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A little about the plants and animals that live here... 

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A little about the plants and animals that live here... 

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The deciduous forest is one of the most populated biomes in the world. It covers Europe and Japan, and is found in the eastern parts of the United States, Canada and China. Deciduous forests are characterized by plentiful rainfall, rich soil, and large temperature changes between the summer and winter months. These conditions allow deciduous forests to support a wide variety of plant and animal life.

Deciduous Trees

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The deciduous forest biome gets its name from its most visible form of plant life, the deciduous tree. Deciduous trees, such as maples, oaks and beeches, lose their leaves during fall and winter, and regrow them during spring. These trees turn deciduous forests red, orange and yellow during autumn as leaves prepare to fall. Trees provide a home for other plants in the deciduous forest. Climbing vines such as poison ivy use tree trunks as support, and lichens and mosses grow on trees' outer bark.

Shrubs and Wildflowers

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Underneath the trees, plants in the deciduous forest are divided into several layers of growth. The first is the shrub layer, in which bushes and shrubs such as azaleas, holly and rhododendron grow. Shrubs often are deciduous as well, and will lose their leaves during winter. Below the shrub layer grows the herb layer, in which wildflowers such as bluebells, trillium and Dutchman's breeches grow - typically in early spring, before trees have all their leaves. Finally, lichens, fungi and mosses grow on the ground layer of the forest, taking in nutrients from the wet soil.

Mammals and Birds

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The few large predators in the deciduous forest include timber wolves, bears, mountain lions and bobcats. Deer and moose are the largest herbivorous mammals in the deciduous forest, but smaller herbivores such as squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits are also common, as well as omnivorous raccoons, skunks and possums. The hollows and branches of trees provide a habitat for many bird species, which feed on the trees seeds. Jays, woodpeckers and robins are common in the biome. Because of the biome's cold winters, many bird species migrate south for the season.

Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects

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The relatively warm temperatures and wet climate of deciduous forest makes it an excellent habitat for many reptile and amphibian species that cannot live in colder biomes. Toads, wood frogs and salamanders live on the forest floor, many camouflaged to imitate the dead, decaying leaves that coat the ground. Reptiles such as box turtles and rat snakes are present. A wide variety of insects also live in the deciduous forest; the tree leaves provide food for the caterpillars of moths and butterflies, and their wood a home for termites and carpenter bees. Katydids and walking sticks blend themselves in with the foliage, and cicadas spend long periods of their lives burrowed underground, feeding on roots of plants.

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The deciduous forest is one of the most populated biomes in the world. It covers Europe and Japan, and is found in the eastern parts of the United States, Canada and China. Deciduous forests are characterized by plentiful rainfall, rich soil, and large temperature changes between the summer and winter months.

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Plants by Tinybop on the App Store is a wonderful kid friendly interactive app.

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Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about Plants by Tinybop. Download Plants by Tinybop and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

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There is great diversity of life in this biome. Insects, spiders, slugs, frogs, turtles and salamanders are common. In North America, birds like broad-winged hawks, cardinals, snowy owls, and pileated woodpeckers are found in this biome. Mammals in North American temperate deciduous forests include white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, porcupines and red foxes.

Animals that live in the temperate deciduous forest must be able to adapt to the changing seasons. Some animals in this biome migrate or hibernate in the winter.

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Temperate Deciduous Forests - NatureWorks

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Temperate deciduous forests can be found in the eastern part of the United States and Canada, most of Europe and parts of China and Japan. - NatureWorks

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The areas you see here are where the forests are located: Eastern North America, Europe, Eastern China, Japan. Southeast Australia, New Zealand

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What does temperate forest mean anyways..?

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What does temperate forest mean anyways..?

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Temperate means "not to extremes" or "in moderation". In this case temperate is referring to the temperature. It never gets really hot (like in the rainforest) or really cold (like in the Taiga) in the temperate forest.
For more information:

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Science for Kids: Temperate Forest Biome

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Kids learn about the temperate forest biome. Four distinct seasons and lots of trees.

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LOCATION: Most temperate, deciduous (leaf-shedding) forests are located in the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia. Deciduous forests are broken up into five zones.  Here is more information:

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Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Games | Links

LOCATION: Most temperate, deciduous (leaf-shedding) forests are located in the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia. Deciduous forests are broken up into five zones. The firstzone is the tree stratum zone. It is the tallest zone and trees here range from 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 meters) tall. Maple, elm, and oak trees are just some examples of trees found in this zone. The second zone is the small tree and sapling zone. Younger, shorter trees characterize this zone. The shrub zone is the third zone. Shrubs include mountain laurel, huckleberries, and many others. The fourth zone is the herb zone, and contains short herbal plants, like ferns. The Ground zone is the final zone where plants grow directly near the ground. Some plants that grow here are lichens and mosses.

