1. Section #2: Forest Biomes

3. Forest Biomes Most widespread Most diverse
Trees need lots of water, so rainfall must be plentiful
Temperatures range from mild (coniferous forests) to hot (tropical rainforests)

5. Tropical Rain Forests General Info
Located in a belt around the Earth near the equator
Help regulate work climate and play a vital role in the N, O, & C cycles
Always humid & warm year-round
Get cm of rain each yr.
Receive the sun’s direct rays throughout the yr.

7. Tropical Rain Forests Diversity of Life
The climate (high avg. rainfall and temps year-round) allow for an enormous number of plant & animal species to survive in the forest – over ½ of all species on Earth in fact

8. Tropical Rain Forests Nutrients
The soil in this forest is surprisingly poor & thin
Most nutrients are found in the plants, not the soil
Decomposers quickly break down dead organisms & return the nutrients to the soil, but plants will quickly absorb them
Water run-off is almost completely pure & free of nutrients
Soil would not support crops very long after slash-n-burn

9. Tropical Rain Forests 4 Main Layers
Emergent
Upper Canopy
Lower Canopy
Understory

11. Tropical Rain Forests Emergent Layer
top layer
consists of the tallest trees ( m high)
tree trunks are huge (5 m in circumference)
grow up to reach direct sunlight
home of eagles, bats, monkeys, snakes

12. Tropical Rain Forests Upper & Lower Canopy
primary layer
trees grow more than 30 m tall & absorb 95% of the sunlight
lower canopy receives less light
home for most animals because of the abundant flowers & fruits that grow there (food source)

13. Tropical Rain Forests Epiphytes
plants that use the entire surface of a tree as a place to live
need to be high up to reach sun needed for photosynthesis
absorb water & nutrients that run down the tree after rains
example = orchids

14. Tropical Rain Forests Understory
lower layer
very little sunlight
trees & shrubs are adapted to shade (have large, flat leaves to collect the little sunlight that filters through)
maximum growth is 3.5 m tall

15. Threats to Tropical Rain Forests
habitat destruction
100s of acres are cleared for logging operations, agriculture, or oil exploration every minute
species are disappearing
native people are losing everything they need to survive
illegal trade of exotic plants & animals

16. Temperate Rain Forests General Info
Located in North America, Australia, & New Zealand
Large amounts of precipitation
High humidity
Moderate temps

17. Pacific Northwest
nearby Pacific Ocean waters keep the temperature regulated so it never freezes even at the high latitude

18. Temperate Deciduous Forests
Located in North America, Australia, Europe & Asia between 30° & 50° north latitude
range of temps can be extreme, from 35 ° C in summer to just below freezing in winter

19. Temperate Deciduous Forests
growing season lasts from 4-6 months
moist, receive cm of precipitation annually

20. Deciduous Forests
in fall, trees stop photosynthesis, leaves change colors, & drop to forest floor to decompose
this contributes to the deep, rich soil of the forest

21. Temperate Deciduous Forests Plants
plants grow in layers
canopy of tall trees includes maples, oaks, birch, & hickory
understory gets more light & contains the shrubs, ferns, mosses, & herbs

22. Temperate Deciduous Forests Plants
after a dormancy period through the cold winter months, trees grow new leaves, the seeds & bulbs germinate, & the rhizomes (underground stems) grow new shoots

23. Temperate Deciduous Forests Animals
support a variety of animals that are adapted to use the forest plants for food & shelter
most birds use the safety of the canopy for shelter & nesting, but migrate south for food during the winter months

24. Taiga Forests General Info
band of coniferous forests in the Northern Hemisphere (just below the Arctic Circle)
long winters (6-10 months) of below freezing temps & little precipitation
short growing season in the summer – more sunlight & precip

25. Taiga Forests Plants forest floor is dark & has little vegetation
conifers have needle-shaped leaves (narrow & waxy) to retain moisture when water in ground in frozen
cone shape helps shed snow so branches don’t break

26. Taiga Forests Animals
summertime insects & fish attract birds, most of which migrate south for the winter
shrews & rodents burrow underground during the winter since the deep snows insulate the ground
some creatures have adapted to grow white fur for winter to camouflage then in the snow