The document provides information about the temperate deciduous forest biome. It describes the canopy layer of tall trees, leaf litter on the forest floor, and thick layer of nutrient-rich soil created by decomposition. It discusses the characteristics of deciduous trees, examples of which include oaks, maples and fruit trees. The document outlines the location of deciduous forests globally and describes the four distinct seasons and average temperature and precipitation in these regions. It examines the plant and animal adaptations for survival and lists common species found in temperate deciduous forests. In closing, it discusses threats to these forests from human activities like acid rain, deforestation and invasive species, as well as conservation efforts.
Salient features of Environment protection Act 1986.pptx
Deciduous biome
1. As you walk, tall trees form a leafy canopy above your
head, blocking the sun and casting dappled shadows
over ground.
2. Leaves from last season crunch noisily underfoot as
you scrape through a thick, woody understory.
3. If you dig into the ground, you pull through layer upon layer of wet,
decaying leaf litter, and white threads of fungus stand out against the
dark soil. Fungus, bacteria and insects underground decompose fallen
leaves and organic matter quickly, producing a thick layer of nutrient
rich soil, which scientists call humus.
5. One can call a tree deciduous when it loses its
leaves during some parts or seasons of the year.
Although they no longer have leaves during the
wintertime, these trees are still very much alive.
“Deciduous” is actually taken from the Latin term
“decidere” which means “to fall.”
6. During fall, most of their leaves turn reddish,
yellowish, or slightly orange.
Examples of deciduous trees are the
fruit trees, oak, nut, and maples.
8. When you look at a map of the world, lines of latitude run
east and west, forming invisible belts that circle the globe.
Regions between 23° and 66° are called
the Temperate latitudes.
9. 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 south-eastern Australia also.
11. This biome has four changing seasons including
winter, spring, summer, and fall.
These seasons happen because of the tilt of the
Earth’s axis. Throughout the year, rays from the sun
hit different parts of the world more directly than
others, causing varying temperatures, or seasons.
12. Temperate deciduous forests also have quite a
wet environment. Following rainforests,
temperate deciduous forests are the second-
rainiest biome.
The average yearly precipitation is 30 - 60 inches (75 -
150 cm). This precipitation falls throughout the year, but
in the winter it falls as snow.
13. The average temperature in temperate deciduous
forests is 50°F (10°C).
Summers are mild, and average about 70°F (21°C), while
winter temperatures are often well below freezing point.
15. As the seasons change each year, so do the leaves. Each year
deciduous trees lose their leaves, and grow them back.
Trees and plants in deciduous forests have special
adaptations to survive in this biome. Deciduous trees are
trees with leaves rather than pine needles, and they
dominate temperate forests.
16. As temperatures cool in the fall, the chlorophyll (green
pigment in leaves) breaks down, causing the beautiful
red, yellow and orange leaf colors of fall.
In the summer their broad green leaves capture sunlight
and help the trees make food through photosynthesis.
17. In the cold winter, deciduous trees and plants go into dormancy. It
is too cold for them to protect their leaves from the damage of
freezing in the winter, so they simply loose them and seal up the
places where the leaves attach to the branch.
The warmer spring days signal the trees that they can
grow new leaves again, and restart the cycle.
18.
19. • 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.
20. 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 plants have adapted to the forests by leaning toward
the sun. Soaking up the nutrients in the ground is also a
way of adaptation.
22. Animals in temperate deciduous forests have to adapt to
changing seasons. Some animals hibernate or migrate during
the winter to escape the cold.
Animals who do not hibernate or migrate must have special
adaptations to deal with higher exposure to predators in
the winter.
When leaves fall, there is less cover for animals in this
biome to hide from predators.
23. 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.
24. There is great diversity of life in this biome. Insects, spiders,
slugs, frogs, snakes, turtles and salamanders are common.
Birds like broad-winged hawks, cardinals, snowy owls,
and pileated woodpeckers are also found in this biome
Mammals include white-tailed deer, raccoons, gray squirrels,
porcupines, red foxes and the black bear.
Many of the animals are either nut and acorn feeders, or
omnivores. Many of the animals have adapted to forest life.
Some of them hibernate during the winter months.
27. Temperate forests are very important to people as they provide
enjoyment as well as many resources including food, timber, and
oxygen for us to breathe. However, we are also the cause of some
major threats to this biome, one of which is acid rain.
28. Acid rain caused by industrial and vehicle emissions damages
the leaves of trees, and causes them to produce smaller and
fewer seeds. It also reduces the trees' resistance to disease,
pests, and frost.
29. Clear cutting of forests is also a threat to this biome. Trees are
cut for timber and land cleared for agriculture.
Another problem associated with deciduous forests is the
introduction of non-native plant and animal species because it
upsets the balance of the forest ecosystem. Non-natives may
compete for food and habitat space, possibly threatening the native
species.
30. Although these threats may be worrisome, there are
many things that you can do to help protect this
unique biome.
• First of all, you can recycle. Trees are used to make
the paper for paper bags, newspapers, printer paper,
and many more products we use each day. If you
recycle used paper, and make the effort to buy
recycled paper, you will be reducing the need to cut
down more trees. Also be sure to use both sides of
the paper that you write on before you recycle it.
31. • Use cloth products instead of paper products, like napkins,
towels, plates, and cups. These products can be washed
and used again, which helps to save trees.
• Drive less, and carpool when possible. Car exhaust is one of
the main contributors to acid rain. Walk or ride your bike to
help keep our environment clean.
• Learn more about forests. By reading, searching the
Internet, and visiting temperate deciduous forests, you can
learn lots of cool things about this biome. You can also
teach other people about what you have learned.
32. If we want to continue to enjoy temperate deciduous
forests, the products that come from them, and protect
the unique habitats within them, we must be sure to do
our best to take care of this important.
39. Tree Examples
Maples
(Orange Maple Tree)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Fall-
orange-maple-tree_-_West_Virginia_-_ForestWander.jpg
The humus feeds the trees and supports a bio diverse community of lichens, mosses, grasses and wildflowers on the forest floor.
Deciduous Biomes or Temperate deciduous forest biomes are among the oldest and most beautiful forests in the world.
Trees with leaves falling off particularly during fall and ultimately losing them throughout winter are described as deciduous
Aside from the typical falling off of the leaves, deciduous trees possess leaves that somewhat transform into another color.
It is also important to note that the majority of deciduous trees also happen to be classified as hardwood. This classification does not directly imply that the wood is hard, although deciduous trees really tend to be much harder than coniferous trees (softwood).
If the Earth were not tilted on an axis, temperatures around the globe would always be the same.
, kind of like sleep.
In deciduous forests there are five different zones:
They must be able to cope with cold winters and hot summers.
Regions that lie between 0° and 23° north and south latitude are called the Tropics. And regions between 66° and 90° are called the Polar latitudes. Temperate deciduous forests are found within the temperate latitudes, just like Tropical Rainforests are found within the Tropics.