Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Botanist

Leo Ortel

1. American Beech trees are found in Temperate Deciduous forests. American Beech tree’s are tall and wide and is anywhere from 90-100 feet tall and spreads 50-70 feet. The bark that grows on the tree is very smooth and grey. The American beech tree also produces lots of paper. American Beech trees are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: American Beech trees have thick bark to protect them during the winter in Temperate Deciduous Forests. American Beech trees also drop their leaves to minimize the water loss so that they have more water for the winter. American Beech tree leaves are pretty broad which means big to capture sunlight so the tree can live.

2. Oak trees can be found in Temperate Deciduous Forests. Oak trees can grow to be 60 feet and over. Oak trees are about 60 feet wide. Oak trees are used to build a lot of things including flooring, furniture, tool handles, and much more. Oak trees are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: Oak trees have thick bark to stay warm in the winter. Before the leaves fall off or die from oak trees, some of the food from the leaves go back into the tree and is stored in the tree. This food is then used in the spring.

3. Dutchman’s breeches, a type of Wildflower, can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Dutchman’s breeches are about 4-8 inches tall and the leaves span across about 6 inches. Each flower is about ¾ inches long. Many of these plants bloom in the spring. Dutchman’s breeches are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: Dutchman’s breeches drop their leaves before winter because in minimizes the water loss in them so they have more water to help them survive in the winter. Dutchman’s breeches also have broad leaves to capture more sunlight to make food by photosynthesis.

4. Redbuds can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Redbuds are usually about 20-30 feet tall and are 20-25 feet in length. These trees are most noticed in the spring when there pink flowers come out. Redbuds are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: Redbud’s tree bark is pretty thick. It’s not as thick as some trees but the bark allows them to stay warm in the winter. Redbud tree’s leave are shape like hearts which makes them broad to trap sunlight to make food. Redbud’s also drop their leave because they are deciduous and to minimize the water loss in them. This helps Redbuds to have more water to help them survive in the winter.

5. Sassafras Trees can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Sassafras Trees grow from about 30-59 feet and its leaves and branches spread to be about 25-39 feet tall. The trunk grows to be about 28-59 inches in diameter. Sassafras is used to make tea and is also very tasty in some people’s opinion. Sassafras trees are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: Sassafras trees have thick bark to help them to keep warm in the winter. They also have broad leaves that spread a lot through out the tree as you can see in the picture below. This helps Sassafras trees to trap sunlight for food to survive. Because Sassafras trees are deciduous, they drop their leave so they can minimize the water loss in them. Now they can have more water to survive in the winter.

6. Maple Trees can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Most Maple Trees grow to be about 30-145 ft high. Maple trees have many uses including Maple Syrup, Food, Timber, and agriculture. Maple trees can be very many colors including Red, Orange, and Green. Maple trees are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: Maple Trees have thick bark. The thick bark helps them to stay warm in the winter so they can survive. Maple trees also have to have other things to survive to like food and water. Maple trees need sunlight to make their food. They use the process photosynthesis to make their food. Since Maple trees have pretty broad leaves (not as broad as some trees) they can trap sunlight to make their food. Since Maple trees are deciduous they drop their leaves so they can have more water in the winter.

7. Elm trees can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Elm trees have many uses including carpentry, Engineering, Live stock farming, Food, Landscape etc. Elm trees are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: Elm trees drop their leaves in the winter because they are deciduous. When trees such as the Elm drop their leaves, they minimize the water loss in the tree. This happens so that trees have a bit more water to survive in the winter when they get less water and sunlight. Elm trees also have thick bark so that they are warmer in the winter. As you can see in the picture of an Elm tree below, Elm trees have broad leafs throughout the whole tree to capture sunlight. Trees such as the Elm use this sunlight to make food through the process of photosynthesis. Elm trees drop their leaves because they are deciduous. When they drop their leaves it minimizes the water shortage so Elm trees can have more water in the winter to survive.

8. Birch trees can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Birch trees have a couple of different species including gray, white, black, silver, and yellow birch trees. Birch trees have a white skin which gives it a unique look different from many trees. Birch trees are used for paper, medical use and much more. Birch trees are Deciduous because there leaves come off every autumn.

Adaptations: Birch trees have wide roots that spread far to get the moisture or water that it needs. Birch trees leaves have a low surface area so the water loss is lower when the leaves drop. This way Birch trees have more water. Birch trees especially the Paper Birch has very thin bark.

9. Red Buckeye trees can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Red Buckeye trees can grow to be 5-8 meters.

Adaptations: Red Buckeye trees have thick bark. This way Red Buckeyes can stay warm in the winter. Red Buckeye trees are deciduous because they drop their leaves. When they drop their leaves it minimizes the water loss in the tree so they have more water for the winter.

10. Pecan trees can be found in Temperate Deciduous forests. Pecan trees grow to be about 60-130 feet. Pecan trees are deciduous because they drop their leaves in the winter.

Adaptations: Pecan trees have broad leaves that spread throughout the tree. That way they can capture sunlight to make food. Pecan trees are deciduous because they drop their leaves in the winter. When Pecan trees drop their leaves it minimizes the water loss so they have more water to survive in the winter. It is tougher to survive in the winter for Pecan trees because there is less sunlight. This is why they drop their leaves.

Abiotic factors such as soil, climate, and sunlight help these types of plant survive or live in the area because these plants need all of these to survive. In Temperate Deciduous forests, soil is rich in nutrients, there is enough sunlight and the weather is good for these types of trees. In the summer it is usually about 75 degrees F and in the winter it is sometimes 5-10 degrees F below freezing. In some cases it can be warmer. The plants can survive in the winter because their thick bark helps to keep them stay warm. In the summer their leaves help to trap in sunlight. The sunlight is used to make food by the process through photosynthesis. In the fall, trees and plants get ready for winter by dropping their leave. When the trees drop their leaves, it minimizes the water shortages so they can survive throughout the winter with more water.