Deciduous Forest Evelyn, Kevin, Isabella, Edgar

Table of Contents Introduction Map of the World Human Influences Plants Animals Climate

Introduction Deciduous Forest I’m studying about the Deciduous Forest, its physical landscape, habitat and weather. Climate is a mix of temperature and precipitation. Deciduous forests have almost 14 inches to 18 inches of rain in the winter months and more than 18 inches of rain in the summer months. The four seasons are spring, winter, summer, and fall. In fall, leaves change colors and the trees loose their leaves. In the winter, there are no leaves. The deciduous forest can be found in the eastern half of America and in the middle of Europe. There are many deciduous forests in Asia. Some major areas are in southwest Russia, Japan and eastern China. South America has two big areas. Most forests have mild summers and an average temperature is 50 degrees F. The average rainfall is 30 to 50 inches a year. The height of sea level is between 60 feet to 100 feet. Seasonal changes between summer and winter are very large. Temperature changes during a day can also be very large.

Map of the Deciduous Forest

Human Influences In the deciduous forest, trees are getting knocked down for farming and building. They are also killing animals. In California, the deciduous forests have a type of trees that are redwood trees. They are worth 10 million dollars! Surprisingly, the law does not protect them. Acid rain is one of the most destructive kind of pollution for the forest. Acid rain is when power plant fuel, cars, or any type of smoke or gas is mixed with rain. Poachers are also harming the forest by killing animals even when it is hunting season. Poachers still hunt when it is not hunting season. Farmers actually do destroy the forest a lot. They destroy it because the ground under the forest is very rich for farming. Long ago the deciduous forests covered 1/2 of the world. Now less than 1/3 of the world. Romans destroyed more of the forest than the present people. The Romans destroyed almost all the forest. Since then the people of the past and present planted more trees. The forest had a lot of trees. But now the forests are getting harmed again. That is human influences on the deciduous forest.

Animals BLACK BEARS Female black bears weigh 100 to 400 pounds. Male black bears weigh 200 to 600 pounds. Their color is dark black. Their anatomy includes a straight face and flat shoulders. You can find black bears in North America, Canada and sometimes Mexico. They like to take care of their young. Its prey are a beaver, deer, and some land mammals. Its predators are the bobcat and wolves. They like to eat grass and roots. The black bears diet is that they will eat a variety of things including both meat and plants. They are able to kill adult deer and other hoofed wildlife animals. Bears are very attracted to human garbage, pet food or other human associated foods including fruits and trees. This is true for beehives as well. Bears are very attracted to honey. Bears, used to these human associated foods, can quickly become attracted to them and this commonly results in the bear being killed as a nuisance.

RED FOX The red fox can live up to 13 years. Their color is a rusty red with a little bit of white. Its size is 14 to 39 inches tall. You can find red foxes in Canada, Alaska, Europe and Asia. They make dens so they can sleep. Two of the red fox’s predators are wolves and men that want their fur. The red fox preys on mice, frogs and lizards. They all stay in groups with their cubs so that their predators don’t get their baby cubs. A big group of red foxes is called a leash or a skulk. The red fox gives their baby kits to their older offspring to help in caring for the kits. Red foxes are omnivores so they eat plants and other animals like chickens and ducks.

Plants The tawny milk cap mushroom is two to five inches tall. The mushroom color is orange and white. Its feature is that it is edible. The role in the biome is to be eaten, and to be deadly. The growing season is summer, fall, and spring. It is found in southern Canada and the eastern United States. In Japan, it is called chicitake (in Japanese). It’s the best collectable for mushrooms. The white birch is 70 to 80 feet high. The color is green, and brown, white. Its purpose is to give air, sap, and lumber. Sap is helping people because it helps people live. Growing season is summer and spring. It has smooth bark.