1. Location and Climate?
The Temperate rainforest is probably the smallest biome if you were to go by amount of land/size. This biome is located along the North West coast of North America running from southern Alaska to northern California, also along the southern coast of Chile, New Zealand and southern tip of Australia. This biome is located from 38-56 degrees south latitude and 38-61 degrees north latitude. Also there are many little temperate rain forests around the world that are too small to show up on the maps. Precipitation is the biggest element of climate. Temperate rainforests exceeds 200cm a year to about 350cm in warmer areas, but in California the rainfall can be closer to 60-200cm of precipitation and sometimes causes concern for a drought in the hotter months of the year. The precipitation in this biome can come down as rain and sometimes snow, the snow being in mountains or higher elevations normally. The average tempature is 5-25 degrees celsius. The tempature is mainly influenced by the ocean, also ocean fogs add a lot of moisture to the air. Temperate rainforests cover about 75 million acres across the earth, 66% of temperate rainforests are in the Pacific North West along British Colubian and Oregon coast.
The Temperate rainforest is probably the smallest biome if you were to go by amount of land/size. This biome is located along the North West coast of North America running from southern Alaska to northern California, also along the southern coast of Chile, New Zealand and southern tip of Australia. This biome is located from 38-56 degrees south latitude and 38-61 degrees north latitude. Also there are many little temperate rain forests around the world that are too small to show up on the maps. Precipitation is the biggest element of climate. Temperate rainforests exceeds 200cm a year to about 350cm in warmer areas, but in California the rainfall can be closer to 60-200cm of precipitation and sometimes causes concern for a drought in the hotter months of the year. The precipitation in this biome can come down as rain and sometimes snow, the snow being in mountains or higher elevations normally. The average tempature is 5-25 degrees celsius. The tempature is mainly influenced by the ocean, also ocean fogs add a lot of moisture to the air. Temperate rainforests cover about 75 million acres across the earth, 66% of temperate rainforests are in the Pacific North West along British Colubian and Oregon coast.
2. Physical features?
Temperate rainforests are found in thin strips along coastlines that are right by mountains, so the ocean winds can leave large amounts of moisture in the air, on the windward side of the mountain. When moisture turns into rain it creates beautiful forest ranges, that grow great big beautiful trees. The temperate rainforest is seperated into 3 groups or layers. The first group is the canopy, which is made up of big tall evergreen trees which grow year round. Some of these trees can live to be over 500-1000 years old. The next group is the understory. which grow lovely little trees and shrubs, like the the dogwood and berry shrubs. These will get less sunlight then the taller evergreens and other bigger trees that make up the canopy. Lastly the forest floor which gets little sunlight and is clustered in mosses and twigs from trees, this area is very moist. Other physical features of this biome are trees and branches on the forest floor which don't have vegetation because no sun reaches the forest floor. The biggest characteristics are tall trees with wide leaves and non seasonal vegetation. Temperate rainforests are often influenced by there weather pattern. Also many Temperate rainforest have trees that lose their leaves every year. This biome has very dense humidity and lots of rainfall.
Temperate rainforests are found in thin strips along coastlines that are right by mountains, so the ocean winds can leave large amounts of moisture in the air, on the windward side of the mountain. When moisture turns into rain it creates beautiful forest ranges, that grow great big beautiful trees. The temperate rainforest is seperated into 3 groups or layers. The first group is the canopy, which is made up of big tall evergreen trees which grow year round. Some of these trees can live to be over 500-1000 years old. The next group is the understory. which grow lovely little trees and shrubs, like the the dogwood and berry shrubs. These will get less sunlight then the taller evergreens and other bigger trees that make up the canopy. Lastly the forest floor which gets little sunlight and is clustered in mosses and twigs from trees, this area is very moist. Other physical features of this biome are trees and branches on the forest floor which don't have vegetation because no sun reaches the forest floor. The biggest characteristics are tall trees with wide leaves and non seasonal vegetation. Temperate rainforests are often influenced by there weather pattern. Also many Temperate rainforest have trees that lose their leaves every year. This biome has very dense humidity and lots of rainfall.
3. Plants that live here and how they adapt to survive?
Trees in Temperate rainforests can get really tall because of large amounts of precipitation, like the evergreen tree. Different types of mosses live on trees along with lichens who live on tree trunks. These two plants have adapted to living on the trees because they'll get more light on the trees to grow, then they would on the forest floor. Also some plants such as ferns, mosses and fungi live in the shade of the forest floor. One adaptation is the trees grow thick bark to help protect the core from the cold winter temperatures, also this keeps the tree safe from parasitic fungi. Trees also have a very long roots, to get maximum amounts of water which helps them grow taller. The evergreen tree doesn't lose its leaves in winter, it has adapted to grow a waxy substance that covers the leaves which gives it enough moisture so the leaves wont dry up. Leaves have adapted by growing bigger and broader which the can collect more sunlight in the summer, so they can store more food in the summer. These leaves face horizontally at the sun to gather more light for photosynthesis. Most of these leaves are waxy have dry tips and pointy at the end, so they can get the water off there leaves quickly to avoid from growing mosses and fungi. These are all adaptations to survive.
