.
• (Shlessinger Science Library)

2
Location of the Biome

• Most temperate deciduous forests are located in
  the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China,
  Japan, and parts of Russia.

3
Five Common Plant Species in This Biome

• American Beech. (Tree)- Grows in Southern and
  Eastern parts of the US. Grows best in rich,
  moist soil. Does not like the city, probably
  because of carbon monoxide.
• Guelder Rose Grows in Scotland and England,
  likes semi shade and low altitudes. Member of
  honeysuckle family.
• Lady Fern- You may have lady fern in your house!
  It is a decorative plant. Also grows in the wild
  in North America and Eurasia.
• Pecan tree- Can grow to be very tall-like 180
  feet. Grows in North America and likes humid
  climates. We use the nuts of this tree to make
  things like Pecan pie.
• Carpet moss- Simple, rootless evergreen plants.
  Can live in a wide variety of habitats, usually
  grow near water and at bases of trees. Grows in
  North America and Europe.

4
Pictures of the Five Plant Species
5
Five Common Species of Animals in This Biome

• American Bald Eagle- Large, fierce bird. One of
  the largest flying birds in the US. Wing span is
  as long as big dining room table. Females are
  bigger than males. It is part of the raptor
  family
• White-tailed Deer- Mostly active at night. Males
  have antlers and are bigger than females. They
  are solitary creatures accept when the females
  have babies. Live in Southern Canada and Mainland
  US.
• Eastern Chipmunk- Native to North America but can
  be in Canada too. They only can live to be three
  old. After two months old they are abandoned by
  their moms and they live alone after that.
• Duck Billed Platypus- Live in Australia. About as
  big as a house cat Males have venom for
  protection. They are a mammal but they lay eggs.
• Fat Dormouse- Also called the Edible Dormouse.
  Its often mistaken for a grey squirrel. They
  live in Africa, Europe, Asia and Japan.

6
Pictures of the Five Animal Species
7
Food Web
8
Example of a Climatogram of A temperate Forest

• This is a climatogram of a Temperate Forest in
  the area of Peoria, Illinois

9
Symbiotic Relationships in This Biome

• In the Temperate Deciduous forest an example of a
  mutual symbiotic relationship is between
  Mycorrhizae Fungi and certain types of trees.
• The fungus covers the fine tree roots with
  mycelium which forms a coat around the roots to
  protect them.
• Both the tree and the fungus provide each other
  with nutrients.
• The Mycorrhizae act as a filter for the tree to
  protect it from pollutants.

10
Soil and its Impact on People in this Biome

• Brown forest soil called alfisols It is found
  under and around Broad leaf trees which need a
  lot of nutrients.
• This soil is less acidic than soil in a
  coniferous forest.
• It is a rich soil which is a result of the leaves
  of the trees that fall during autumn.
• Ultisols are the alfisols of the Southeastern
  U.S. They are older soils that do not have as
  much nutrients and they are more worn than the
  alfisols.
• They are more degraded than the alfisols, as a
  result of the agricultural human tradition in the
  South.
• Soils in Temperate forests are impacted a lot by
  humans because many humans live near Temperate
  forests and convert the land into cropland for
  farming. In turn, the soil in Temperate forests
  nearby can be highly affected by over
  salinization from the irrigation of the land.

11
Biotic and Abiotic Features of the Temperate
Forest Biome

• Abiotic
• Soil (see slide 11)
• Rocks
• Rainfall (abundant, relatively spread out
  precipitation throughout the year)
• Seasons (temperatures change with seasons)

• Biotic
• Animals (see slide 6)
• Plants (see slide 4)
• Insects (June Beetles, Snow Bugs, Cicada)
• Fungi (see slide 10)

12
Impacts of Humans on Temperate Forest Biome

• Humans clear forests for agriculture, livestock
  grazing, timber harvesting and urban development
• We convert diverse forests into less biodiverse
  plantations
• Humans clear forests to extract minerals and for
  energy.
• Forest fires often started by humans, usually
  unintentionally have destroyed parts of many
  temperate forests around the world.

13
Environmental Damage and Possible Solutions

• Environmental damage can include all the trees
  that are cut down during forest felling, the
  vegetation burnt during forest fires and also the
  soil becoming less rich generally polluted
• All these effects hinder the growth of the
  species in the forest which in turn makes for
  less possible biodiversity.
• Solutions
• Congress could pass laws that would allow a
  certain degree of care when starting a fire near
  a forest, or banning campfires and BBQs in or
  near forests at all.
• Big companies would stop converting Temperate
  Biome areas into cropland, or tree plantations if
  there are certain laws against it.
• We could think about tons of solutions , yet the
  most important is for us to be aware of the
  organisms around us and to take care when we live
  near them.
• So dont start forest fires. Watch where your
  driving if your near a wooded area so as to
  prevent possible road kill.

14
Works Cited Page

• http//www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/biomes/te
  mp_forest.htm
• http//www.blueplantbiomes.org/deciduous_forest.ht
  m
• http//cet.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysfir/dfore
  st.html
• http//www.jesus-is-lord.com/platypus.htm
• http//curriculum.castatela.edu/courses/builders/l
  essons/less/biomes/deciduous/decweb.html
• http//www/waldwissen.net/themen/waldoekologie/pil
  ze_fletcher/wsl_mykorrhiza_lebensgemeinschaft_EN
• http//www.libraryvideo.com/guides/N6652.pdf