Temperate Deciduous Forest
By Hannah, Makel, and Cameron
Location
Weather
This biome has four seasons: fall, winter, summer, and spring. It generally has a pretty wet climate. This biome is the second rainiest biome. Its average precipitation is 30 to 60 inches. In winter it falls as snow and the rest as rain. The average temperature is 50 degrees Farenheight. In summer, it goes up to 70 and it goes down below freezing in winter.
Plants
The temperate forest has many plants. It also has many seasons like winter, fall, summer, and spring. The plants have special adaptions to survive the seasons and the biome. The leaves on trees change each season. In the summer, the trees capture the sunlight that helps the trees make food through photosynthesis. The chlorophyll begins to turn green in leaves. As the temperatures change and get cool in the fall, the leaves change color and fall from the trees.
Animals
The animals in the temperate forest have to adapt to the same season like the plants. However, some animals hibernate and migrate during the winter to escape the cold. Those who don’t hibernate have already adapted on a higher level than some of the other animals. Most of the time it’s the predators who are stronger and can handle the change in climate.
People
Although the temperate deciduous forest biome contains many valuable resources, it is slowly being destroyed. Many forests are cleared to use for farming because of their fertile soil. Another culprit for the destruction of these forests is acid rain due to vehicle and industrial emissions. The acid rain causes the trees to produce fewer seeds and reduces its resistance to frost, pests, and disease. When non-native species are introduced to temperate forests, they put the native species at risk because of the competition for resources.
Conservation
There are many ways to save this important biome. Recycling paper products means fewer trees need to be cut down to make new products. Using more reusable cloth products reduce the need for disposable paper products. People can also drive less so fewer emissions contribute to acid rain. By researching and learning more about this biome, people can learn a lot more about how to protect and preserve it.