The Temperate Climate
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.
The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest is
50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year.
In deciduous forests there are five different zones. The
first zone is the Tree Stratum zone. The Tree Stratum
zone contains such trees as oak, beech, maple, chestnut
hickory, elm, basswood, linden, walnut, and sweet gum
trees. This zone has height ranges between 60 feet and
100 feet.
The small tree and sapling zone is the second zone. This
zone has young, and short trees. The third zone is
called the shrub zone. Some of the shrubs in this zone
are rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel, and
huckleberries. The Herb zone is the fourth zone. It
contains short plants such as herbal plants. The final
zone is the Ground zone. It contains lichen, club
mosses, and true mosses.
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.
The animals adapt to the climate by hibernating in the
winter and living off the land in the other three
seasons. The animals have adapted to the land by trying
the plants in the forest to see if they are good to eat
for a good supply of food. Also the trees provide
shelter for them. Animal use the trees for food and a
water sources. Most of the animals are camouflaged to
look like the ground.
The plants have adapted to the forests by leaning toward
the sun. Soaking up the nutrients in the ground is also
a way of adaptation.
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.
by Connie T. 2001
Köppen
Classification & Biomes
| Cold
Climate |
Dry Climate
|
Temperate Climate |
Tropical Climate
|
