The Deciduous Forest By: Chelcee Ried

Location Eastern half of the United States Canada Europe Parts of Russia China Japan

COMMON SPECIES (VEGETATION) American Beech Carpet Moss Common Lime Guelder Rose Lady Fern Northern Arrowwood Pecan Shagbark Hickory Tawny Milkcap Mushroom White Birch White Oak

A Five Zoned Forest First Zone Second Zone Third Zone Fourth Zone Fifth Zone Tree Stratum Zone: oak, beech, maple, chestnut, hickory, elm, basswood, linden, walnut, and sweet gum trees. (Ranges between 60 ft. – 100 ft. Young and short trees The Shrub Zone: rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel, and huckleberries The Herb Zone: short plants and herbal plants Ground Zone: lichen, club mosses, and true mosses

COMMON SPECIES Eastern gray squirrel Beavers Foxes Racoons Red tailed hawks The American bald eagle Nightingale Snowy owl Black bear Coyote Eastern chipmunk European red squirrel Fat dormouse Least weasel White tailed deer Cougar

Endangered Species Blue spotted salamander Puerto Rican sharp-skinned hawk Eastern hog- nosed snake Long-eared owl Wood turtle Hart’s tongue fern

MAN’S INFLUENCE: CAUSE AND EFFECT Deforestation due to agriculture: will lessen the space of the deciduous forest making it less livable amongst it’s common species. Logging: will lessen trees, the key component of a deciduous forest, which will also lessen the livable space. Urbanization: Can completely wipe out a deciduous forest completely in a certain area.

PRECIPITATION, TEMPERATURE, AND HUMIDITY Inches per year Average 50◦ F Summer highs: 80-90◦ F Winter highs: 30-55◦ F Humidity: 60-80%

NUTRIENT LEVEL/SALINITY The soil is very rich with nutrients in the temperature deciduous forest biome. This is often due to the falling leaves and twigs that turn to natural fertilizer on the ground.

Air Quality and Sunlight Air quality is no different then the air we surround ourselves with in our area because we live in the region of the deciduous forest. Not much sunlight is received due to dense canopies. Although through cracks in the canopy, sunlight comes through to reach the forest floor. Sunlight helps the plants in each of the five layers of the forest that grows.

Bibliography biomes.html