User:Lilladlili/Temperate deciduous forest: Difference between revisions
Lilladlili (talk | contribs) →Fauna: added citation |
Lilladlili (talk | contribs) →Flora: small edit to sentence |
||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
=== Flora === |
=== Flora === |
||
'''Temperate deciduous forests are characterized by a variety of temperate deciduous tree species that vary based on region.'''<ref name=":2" /> '''Most tree species present in temperate deciduous forests are broadleaf trees that lose their leaves in the fall,'''<ref name=":4" /> '''though some pines (''Pinus'') are present in Northern temperate deciduous forests.<ref name=":2" />''' '''Europe's temperate deciduous forests are rich with oaks of the genus ''Quercus'', European beech trees (''Fagus sylvatica''), and hornbeams ''(Fagus grandifolia''), while Asian forests tend to have maples of the genus ''Acer'', types of ash trees (''Fraxinus''), and basswoods (''Tilia''). Similarly to Asia, North American forests have maples (especially ''Acer saccharum'') and basswoods, in addition to hickories ''(Carya'') and American chestnuts (''Castanea dentata'').'''<ref name=":2" /> '''Elm trees (''Ulmus'') and willows (''Salix'') can also be found dispersed throughout the temperate deciduous forests of the world.'''<ref name=":1" /> '''While a wide variety of tree species can be found |
'''Temperate deciduous forests are characterized by a variety of temperate deciduous tree species that vary based on region.'''<ref name=":2" /> '''Most tree species present in temperate deciduous forests are broadleaf trees that lose their leaves in the fall,'''<ref name=":4" /> '''though some pines (''Pinus'') are present in Northern temperate deciduous forests.<ref name=":2" />''' '''Europe's temperate deciduous forests are rich with oaks of the genus ''Quercus'', European beech trees (''Fagus sylvatica''), and hornbeams ''(Fagus grandifolia''), while Asian forests tend to have maples of the genus ''Acer'', types of ash trees (''Fraxinus''), and basswoods (''Tilia''). Similarly to Asia, North American forests have maples (especially ''Acer saccharum'') and basswoods, in addition to hickories ''(Carya'') and American chestnuts (''Castanea dentata'').'''<ref name=":2" /> '''Elm trees (''Ulmus'') and willows (''Salix'') can also be found dispersed throughout the temperate deciduous forests of the world.'''<ref name=":1" /> '''While a wide variety of tree species can be found throughout the temperate deciduous forest biome, tree species richness is typically moderate in each individual ecosystem, with only 3 to 4 tree species per square kilometer.'''<ref name=":1" /> |
||
'''Besides the old-growth trees that, with their domed tree crowns, form a canopy that lets little light filter through, a sub-canopy of shrubs'''<ref name=":2" /> '''such as mountain laurel and azaleas is present.'''<ref name=":4" /> '''These other plant species found in the canopy layers below the 35 to 40 meter mature trees are either adapted to low-light conditions or follow a seasonal schedule of growth that allows them to thrive before the formation of the canopy from mid-spring through mid-fall.'''<ref name=":2" /> '''Mosses and lichens make up ground cover, though they are also found growing on trees.'''<ref name=":0" /> |
'''Besides the old-growth trees that, with their domed tree crowns, form a canopy that lets little light filter through, a sub-canopy of shrubs'''<ref name=":2" /> '''such as mountain laurel and azaleas is present.'''<ref name=":4" /> '''These other plant species found in the canopy layers below the 35 to 40 meter mature trees are either adapted to low-light conditions or follow a seasonal schedule of growth that allows them to thrive before the formation of the canopy from mid-spring through mid-fall.'''<ref name=":2" /> '''Mosses and lichens make up ground cover, though they are also found growing on trees.'''<ref name=":0" /> |
||
Revision as of 01:34, 7 November 2023
 | This is the sandbox page where you will draft your initial Wikipedia contribution.
