Temperate Forest
- Dhhyani Dama
Location
- Found primarily in mid-latitude regions between the tropics and
polar zones.
- Common in regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of
the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., Chile, New Zealand).
- Typically located between 25° and 50° latitude in both
hemispheres.
Structure
- Composed of three main layers:
1. Canopy: The uppermost layer formed by mature trees.
2. Understory: Shrubs and smaller trees beneath the canopy.
3. Forest Floor: Covered with leaf litter, moss, and
herbaceous plants.
- Trees are predominantly deciduous (e.g., oaks, maples, beeches)
but may include conifers (e.g., pines, spruces) in some regions.
- Seasonal changes significantly influence the forest structure and
biodiversity.
Precipitation
- Receives moderate to high rainfall, typically between 750 mm to 1,500
mm annually.
- Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, though some
regions may experience seasonal snowfall.
- Humidity levels are generally high, supporting diverse plant life.
Temperature
- Characterized by
distinct seasonal
variations.
- Average temperatures
range between -30°C in
winter and 30°C in
summer, depending on
the location.
- Winters are cold, and summers are warm, fostering seasonal plant and
animal behavior (e.g., migration, hibernation, leaf shedding).
Insolation
Variation in insolation is caused by the tilt of the Earth and its
rotation around the sun. Throughout the year the variation in
insolation plays a crucial role in the ecosystem's functioning. Higher
insolation levels drive photosynthesis and promote plant growth,
leading to increased productivity in temperate forests.
- Maximum sunlight penetrates
the forest in early spring as
the sun rises higher in the sky
before leaves grow.
- Once leaves start to grow,
the amount of sunlight
reaching the forest floor
quickly decreases, even
though the days keep getting
longer and the sun gets
higher.
- By early June, the forest is fully leafed, and this structure stays
the same until leaves start falling near the autumn equinox.
- After the summer solstice, the sun’s position lowers, and the
days get shorter, leading to a gradual decrease in sunlight
reaching the forest during the summer.
- The least sunlight penetrates the forest in early autumn.
- When leaves fall, more sunlight gets through, but as the days
shorten, the sunlight reaching the forest reduces again.
- The minimum sunlight reaches the forest around the winter
solstice when the trees are leafless.
Productivity
- Second highest NPP of all
biomes
- Significant carbon sinks and
biodiversity reservoirs.
- The average dry weight of
organic matter for temperate
deciduous forests is typically
150 to 300 metric tons per
hectare;
- Mild climate, lower average temperatures and lower rainfall
than found at the equator, reduce levels of photosynthesis and
productivity in comparison to tropical rainforests
- Primary productivity peaks during the spring and summer
when sunlight and temperature are optimal
- Deciduous trees, which dominate many temperate forests,
shed their leaves in autumn, reducing productivity in the
colder months.
Diversity
- Generally dominated by one species
and 90% of the forest may consist of
only six species - deciduous trees.
- Vertically stratified, with different
layers of vegetation influencing light
penetration, species composition, and
overall ecosystem function.
- Diverse plant structures create a
variety of microhabitats for different
organisms, supporting a rich web of
interactions and promoting overall biodiversity.
- Higher diversity → higher productivity → higher resilience of
the system
Bibliography:
[Link]
0002157177900176
[Link]
productivity
[Link]
biome
[Link]
[Link]