WEATHER: This biome has four changing seasons including winter, spring, summer, and fall. These seasons happen because of the tilt of the Earth's axis. Throughout the year, rays from the sun hit different parts of the world more directly than others, causing varying temperatures, or seasons. If the Earth were not tilted on an axis, temperatures around the globe would always be the same. Temperate deciduous forests also have quite a wet environment. Following rainforests, temperate deciduous forests are the second-rainiest biome. The average yearly precipitation is 30 - 60 inches (75 - 150 cm). This precipitation falls throughout the year, but in the winter it falls as snow. The average temperature in temperate deciduous forests is 50°F (10°C). Summers are mild, and average about 70°F (21°C), while winter temperatures are often well below freezing.

PLANTS: Trees and plants in deciduous forests have special adaptations to survive in this biome. Deciduous trees are trees with leaves rather than pine needles, and they dominate temperate forests. As the seasons change each year, so do the leaves. Each year deciduous trees lose their leaves, and grow them back. In the summer their broad green leaves capture sunlight and help the trees make food through photosynthesis. As temperatures cool in the fall, the chlorophyll (green pigment in leaves) breaks down, causing the beautiful red, yellow and orange leaf colors of fall. In the cold winter, deciduous trees and plants go into dormancy, kind of like sleep. It is too cold for them to protect their leaves from the damage of freezing in the winter, so they simply lse them and seal up the places where the leaves attach to the branch. The warmer spring days signal to the trees that they can grow new leaves again, and restart the cycle.

ANIMALS: Animals in temperate deciduous forests have to adapt to changing seasons. They must be able to cope with cold winters and hot summers. Some animals hibernate or migrate during the winter to escape the cold. Animals who do not hibernate or migrate must have special adaptations to deal with higher exposure to predators in the winter. When leaves fall, there is less cover for animals in this biome to hide from predators.

The black bear is an animal that is well adapted for the temperate deciduous forest biome. It has a heavy coat made of many layers of fur to deal with the winter cold. Black bears have long claws that help them to climb trees.This is an essential adaptation because black bears often live in hollowed trees. Black bears are omnivores, so they eat plants and animals. Most of their diet is composed of plant material, so their long claws are useful to get their food from trees and shrubs. They also hibernate to avoid having to find food in the snowy, frozen winter.

PEOPLE AND THE TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST: Temperate forests are very important to people as they provide enjoyment as well as many resources including food, timber, and oxygen for us to breathe. However, we are also the cause of some major threats to this biome, one of which is acid rain. Acid rain caused by industrial and vehicle emissions damages the leaves of trees, and causes them to produce smaller and fewer seeds. It also reduces the trees' resistance to disease, pests, and frost. Clear cutting of forests is also a threat to this biome. Trees are cut for timber and land cleared for agriculture. Another problem associated with deciduous forests is the introduction of non-native plant and animal species because it upsets the balance of the forest ecosystem. Non-natives may compete for food and habitat space, possibly threatening the native species.

Although these threats may be worrisome, there are many things that you can do to help protect this unique biome. First of all, you can recycle. Trees are used to make the paper for paper bags, newspapers, printer paper, and many more products we use each day. If you recycle used paper, and make the effort to buy recycled paper, you will be reducing the need to cut down more trees. Also be sure to use both sides of the paper that you write on before you recycle it. Use cloth products instead of paper products, like napkins, towels, plates, and cups. These products can be washed and used again, which helps to save trees. Drive less, and carpool when possible. Car exhaust is one of the main contributors to acid rain. Walk or ride your bike to help keep our environment clean. If you are buying furniture, lumber, or any other wood product, look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label. This label indicates that the trees were grown in a well-managed forest. Learn more about forests. By reading, searching the Internet, and visiting temperate deciduous forests, you can learn lots of cool things about this biome. You can also teach other people about what you have learned. If we want to continue to enjoy temperate deciduous forests, the products that come from them, and protect the unique habitats within them, we must be sure to do our best to take care of this important biome.
GAMES: LINKS: Geography for Kids: Deciduous Forest Blue Planet Biomes: Deciduous Forest Temperate Deciduous Forest Ecokids Forests Shades of Green: Earth's Forests
Back to Biomes Index

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Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Games | Links LOCATION: Most temperate, deciduous (leaf-shedding) forests are located in the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia. Deciduous forests are broken up into five zones.The firstzone is the tree stratum zone.