T EMPERATE R AIN F OREST Biome Research By Zoe Lovett

T EMPERATE R AIN F OREST G EOGRAPHY & C LIMATE Location : Europe and North America Description : New Zealand, Southern Chile, and Pacific Northwest of the United States Soil type : Rich soil Precipitation : 200cm- 400cm yearly Temperature range : 9 o celcius – 12 o celcius Climate : Mild temperature

T EMPERATE R AIN F OREST B IODIVERSITY Plant species : Douglas fir, western red cedar, spruce, mosses, and lichens. Animal species : Black bears, cougars, bobcats, endangered northern spotted owl, threatened marbled murrelet salamander, wolf, lynx, elk, deer, salmon, shrew, and many insects.

T EMPERATE R AINFOREST A DAPTATIONS N EEDED FOR S URVIVAL Plant : The spruce tree is tall so it can get sunlight. The more rain there is, the taller the grass will be. Wildfires periodically destroy dry grass and this leads to new growth. Animal : The cougar is fast so it can catch prey. Burrowing can help some animals survive.

T EMPERATE R AINFOREST I NTERACTIONS OF B IOTIC AND A BIOTIC Biotic : Birds eat cones that fall from trees. Deer feed on the grass and leaves of the understory. Abiotic : Water helps the trees grow. Water, such as streams and ponds, support amphibians like salmon.

W HAT IS B IODIVERSITY ? Biodiversity is able to be studied on many levels. Biodiversity is the category and variety of life. As of right now, researchers have only identified 1.7 million species, but have estimated that there are between 3 – 30 million species on Earth. Species diversity is not the only type of biodiversity, there is also Genetic biodiversity, and Ecological biodiversity. Genetic biodiversity is different patterns in genes that exist within a species. Ecological biodiversity is the diversity of natural communities and habitats, and ecosystems. Biodiversity is very important because it allows us to live happy and healthy lives.

H OW DOES BIODIVERSITY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AN ECOSYSTEM ? Biodiversity provides us with an array of foods and materials and contributes to the environment. Biodiversity includes everything from cleaning water and absorbing chemicals. Biodiversity also allows for ecosystems to adjust to disturbances like extreme fires and floods.