Information About Temperate Deciduous Forests
Climate and general info
Temperate Deciduous Forests are usually found in North Eastern America, mainly New England and Southern Canada. They have 4 distinct seasons; spring, when the flowers bloom, summer, the hottest of the four seasons, fall, when the leaves change colors and the animals prepare for snow, and winter, when snow falls, the bears hibernate and the coldest of the four seasons. Spring in a temperate deciduous forest is typically anywhere from 50-75 degrees Fahrenheit with many rainy days, summer usually stays around 80-105 degrees Fahrenheit and relatively dry, fall stays within a chilly range of 60-45 degrees Fahrenheit with little to no rain, and the year ends with winter, which could be anywhere from -5 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, with about 10-50" of snow over the course of winter.
Floral and FUNGAL ORGANISMS
Trees in the deciduous forest undergo adaptations all four seasons. In the summer their leaves are green that capture sunlight to make food through photosynthesis. As the temperatures drop the leaves stop producing chlorophyll which causes the leaves to change into different bright colors, which later the leaves fall. In the winter the trees don't produce leaves because they'll freeze. By losing their leaves it helps the tree conserve water loss through transpiration. As the temperature warms up again in the spring the tree's leaves grow back and the process begins again. This is one adaptation. Another adaptation is trees, shrubs, and plants don't grow during the winter, again this is due to the cold weather and lack of sunlight that the plants have because without sunlight a plant/tree cannot make food through photosynthesis.
The white oak tree is a tree found in the temperate deciduous forest. It lives 500-600 years if left undisturbed. It can grow 80-100 feet tall and three to four feet in diameter. The white oak tree is a producer meaning they make food by taking sunlight and using the energy to make sugar. The white oak tree is the most common tree species of the Eastern United States. The white oak tree produces acorns which is mostly eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, and deer.
The white birch tree is another tree found in the temperate deciduous forest. It lives only about 140 years and can grow 70-80 feet tall. It is another producer. Moose and white-tailed deer like to eat their leaves. Porcupines like to eat the bark and rabbits will eat the seedlings and young saplings. The white birch tree prefers to grow in colder climaes.
The tawny milkcap mushroom is a fungi that is found in the temperate deciduous forest. The Tawny Milkcap's cap is 2 to 5 inches wide. The tawny milkcap mushroom is neither a plant or animal , it is a fungi meaning it is a decomposer. This means they break down dead organisms, and get all their food from other organisms. This mushroom has a strong fish-like odor, especially when dry. The tawny mushroom is edible.
The lady fern is a deciduous, perennial fern that grows about 24 to 36 inches tall and 6 to 9" wide. Lady ferns can be found growing in meadows, open thickets, moist woods, and along stream beds. They also grow in the cracks of rocks. Grizzly bears and elk like to eat lady ferns as a major food source. The lady ferns prefer to grow in shaded areas and is not an endangered species.
The shagbark hickory tree is very tall and can grow to about 100 feet tall. The shagbark hickories branches can spread to 25 feet wide. The wood of the shagbark hickory tree is very tough. The Shagbark hickory tree usually grows with oak trees. It grows in wet and dry areas, but grows better in well drained soils.
The pecan tree is found in the temperate deciduous forest. The pecan tree can grow to be up to about 180 feet tall. The leaves grow in groups of 11-17. Each leaf is slightly pointed at the tip, the width of the leaves are approximately 3 inches. Today, the pecan industry produces 250,000,000 pounds of pecans a year.
The white oak tree is a tree found in the temperate deciduous forest. It lives 500-600 years if left undisturbed. It can grow 80-100 feet tall and three to four feet in diameter. The white oak tree is a producer meaning they make food by taking sunlight and using the energy to make sugar. The white oak tree is the most common tree species of the Eastern United States. The white oak tree produces acorns which is mostly eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, and deer.
The white birch tree is another tree found in the temperate deciduous forest. It lives only about 140 years and can grow 70-80 feet tall. It is another producer. Moose and white-tailed deer like to eat their leaves. Porcupines like to eat the bark and rabbits will eat the seedlings and young saplings. The white birch tree prefers to grow in colder climaes.
The tawny milkcap mushroom is a fungi that is found in the temperate deciduous forest. The Tawny Milkcap's cap is 2 to 5 inches wide. The tawny milkcap mushroom is neither a plant or animal , it is a fungi meaning it is a decomposer. This means they break down dead organisms, and get all their food from other organisms. This mushroom has a strong fish-like odor, especially when dry. The tawny mushroom is edible.
The lady fern is a deciduous, perennial fern that grows about 24 to 36 inches tall and 6 to 9" wide. Lady ferns can be found growing in meadows, open thickets, moist woods, and along stream beds. They also grow in the cracks of rocks. Grizzly bears and elk like to eat lady ferns as a major food source. The lady ferns prefer to grow in shaded areas and is not an endangered species.
The shagbark hickory tree is very tall and can grow to about 100 feet tall. The shagbark hickories branches can spread to 25 feet wide. The wood of the shagbark hickory tree is very tough. The Shagbark hickory tree usually grows with oak trees. It grows in wet and dry areas, but grows better in well drained soils.
The pecan tree is found in the temperate deciduous forest. The pecan tree can grow to be up to about 180 feet tall. The leaves grow in groups of 11-17. Each leaf is slightly pointed at the tip, the width of the leaves are approximately 3 inches. Today, the pecan industry produces 250,000,000 pounds of pecans a year.