The Temperate Rainforest
Pacific Coastal Forest

Climate and Geography
•
Temperate Rainforest is defined as a forest in the mid-latitudes that receives more than 50-60 inches of rainfall a year (rainfall in SE AK varies from
48-300 inches per year)
•
Mild, wet winters and cool, foggy or cloudy summers
•
Winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing, and summer temperatures seldom exceed 80
°
•
Can be found in the Pacific NW of North America,
New Zealand, Tasmania and Patagonia.

Temperate Rainforest Map

Climate and Geography
•
The temperate rain forests of the Pacific
Northwest develop where moisture-rich air from the Pacific Ocean rise and become trapped by coastal mountain ranges
•
The moisture then condenses and returns to earth in the form of heavy rainfall and, at higher elevations, snow.

The “Rainshadow Effect”
Visible rain shadow effect on the Tibetan
Plateau

Geography
•
The Temperate Rainforest of
N. America spans from
Northern California along the coasts of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia up to the
Southeast panhandle of Alaska
•
This biome is one of the rarest biomes as far as acreage goes, making up only about 0.6% of of Earth (mostly N. America)

Climate and Geography
•
Basic characteristics/requirements for a temperate rainforest:
– Proximity to coast
– Presence of coastal mountains
– Minimal seasonal temperature variations (cool summers, mild winters)
– Lots of precipitation (hence the title
‘rainforest’)

Trees of the Temperate
Rainforest
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Although climate of the Pacific Northwest varies considerably from Alaska to
California, there are certain species of trees that are present throughout, which climatically unifies the region.
•
These indicator trees are Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock

Trees of the Temperate
Rainforest
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Because of ideal growing conditions
(lots of moisture, lack of temperature extremes), trees in the coastal rainforest grow very large.

Trees of the Temperate
Rainforest
•
Other indicators of the Temperate
Rainforest are:
–
Nurse logs - usually fallen Sitka
Spruce upon which seedlings of trees grow.
– Colonnades - trees standing in a row as a result of getting their start on nurse logs.
–
A profusion of lichens and mosses.

Trees of the Temperate
Rainforest
•
Other common species of trees are:
– Cedar
– Cottonwood
– Alder
– Douglas Fir
– Vine Maple
– Bigleaf Maple
Southern end of the range

Animals of the Temperate
Rainforest
•
While the trees and plants
•
Mammals found in the forest include the that make up the
Roosevelt elk, black-tailed temperate rain forest are deer, cougar, black bear, important, the animals that river otter, Douglas live there are equally vital.
squirrel, jumping mouse, and shrews and flying squirrrel


Animals of the Temperate
Rainforest
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Birds such as the western robin, winter wren, pileated woodpecker, varied thrush, gray jay, junco, and raven make their homes in the thick forest canopy .

More animals
•
Some other common types of birds in the
Pacific Northwest are Clark’s nutcracker and the blue grouse.

And some more animals…
• A trip to the Temperate Rainforest wouldn’t be complete with out encountering……..SLUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Temperate Rainforest Overview
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Lots of precipitation
•
Cool summers, mild winters
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Large trees—ideal growing condtions
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High biodiversity
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High biomass (higher than tropical rainforest)
•
One of the most unique (and therefore rarest) biomes on our planet