Temperate Rainforest Period 2Ann Guinee, Meredith Wootton, and Gabriela Venditti

Characteristics Coniferous/broadleaf trees High rainfall Mosses, ferns and epiphytes are common Fungi acts as decomposers More nutrients than in the tropical rainforest Huge amount of biomass concentration Old-growth forests: some trees growing over two

thousand years! Impressive redwood species Covers very small percentage of the earth

Map

Climate 200-350cm of annual precipitation Mean annual temperature 39-54º F 4 distinct seasons Winters rarely below freezing Wet and dry seasons

Coastal fog adds moisture to the environment during dry seasons

Tourism/Seasonal Forestry and Fisheries-See the

connection between the surrounding forests and the fisheries!

Visit during summer. You will find the eighty degrees F pleasantly warm while the natives complain about the sweltering heat. Also have a chance to see the wide variety of wildlife day and night.

Animal Adaptation: Slug Never get

desiccated, due to the high humidity and lack of sun

High variety of all slugs

Plant Adaptation: Evergreen Conifers Evergreen

broadleaf trees are replaced by evergreen conifers, which are better adapted to shed snow and photosynthesize in cold temperatures.

Keystone Species: Elk

Elk prevent overgrowth

Pack the ground

Tear off branches

Non-migratory only in this biome

Environmental Threats: Logging

Most temperate rainforests are old-growth

Old growth trees provide different niches for animal species

Most trees here are high ecological succession: not good for plantations

Taking out the forest highly increases risk of flooding

Works Cited http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/

temprain.htm http://www.ecotrust.org/publications/

rain_forests_ctrf.html http://www.thedirt.org/temperaterainfor

est-zy

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/jason/xv/docs/TempRain.pdf