Deciduous+Forest


 * Deciduous Forest Biome**

Short video on the deciduous forest biome media type="youtube" key="59idSglHNCA" width="425" height="350"

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 * Geographic Distribution: || Deciduous biomes are located primarily in the North Eastern area of North America, Europe, parts of Russia, China, and Japan. ||
 * Climate: || The average temperature of the forest is about 50 degrees F. The average amount of rainfall in the forest is 30 to 60 inches a year. As the seasons change, so do the colors of the leaves of the deciduous. During the winter months water is generally not available to keep the leaves of some plants alive. Therefore, the leaves of some plants fall off and grow back in the spring. Those plants, like evergreens, keep their leaves during the winter have special adaptations to stay alive. You can learn more about the vegetation of deciduous biomes. ||
 * Soil Fertility: || The soils are fertile, due to plenty of leaf litter and the even distribution of rainfall. ||
 * Typical Plants: || There is extensive plant diversity in this biome, dominated by broadleaf deciduous hardwood trees such as oak, hickory, maple, ash, beech and more. The forests consist of 3-5 layers, which are relatively open with rich ground flora. There are usually one or two strata of trees, an understory of shrubs, and low growing forbs.
 * Human Impact Issues: || Due to supply and demand, logging has increased destroying many of the original forests, with only scattered remnants left today. **[DEFORESTATION!]** ||

Resources: http://www.bishops.k12.nf.ca/wells/biomes/html/deciduous%20forest.htm http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html


 * J Mech**