Plant Adaptations

• The plants of this biome must be very well adapted to survive. Trees like the beech, the elm, and white spruce have leaves that absorb sunlight and water. This way, the soaring branches do more than just provide shade for other creatures of this biome, they also provide nutrients necessary for the tree to live. Trees are also able to shed they're leaves in the winter.By shedding their leaves, they cannot transpire, hence containing its water for the winter.
  
• Trees drop their leaves because chlorophyll breaks down in cool weather.

Animal Adaptation

• Black Bear - The black bear's coat is well adapted to the cold weather of winter because of its many layers of shaggy fur. Its claws are also very adapted to its environment, this is because they are just the right length to climb the many trees that surround its forest home. This bear also hibernates to avoid having to find food in the winter.

• Least Weasel - Deep in the woods of the Northeast Asian deciduous forest roams the least weasel. Its long slender body and sharp nails help this mammal hunt day and night.

• European Red Squirrel - The red squirrel, like all squirrels is a rodent. They have strong teeth made to open pinecones and seeds. They have four toes on each foot with long, sharp claws to help it grab bark when climbing trees. They can support their entire weight when climbing. The red squirrel has a long bushy tail used to balance its weight while climbing a tree. The squirrel is about 36.5 cm. (13-18 in.) long, including their tail. They have ginger, red, brown fur over much of their bodies. Most have white fur on their chests. Adult squirrels weigh up to 350 g. (8-16oz.) They have larger ear tufts in the winter which disappear in the summer. To help the red squirrel keep safe in its environment, it climbs quickly. To show the squirrel is mad, it will wave its tail back and forth like a flag.

Bibliography of Resources:

• enchantedlearning.com
• blueplanetbiomes.com
• inchinapinch.com
• wikipedia.org
• world-builders.org

Here is an energy pyramid for the deciduous forest:

Decomposers

• Fungi
• Mold
• Mushrooms
• Ants
• Termites

Food Chains

Plants-------->Rodents--------->Owls

Grass--------->Deer------------->Bear

Plants-------->Insects----------->Birds----------->Fox

THAT'S MESSED UP!

• Unfortunately, we are depleting many of the resources of our deciduous forests by taking timber, creating recreational areas, and stripping them in their entirety to put up new buildings. All too often when we build new housing developments in an area that was once all trees and plants little attention is paid to what types of foliage are growing there (or the animals that inhabit the area) and we could potentially be eliminating an entire animal or plant species.

• Fortunately, more and more re-forestation is going on, however many feel this isn’t nearly enough. Ravages of time rot caused by age, insect infestations, and other factors go into destroying our forest land. Global warming is blamed on the tremendous changes in our weather which also can affect our deciduous forests. Hurricanes, tornados, extreme cold or extreme draughts all have an impact on how the forest performs in any given year.

Today's Weather.

Today will be partly cloudy with a temperature of 45 degrees fahrenheit; chance of rain:30%.

(The average annual temperature is 50 degrees fahrenheit.
The average rain fall is 30 to 60 inches a year.)

InTeReStInG fAcTs!!!

• North American forests have five times as many species of trees as the forests of Europe.


• The temperate deciduous forest biome has four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Plants and animals have adapted to cope with these changes.
• Deciduous means "leaf-shedding".