+ All Categories
Home > Documents > Forest Ecosystem Forest Ecosystem. Forests Forests are large areas of dense trees. Coniferous...

Forest Ecosystem Forest Ecosystem. Forests Forests are large areas of dense trees. Coniferous...

Date post: 14-Dec-2015
Category:
Upload: jayson-wilcox
View: 223 times
Download: 4 times
Share this document with a friend
12
Forest Ecosystem Forest Ecosystem
Transcript

Forest EcosystemForest Ecosystem

ForestsForests Forests are large areas of dense Forests are large areas of dense

trees. Coniferous forests are mostly trees. Coniferous forests are mostly evergreen trees and deciduous evergreen trees and deciduous forests are generally broadleaf forests are generally broadleaf trees. trees.

Due to temperature differences, Due to temperature differences, there are there are tropicaltropical and and temperatetemperate forests.forests.

Forest Facts:Forest Facts: Forests are distinguished by their:Forests are distinguished by their:

CompositionComposition – the kind of trees and plants – the kind of trees and plants

StructureStructure – distribution of plants on the ground – distribution of plants on the ground and into the canopyand into the canopy

Humans continue to use and change forestsHumans continue to use and change forests Temperate deciduous forests exist only in Temperate deciduous forests exist only in

the Northern Hemispherethe Northern Hemisphere Conifers are generally evergreenConifers are generally evergreen Deciduous trees change with the seasonsDeciduous trees change with the seasons

Forest ClimateForest Climate

During the summer, During the summer, it gets hot!it gets hot!

During the winter, it During the winter, it

gets cold.gets cold.

Until . . .

As you go down the mountain:

you start to feel warmer,

your breathing becomes easier,

and you enjoy the sight of beautiful plants and animals!

. . . Elevation comes into . . . Elevation comes into effect !effect !

The higher you go up into the mountain:

the colder the temperature gets,

the thinner the air gets (thus making it harder to breathe),

and the less you see plants growing there.

Forest PlantsForest PlantsThe 3 main levels are: forest floor, understory, and canopy.

The forest floor is the soil, dead plants and animals waiting to rot away. But also as part of the forest floor is a layer known as the herb layer. This is where the grasses and wildflowers grow .

Other plants, bushes and small trees make up the understory (also known as the shrub layer).

The last layer is where the trees are and it is known as the canopy layer.

3 Layer Forest

5 Layer Forest

Effects on Plant LifeEffects on Plant Life

* The soil, water, sunshine, * The soil, water, sunshine, temperature, rainfall, and temperature, rainfall, and fire influence what plants fire influence what plants and trees grow in an area. and trees grow in an area.

For example:

Trees are classified into two types of trees.

Coniferous TreesConiferous TreesConiferous trees are trees that grow needles instead of leaves, and are trees that grow needles instead of leaves, and

cones instead of flowers. Conifers tend to be evergreen, that is, they cones instead of flowers. Conifers tend to be evergreen, that is, they bear needles and stay green all year long. These adaptations help bear needles and stay green all year long. These adaptations help conifers survive in areas that are very cold or dry. Some of the more conifers survive in areas that are very cold or dry. Some of the more common conifers are spruces, pines, and firs.common conifers are spruces, pines, and firs.

Deciduous TreesDeciduous Trees

Temperature: : -22°F to 86°F, yearly average is 50°F. The -22°F to 86°F, yearly average is 50°F. The temperature varies widely from season to season with cold temperature varies widely from season to season with cold winters and hot, wet summers. winters and hot, wet summers.

Precipitation: : 29.5 to 59.1 inches of rainfall per year 29.5 to 59.1 inches of rainfall per year

Kentucky has both characteristics of a deciduous Kentucky has both characteristics of a deciduous and coniferous forest, meaning you can find both and coniferous forest, meaning you can find both deciduous trees and coniferous trees there. deciduous trees and coniferous trees there.

Deciduous Trees Deciduous Trees are notable for going through four seasons. During are notable for going through four seasons. During the fall, their leaves change color, then they begin to lose them. This the fall, their leaves change color, then they begin to lose them. This is in preparation for the winter season. Because it gets so cold, the is in preparation for the winter season. Because it gets so cold, the trees have adapted to the winter by going into a period of dormancy or trees have adapted to the winter by going into a period of dormancy or sleep. This is how the trees survive. They also have thick bark to sleep. This is how the trees survive. They also have thick bark to protect them from the cold weather. Deciduous trees’ flowers begin to protect them from the cold weather. Deciduous trees’ flowers begin to grow again during spring and continue throughout the summer. grow again during spring and continue throughout the summer.

Some common deciduous tress, also known asSome common deciduous tress, also known as Broadleaf trees, are Broadleaf trees, are oaks, maples, beeches, hickory, and chestnut.   oaks, maples, beeches, hickory, and chestnut.   

Forest AnimalsForest AnimalsHere are various Here are various types of animals types of animals that live in a forest!that live in a forest!

In the End,In the End,

Every animal and plant is part Every animal and plant is part of an ecosystem.of an ecosystem.

An ecosystem is a community of plants An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals interacting with their and animals interacting with their environment. Every living thing depends environment. Every living thing depends on each other to survive!on each other to survive!

For example:For example:

Trees and plants provide food, Trees and plants provide food, oxygen and shelter for oxygen and shelter for animals.animals.

The animals in return The animals in return eventually die, rot and eventually die, rot and fertilize the soil so that trees fertilize the soil so that trees and plants get their food. and plants get their food. They also help with starting They also help with starting new tree and plant growth.new tree and plant growth.


Recommended