If you're starting a new article, you can develop it here until it's ready to go live. If you're working on improvements to an existing article, copy only one section at a time of the article to this sandbox to work on, and be sure to use an edit summary linking to the article you copied from. Do not copy over the entire article. You can find additional instructions here. Remember to save your work regularly using the "Publish page" button. (It just means 'save'; it will still be in the sandbox.) You can add bold formatting to your additions to differentiate them from existing content. |
Article Draft
Lead
Temperate deciduous or temperate broad-leaf forests are a variety of temperate forest 'dominated' by deciduous trees that lose their leaves each winter.[1] They represent one of Earth’s major biomes, making up 9.69% of global land area.[2] These forests are found in areas with distinct seasonal variation that cycles through warm, moist summers, cold winters, and moderate fall and spring seasons.[3] They are most commonly found in the Northern Hemisphere, with particularly large regions in eastern North America, East Asia, and a large portion of Europe, though smaller regions of temperate deciduous forests are also located in South America. Examples of trees typically growing in the Northern Hemisphere's deciduous forests include oak, maple, basswood, beech and elm, while in the Southern Hemisphere, trees of the genus Nothofagus dominate this type of forest.[1]
Article Body
Geography
Located below the northern boreal forests,[4] temperate deciduous forests are found below the Northern boreal forests and make up a significant portion of the land between the Tropic of Cancer (23 1/2°N) and latitudes of 50° North, in addition to areas south of the Tropic of Capricorn (23 1/2°S).[5] Canada, the United States, China, and several European countries have the largest land area covered by temperate deciduous forests,[5] with smaller portions present throughout South America, specifically Chile and Argentina.[1]
Climate
Temperate conditions refer to the cycle through four distinct seasons that occurs in areas between the polar regions and tropics. In these regions where temperate deciduous forest are found, warm and cold air flow accounts for the biome's characteristic seasonal variation.[6]
Temperature
Temperate deciduous forests experience seasonal temperature fluctuation, with temperatures ranging from -30° Celsius on the coldest winter days, to 30°Celsius on the hottest summer days.[3] The average annual temperature tends to be around 10°Celsius, though this is dependent on the region.[6]
Precipitation
Annually, temperate deciduous forests experience approximately 750-1,500 millimeters of precipitation.[6] As there is no distinct rainy season, precipitation is spread relatively evenly throughout the year.[1]
Seasonal Variation
A defining factor of temperate deciduous forests is their leaf loss during the transition from fall to winter, an adaptation that arose as a solution for the low sunlight conditions and bitter cold temperatures.[1] In these forests, winter is a time of dormancy,[6] when broadleaf deciduous trees conserve energy and prevent water loss.[1] Preceding winter is fruit-bearing autumn, a time when leaves change color to various shades of red, yellow, and orange as chlorophyl break down gives rise to anthocyanin, carotene, and xanthophyl pigments.[1]
Besides the characteristic colorful autumns and leafless winters, temperate deciduous forests have a lengthy growing season during the spring and summer months that tends to last anywhere from 120-250 days.[4] Spring in temperate deciduous forests is a period of ground vegetation and seasonal herb growth, a process that starts early in the season before trees have regrown their leaves and when ample sunlight is available. Once a suitable temperature is reached in mid-to-late spring, budding and flowering of tall deciduous trees also begins.[1] With the rise in global temperatures in the past years as a result of climate change, an earlier onset of spring has been noted in temperate deciduous forests.[7] In the summer, when fully-developed leaves occupy all trees, a moderately-dense canopy creates shade, lowering the temperature and increasing the humidity in forested areas.[1]
Characteristics
Soil
Though there is latitudinal variation in soil quality of temperate deciduous forests, with those at central latitudes having a higher soil productivity than those more north or south,[4] soil in this biome is overall highly productive and fertile.[1] The fallen leaves from deciduous trees introduce detritus to the forest floor, increasing levels of nutrients and organic matter in the soil.[1] The high soil productivity of temperate deciduous forests puts them at a high risk of conversion to agricultural land for human use.[5]
