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LOCATION AND CLIMATE
The Temperate Deciduous Forest is located mainly in eastern North America (Not including Mexico), eastern Asia, and Western Europe. A few areas are also found in New Zealand and Australia. The temperature ranges from -30°C in the winter and 30°C in the summer. The temperate deciduous forest receives between 75cm and 180cm of precipitation annually. PHYSICAL FEATURES The temperate deciduous forest has four very distinct seasons. Throughout one day, the change in temperature can be quite large too. This forest also has a long and warm growing season. Thanks to the deciduous trees’ leaves that fall and break down, the temperate deciduous forest’s soil is very rich. Plants There are many different types of plants in the temperate deciduous forest, ranging from trees to bushes to lichen. With such distinct seasons, plants must adapt to be able to survive. Two very different plants that have to adapt are the oak tree and the lady fern. The oak tree is a very tall deciduous tree that ranges between 70 and 100 feet in height. As forest fires aren’t incredibly uncommon in temperate deciduous forests, the oak tree has the ability to rapidly regrow after substantial forest fires. its thick bark also helps it withstand fires. The oak tree has a taproot too. This taproot is a root going straight downwards, which helps the tree find water and makes it harder to root up the plant. Lastly, the oak tree loses its leaves during the fall and winter to help it conserve water while it’s dormant. The lady fern is a deciduous shrub about 4 feet tall. It is able to grow almost anywhere in the temperate deciduous forest setting, including moist woods, open thickets, in meadows, and in cracks of rocks. The lady fern’s stems are quite scaly at the bottom to prevent insects from invading the plant. The plant has the ability to withstand cold winters, allowing it to survive the -30°C of deciduous forest winters. Also, like many plants in this forest, the lady fern loses its leaves during fall to help it conserve water during the winter. ANIMALS Two of many different types of animals in the temperate deciduous forest are the European Red Squirrel and the Canadian Goose. The European red squirrel is a hibernating squirrel that spends most of its time in trees. It hibernates during the winter to stay out of the cold. Its cheeks contain pouches that allow the squirrel to carry its food back to its burrow. Often, the squirrel will hide its nuts in trees to keep others from eating them. To get up and down those trees, the squirrel has sharp claws. The Canadian Goose is a very common animal in Canada. It migrates south for the winter and north for the summer to stay in a moderate temperature. The goose stays in flocks year round, making it hard for predators to hunt them. Its webbed feet allow the goose to swim in water and its long necks allow it to flip over and search for food. The air sacs surrounding its lungs allow 25% more oxygen in than any other mammal, allowing them to fly for long periods of time. |