Temperate Deciduous Forest
By: Selena Kellogg
American Beech
This tree grows in the southern and eastern parts of the United States. Most is found along Main and Northern Massachusetts. This tree grows best in deep, moist, and rich soil.
White Oak
The White Oak tree usually grows in the eastern part of the United states. It might grow on the high top of mountains, or the wet lowlands. They can even grow from 80-100 feet!
Tawny Milkcap Mushroom
This is a commonly eaten species. It is best eaten fresh and has a strong fishy oder, but only a mild taste. It is only about 2-5 inches wide.
Least Weasel
This long and slender weasel hunts day and night. It is the smallest carnivore in the world! They usually eay animals such as; mice, rats, moles, small birds, bird eggs, and rabbits. Their sharp teeth help them catch their prey. Usually you can find them living in stone walls, hedges, farmland, and the woods.
White-tailed Deer
Duckbill Platypus
Temperate Deciduous Forest
This region is mostly found in the eastern part of the United States and around Canada, parts of Russia, Europe, China, and Japan.The average temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but in the winter usually sees many days when it is freezing. The average rainfall is about 30 to 60 inches per year. Usually we see all four seasons very clearly. As the seasons change so do the leaves on the trees. This biome will usually have the average amount of hours a day.
Plants
Evergreen
Dog Wood
Ginkgo Leaves
Fringe Plant
Carpet Moss
Animals
Bald Eagle
Black Bear
Eastern Chipmunk
Deer
Wolves
Food Web
Predator/Prey Relationships
- Cougars outrun deer
- Black Bears outrun on deer and also feed on vegetation
- Foxes use their hunting skills to find small birds
- Skunks use their anal scent glands as a defense mechanism and will then deed on insects
- opossums will also feed on insects, but use a defense mechanism by either playing dead or hissing
Cooperation
- An example of cooperation would be if two squirrels were working together to colect food for the winter.
- Another example of cooperation would be fat doormouse relies on woodpeckers for shelter as woodpeckers create holes in trees and the fat doormouse occupies them.
Competition
- An example of competition would be if a squirrel and chipmunk compete to get acorns, they do not have to compete for their nesting area because chipmunks live underground and squirrels live in trees. So the chipmunk will compete harder with other chipmunks because he is competing for nesting and food.
- Another example of competition the bald eagle and the black bear both compete for fish as well as the eagle and the fox for mice
Fun Facts!
- Most of the hardwood trees there are used for firewood, construction, or art. Lots of forests are being cut down for farm land.
- North American forests have five times as many species of trees as the forests of Europe.
- Over 25% of medicines have been found in these forests.
Ecological Concerns
Some threats to the biome:
- People live too close to the deciduous forest biome
- Acid Rain - Caused by industrial and vehicle emissions. Damages leaves and causes them to produce less seeds.
- Cutting of Trees - Trees cut for timber and to clear land for agriculture. It leaves thousands of species of animals without a home.
- Inroduction of Non-native Organisms - Upsets the balance of the ecosystem, by competing for food with native organism
Endangered Species:
- Blue Spotted Salamander- from loss of habitat and degradation of water
- Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake- loss of habitat
- Bald eagle- destruction of natural habitat
Global importance of the biome:
The Temperate Deciduous Forest is home to many many different species of plants and animals. All the tree help the streams from not having dirt get into it that would kill the fish and plants. Also, trees are used for lumber and we need that.
Resources
- http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_animal_page.htm
- http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/temperate_deciduous_forest_biome_facts/161/
- http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/temp/locatns.htm
- http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/deciduous3/deciduous3.html
- http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/temperateforest.html
- http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/temp/whats.htm
- http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/dforestA.html