Transcript Temperate Deciduous Forest

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS
FOREST
What is a deciduous forest?
A DECIDUOUS FOREST is used to describe a type of forest
where trees shed their leaves during the cold months of the
year and re-grow new leaves the next Spring.
The major characteristic is that it has 4 DISTINCT SEASONS!
LOCATION
• Eastern third of the
North America
• Western Europe
• China, Korea, Japan
and Australia
• Southern tip of South
America
• The only part of
Oklahoma that has this
type of forest is far
Eastern Oklahoma
General Characteristics
• Average Temperature 10 degrees Celsius
• Annual rainfall ranges from around 30-60 inches per
year
• Soil is nutrient rich
• Trees are spread further apart which allows some
sunlight to reach the forest floor
• Latitude is around 23 N
One more
Characteristic
•Has 5 layers
 Tree stratum, the tallest layer, 60 -100 feet high, with
large oak, maple, beech, chestnut, hickory, elm, basswood,
linden, walnut, or sweet gum trees.
 Small tree or sapling layer - short tree species and
young trees.
 Shrub layer - shrubs like rhododendrons, azaleas,
mountain laurels, and huckleberries.
 Herb layer - short plants.
 Ground layer - lichens, club mosses, and true mosses.
Discuss with your
neighbor:
• We say that the soil in temperate forest are very nutrient
rich. What would make the soil in a temperate deciduous
forest nutrient rich?
– The leaves that fall off the trees every year decay and
return the nutrients to the soil
Plant Adaptations seen in the Deciduous
Forest
Leaves are broad to
collect as much
sunlight as possible.
Trees drop their leaves in the
winter to prevent water loss
during the colder months.
Also, there is less direct
sunlight in the winter, which
means less photosynthesis! So
Look at the above features of the deciduous forest. deciduous
With the trees
person
dropseated
their next
to you take a few minutes to consider how the characteristics
pictured
help the
leaves to conserve
energy.
Trees have thick
bark to protect
against harsh
winters
plant to survive. When the teacher calls time be ready to share your answers with
the class-remember to raise your hand!
Spring
• bulbs use the free light before trees grow
leaves and block the light from reaching the
forest floor.
SUMMER
• Leaves from the trees block out light to forest
floor (flowers die) main season for
photosynthesis in trees.
AUTUMN
• Temperatures decrease, the tree cuts off the supply of water
to the leaves and they fall off.
• Leaf litter increases during autumn and decomposes over
the year.
• The leaves cannot produce chlorophyll (which makes the
leaves green) without water and sunlight causing them to
change into beautiful red, yellow and orange colors.
The lack of
chlorophyll is the
reason for the color
changes in the
leaves!
WINTER
• It’s too cold for the trees to protect their leaves from
freezing.
• Losing their leaves helps trees to prevent
water loss through transpiration.
• Before the leaves die, the food and energy in the
leaves are pulled back into the tree so it is not lost.
Animal Adaptations seen in the Deciduous
Forest
Physical
Migration- Behavioral
Many animals from birds and geese to small
mammals move to
warmer
climates in the winter months. •Thick fur
•Migration
Hibernationseveral types of animals including
bears will hibernate in the
•Hibernation
•Camouflage
winter months to survive the harsh climate when food is scarce.
•Food Storage
Food Storage- In preparation for the winter, squirrels and other animals
will store food to last them through the harsh winter months.
Thick fur and layers of adipose tissue (fat)- also help animals to survive
dropping temperatures.
Camouflage
Summary of Characteristics
•Drastic seasonal changes
•Rich soils good for agriculture
•Animals have to adapt to the
changing seasons
•Leaf litter increased during
autumn and decomposes over the
year.
SUMMARY QUESTIONS
• List and explain at least 2 adaptations that increase the
survival of flora in the deciduous forest.
• List and describe 2 adaptations that increase the survival of
the fauna in the deciduous forest.
VIDEO
• How Nature Works: Seasonal Forest