Flora
Temperate deciduous forests are characterized by a variety of temperate deciduous tree species that vary based on region.[4] Most tree species present in temperate deciduous forests are broadleaf trees that lose their leaves in the fall,[6] though some pines (Pinus) are present in Northern temperate deciduous forests.[4] Europe's temperate deciduous forests are rich with oaks of the genus Quercus, European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica), and hornbeams (Fagus grandifolia), while Asian forests tend to have maples of the genus Acer, types of ash trees (Fraxinus), and basswoods (Tilia). Similarly to Asia, North American forests have maples (especially Acer saccharum) and basswoods, in addition to hickories (Carya) and American chestnuts (Castanea dentata).[4] Elm trees (Ulmus) and willows (Salix) can also be found dispersed throughout the temperate deciduous forests of the world.[3] While a wide variety of tree species can be found throughout the temperate deciduous forest biome, tree species richness is typically moderate in each individual ecosystem, with only 3 to 4 tree species per square kilometer.[3]
Besides the old-growth trees that, with their domed tree crowns, form a canopy that lets little light filter through, a sub-canopy of shrubs[4] such as mountain laurel and azaleas is present.[6] These other plant species found in the canopy layers below the 35 to 40 meter mature trees are either adapted to low-light conditions or follow a seasonal schedule of growth that allows them to thrive before the formation of the canopy from mid-spring through mid-fall.[4] Mosses and lichens make up ground cover, though they are also found growing on trees.[1]
Fauna
In addition to characteristic flora, temperate deciduous forests have several animal species that rely on the trees and other plant life for shelter and resources, such as squirrels, rabbits, skunks, birds, mountain lions, bobcats, timber wolves, foxes, and black bears.[3] Deer are also present in large populations, though they are clearing rather than true forest animals. Large deer populations have deleterious effects on tree regeneration overall, but particularly for edible species including yew, yellow birch, and hemlock. Deer grazing also has significant negative effects on the number and kind of herbaceous flowering plants. The continuing pressure to increase deer populations, and the continued killing of top carnivores, suggests that overgrazing by deer will continue.[8]
Resources
Ecosystem Services
Disturbances
Succession
Human Impact
Climate Change
Conservation
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Savill, P. S. (2004-01-01), Burley, Jeffery (ed.), "TEMPERATE AND MEDITERRANEAN FORESTS | Temperate Broadleaved Deciduous Forest", Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences, Oxford: Elsevier, pp. 1398–1403, ISBN 978-0-12-145160-8, retrieved 2023-10-24
- ^ Wade, Timothy G.; Riitters, Kurt H.; Wickham, James D.; Bruce Jones, K. (2003). "Distribution and Causes of Global Forest Fragmentation". Conservation Ecology – via ResearchGate.
- ^ a b c d e "The forest biome". ucmp.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Vankat, John L. (2002). "Boreal and Temperate Forests" (PDF). Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Nature Pub. Group: 1–7.
- ^ a b c Islam, Kazi; Sato, Noriko (2012). "Deforestation, Land Conservation and Illegal Logging in Bangladesh: The Case of the Sal (Shorea robusta) Forests". iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry (5): 171–178 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ a b c d e f "Temperate Deciduous Forest: Mission: Biomes". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- ^ Keenan, Trevor F.; Gray, Josh; Friedl, Mark A.; Toomey, Michael; Bohrer, Gil; Hollinger, David Y.; Munger, J. William; O’Keefe, John; Schmid, Hans Peter; Wing, Ian Sue; Yang, Bai; Richardson, Andrew D. (2014-07). "Net carbon uptake has increased through warming-induced changes in temperate forest phenology". Nature Climate Change. 4 (7): 598–604. doi:10.1038/nclimate2253. ISSN 1758-6798.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Latham, R. E.; Beyea, M. J.; Dunn, C. A.; Fajvan, M. A.; Freed, R. R.; Grund, M.; Horsley, S. B.; Rhoads, A. F.; Shissler, B. P. (2005). "Managing White-Tailed Deer in Forest Habitat from an Ecosystem Perspective: Pennsylvania Case Study" (PDF). Harrisburg: Audobon Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Habitat Alliance.