FOREST BIOMES 7 TH GRADE SCIENCE Mrs. Weber

There are three different forest biomes, today we will discuss all three  Coniferous Forests  Deciduous Forests  Tropical Rain Forests Do you know what they are? Look at the map on page 724. Where do coniferous forests grow? Closer to the poles or to the equator? Are there any tropical rain forests in North America? If so where? What types of forests are found in Africa?

CONIFEROUS FORESTS  The northernmost forest biome.  Made up of trees called conifers.  Conifers produce their seeds in cones.

 Also called the ‘great north woods’  Have fewer types of trees than other forests – why?  Because the conifers can withstand the cold climates of the north  Needles have a thick waxy covering – why?  Because it protects the needles from freezing.  Soil is not very fertile

Reasons many types of trees don’t grow in the coniferous forests  Many types of trees cannot withstand the cold climate  Soil is not fertile because dead animals, trees and fallen needles don’t decay quickly because of the cold  The forest floor is very shady

Animals in the Coniferous Forest  Moose, beaver, lynx, red squirrels, martins, wolves  Birds include warblers, gray jays, cross bills

Climate in the Coniferous Forest  Annual temperatures range from -60 o C to 20 o C (-86 o to 68 o F)  Short growing season  40 – 100 cm of precipitation per year, mainly in the form of snow.

Trees in the Coniferous Forest  Seeds grow in cones  Needles have waxy covering  Adapted to a short growing season  Capable of producing carbohydrates by photosynthesis earlier than other trees because they keep their needles  Some have flexible branches to allow snow to fall off before it breaks the branch

DECIDUOUS FORESTS CLIMATE 75 – 200 cm of precipitation a year, fairly evenly spaced throughout the year (29 – 78 inches) 75 – 200 cm of precipitation a year, fairly evenly spaced throughout the year (29 – 78 inches) Summers are warm Summers are warm Winters are cold Winters are cold Temperatures range from -30 o to 30 o C (-22 to 86 o F) per year Temperatures range from -30 o to 30 o C (-22 to 86 o F) per year Rich, fertile soil due to decay Rich, fertile soil due to decay

Deciduous Forest Plants Oaks, Maples, Aspens, Hemlocks, etc Oaks, Maples, Aspens, Hemlocks, etc Trees lose their leaves in the fall Trees lose their leaves in the fall Leaves grow back in the spring Leaves grow back in the spring Wildflowers and ferns abundant in early spring Wildflowers and ferns abundant in early spring The forest floor has lots of undergrowth The forest floor has lots of undergrowth

Deciduous Forests Animals Lots of insects Lots of insects Worms, salamanders Worms, salamanders Squirrels, mice, deer, foxes, raccoons Squirrels, mice, deer, foxes, raccoons Some migratory birds Some migratory birds

Tropical Rainforest Climate More than 200 cm (78 inches) of rain per year Summer all year long – plants grow all year very muggy and humid Temperatures average o C (68-77 o F) per year There is little variation in temperature Soil is nutrient poor and acidic

Tropical Rain Forest Plants Most plant life is in the trees (vines) More varied plant life than any other land biome There are approximately 40,000 different types of plant life in the rain forest Shallow roots

Tropical Rain Forest Animals Many animals live in the trees Snakes – boa constrictors Ocelots, jaguar Centipedes, spiders, ants, beetles live on the rain forest floor Monkey Eagles

What forest biome Do you think this Is?

What biome Is this? (It isn’t a forest biome!)

What forest biome is this?