Temperate Forests
Geography: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 2.2.2
Overview of Temperate Forests
Temperate forests have 4 clear seasons during the year. Summer is warm, winters are mild and rain falls regularly during the year. A temperate forest could receive 1,000mm - 1,500mm of annual rainfall.
Plants
- In winter, a temperate forest will receive less sunlight than in summer.
- A temperate forest is the middle ground between the huge biodiversity of tropical rainforests and the difficult life in taiga/boreal forests.
- There are some plant species, but not as many as in tropical rainforests.
- Common plants in temperate forests are vegetation like moss and ferns, and trees like the maple tree and oak tree.
Animals
- Because there is a reasonably strong plant ecosystem in temperate forests, they can support moderate animal populations (although not as many as tropical rainforests).
- Mammals (like squirrels and hedgehogs), birds (like owls), and insects can live in temperate forests.
Soil
- In autumn, the broad-leaved trees lose their leaves. This leaf litter is broken down and the nutrients enter the soil.
- Because of this, the soils are rich in nutrients and good for farming.
Test yourself on Temperate Forests
Which of the following describes the climate of temperate forests?
Which of the following best describes the annual rainfall in temperate forests?
Plant Diversity in Forests
Which of the following is NOT a major component of temperate forests?