Temperate forests are found in areas with four seasons like Western Europe and Eastern North America. They have broad leaves that absorb sunlight for photosynthesis before falling in autumn to prevent water loss in winter. Temperate forests have three layers - a top canopy layer up to 30 meters tall, a middle shrub layer, and a bottom forest floor layer of grasses, mosses and ferns. Unlike tropical rainforests, temperate forests are more sparsely spaced and only have a few varieties of hardwood trees like oak, elm, and maple that shed their leaves seasonally.

1. Temperate Forest

2. Deciduous Forests

6. Where are they found? In areas where there are four seasons. Western Europe Eastern part of North America

7. Temperature & Rainfall Annual temperature -2 0 C to 18 0 C Rainfall 750 mm to 1000 mm

8. Characteristics Broad and large leaves To absorb as much sunlight as possible for photosynthesis before the leaves are shed.

10. Characteristics Shed leaves in autumn To prevent unnecessary loss of water during winter No rainfall during winter

13. Characteristics Its has three layers Top layer or canopy Thickest during summer when there is more sunshine Grow up to 20m to 30 m

14. Characteristics Second layer Is made up of shrubs and smaller trees

15. Characteristics Third layer or forest floor Is made up of grasses, mosses and ferns.

19. Characteristics Appearance of deciduous forests change with seasons Production of chlorophyll slow down and stop production as the leaves are shed in late autumn

20. Characteristics Less dense than tropical rainforests Widely spaced (sparse)

21. Which one is tropical rainforest? Which one is deciduous forests?

22. Characteristics Only a few varieties of trees Wood is strong, durable hardwood E.g. oak, elm, maple, ash, sycamore etc.

23. Coniferous Forests

24. Temperature and rainfall Annual temperature -12 0 C to 10 0 C Rainfall 300 mm to 750 mm

25. Location of coniferous forests Northern hemisphere Extreme coldness areas E.g northern Europe, Russia, Siberia and northern Canada.

26. Characteristics Cone-shape crowns To allow accumulated snow to slide off.

28. Characteristics Small, leathery, needle-like-shaped leaves. Reduced surface area to minimizes water loss. Prevent accumulation of snow

29. Characteristics Evergreen trees Allow photosynthesis all year due to short summer.

34. Characteristics Only has one variety of tree in any one area E.g. Pine, fir and spruce

35. Spruce

36. Fir

37. Pine

38. Characteristics Consist of only one layer of natural vegetation Little undergrowth