1. Temperate Deciduous Forests
Terrestrial biomes
Temperate Deciduous Forests

2. Temperate Deciduous Forests

3. Temperate Deciduous Forests
These forests once dominated vast regions of the Earth, including parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Today, temperate deciduous forests are generally located between 30o and 50o north latitudes.:

4. Temperate Deciduous Forests
In these forests, trees drop their broad, flat leaves each fall.
The range of temperatures can be extreme, and the grwoing season lasts for only four to six months.
Summer temperatures can soar to 35°C (~95°F)
Winter temperatures often fall below freezing, so little water is available for plants.
Because of low winter temperatures, organic matter decomposes fairly slowly. This means that the soil contains more organic matter and nutrients than the soil in a tropical rain forest.

5. Plants of Temperate Deciduous Forests
Like the plants of tropical rain forests, the plants in deciduous forests grow in layers.
Temperate forest plants are adapted to survive seasonal changes.
In the fall, most deciduous trees begin to shed their leaves
In the winter, moisture in the soil changes to ice, which causes the remaining leaves to fall to the ground.
In the spring, when the sunlight increases and temperatures rise, trees grow new leaves, seeds sprout, and roots grow new shoots.

6. Animals of Temperate Deciduous Forests
The animals of temperate deciduous forests are adapted to use the forest plants for food and shelter. ***See examples in the book on page 163***
Many birds nest in the relative safety of the canopy. Most of these birds are migratory – which means they migrate.
Because many birds cannot survive harsh winters, each fall they fly south for warmer weather and more available food.

7. Temperate Deciduous Forest
Now, it’s time to fill out the climatogram in your packet!