Trees in Temperate rainforests can get really tall because of large amounts of precipitation, like the evergreen tree. Different types of mosses live on trees along with lichens who live on tree trunks. These two plants have adapted to living on the trees because they'll get more light on the trees to grow, then they would on the forest floor. Also some plants such as ferns, mosses and fungi live in the shade of the forest floor. One adaptation is the trees grow thick bark to help protect the core from the cold winter temperatures, also this keeps the tree safe from parasitic fungi. Trees also have a very long roots, to get maximum amounts of water which helps them grow taller. The evergreen tree doesn't lose its leaves in winter, it has adapted to grow a waxy substance that covers the leaves which gives it enough moisture so the leaves wont dry up. Leaves have adapted by growing bigger and broader which the can collect more sunlight in the summer, so they can store more food in the summer. These leaves face horizontally at the sun to gather more light for photosynthesis. Most of these leaves are waxy have dry tips and pointy at the end, so they can get the water off there leaves quickly to avoid from growing mosses and fungi. These are all adaptations to survive.
4. Animals that live here and how they adapt?
Almost all of the animals that call the temperate rainforest home live on the forest floor, which keeps them safe from wind and rain. Birds and smaller animals like squirrels eat seeds that fall on the floor from the trees. Lots of insects live in tree bark or dying plants. Birds or amphibians with bigger beaks or tongues feast of these creatures. One adaptation is birds have adapted to grow very strong and long beaks so they can break open nuts, get insects from trees and plants, and pick up food from the floor like worms. Spring peeper frogs hangout near muddy banks or in trees. They have brown and black striped skin which lets them camouflage in there environment. The peeper hibernates during the winter under a rock or rotting plants and they can live after being frozen for 3 days. These frogs are nocturnal so they can hide from predators at night also eat. The black bear has many adaptations one is there ability to eat a large variety of food. Also probably the most well known is there ability to hibernate over winter, when food is scarce. Lastly they have a very good sense of smell, sight and a long tongue which makes it easy to eat berries. The beaver has many unique adaptations like the wide flat tail which he can use as a rudder while he swims, also holds fat for winter and releases heat in summer to keep the beaver cool. It can conserve lots of oxygen so it can stay underwater for long periods of time, while building dams. The beaver has been gifted with long strong teeth, that never stop growing, and help it cut through trees. These animals have many adaptions and are now very comfortable living in this biome.
Almost all of the animals that call the temperate rainforest home live on the forest floor, which keeps them safe from wind and rain. Birds and smaller animals like squirrels eat seeds that fall on the floor from the trees. Lots of insects live in tree bark or dying plants. Birds or amphibians with bigger beaks or tongues feast of these creatures. One adaptation is birds have adapted to grow very strong and long beaks so they can break open nuts, get insects from trees and plants, and pick up food from the floor like worms. Spring peeper frogs hangout near muddy banks or in trees. They have brown and black striped skin which lets them camouflage in there environment. The peeper hibernates during the winter under a rock or rotting plants and they can live after being frozen for 3 days. These frogs are nocturnal so they can hide from predators at night also eat. The black bear has many adaptations one is there ability to eat a large variety of food. Also probably the most well known is there ability to hibernate over winter, when food is scarce. Lastly they have a very good sense of smell, sight and a long tongue which makes it easy to eat berries. The beaver has many unique adaptations like the wide flat tail which he can use as a rudder while he swims, also holds fat for winter and releases heat in summer to keep the beaver cool. It can conserve lots of oxygen so it can stay underwater for long periods of time, while building dams. The beaver has been gifted with long strong teeth, that never stop growing, and help it cut through trees. These animals have many adaptions and are now very comfortable living in this biome.
TEMPERATE RAINFOREST BIOME VIDEO
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- BC Science 10 text p.23
- Marrietta.edu/temperaterainforest
- quest.arc.nasa.gov/temperaterainforestecosystems
- mbgnet.net/bioplants/temprf.html
- environment.nsw.gov.au
- BC Science 10 text p.23
- Marrietta.edu/temperaterainforest
- quest.arc.nasa.gov/temperaterainforestecosystems
- mbgnet.net/bioplants/temprf.html
- environment.nsw.gov.au