Biome Forest
Heather Ryan
Description
The deciduous forest has four distinct seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In the autumn the leaves change color. During the winter months the trees lose their leaves. Deciduous forests can be found in the eastern half of North America, and the middle of Europe. There are many deciduous forests in Asia. Some of the major areas that they are in are southwest Russia, Japan, and eastern China. South America has two big areas of deciduous forests in southern Chile and Middle East coast of Paraguay. There are deciduous forests located in New Zealand, and southeastern Australia also.
Weather and Climate
The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest is 50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. One thing that is interesting about this biome and its climate is that it has four distinct seasons; spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Most deciduous forests have mild summers averaging about 70 °F. Summer months usually begin in early June and end in late August. Winter months don't begin until December. Winter temperatures are fairly cool with an average temperature of a little below freezing. Almost all of the world's deciduous forest is located by an ocean. The ocean and the wind are two big factors of why the temperature and climate change so much in this biome.
Landforms
Mountains stand out as the dominant landforms of the eastern American deciduous forest biome. The 480 million year old mountains are much older and eroded than the Rockies. The lake system of the deciduous biome includes the glacially formed Great Lakes. The five lakes cover 95,000 square miles and make up the largest lake group on earth. The rivers, streams, creeks, ponds, swamps and bogs form a water source and habitat for many species of flora and fauna.
Biotic Factors
Plants: The pecan tree can grow to enormous heights, sometimes to heights of 180 feet, and has an upright growing pattern. The bark is pale gray or whitish brown, scaly, and deeply furrowed. The bark on the pecan tree is rough and scaly, and is pale grey or brown. The heartwood is solid brown and black.
Animals: The fur of the white-tailed deer is a grayish color in the winter then more red comes out during the summer. It has a band of white fur behind its nose, in circles around the eyes, and inside the ears. More white fur goes down the throat, on the upper insides of the legs and under the tail.
Issues
A lot of deciduous forests have lost land to farms and towns. Although people are trying to protect the forests some poachers are trying to kill the animals in the forests. The animals are losing their homes because of people building their homes.
Pecan Tree
They can grow up to 180 feet.
White-Tailed Deer
Their fur turns grey in Winter and more red in the Summer.
Waterfall
A waterfall in a deciduous forest.