Forest Biomes
Chapter 9
Types of Forests
9.1 Coniferous Forests
Objectives
Describe the characteristics of the coniferous forest.
 Explain adaptations that enable organisms to survive in
coniferous forests

Many of Earth’s forests have been
harvested to meet the demand for wood,
resulting in widespread ecosystem
destruction.
Coniferous Forest (Taiga) Facts
Coniferous
means cone bearing
Northern potion of the northern
hemisphere
Warm summers long cold, snowy
winters (temperature range of -50 to
+25)
Needles for leaves - evergreen
Coniferous Forests Facts
Not
diverse
Trees grow in dense stands – blocks
sunlight
Soil poor and acidic
Forest floor has limited plant life
Fern,
lichens, sphagnum moss, fungi
Coniferous Forests Facts
 Heavy
snow in northern forests (Taiga)
insulates ground
 Keeps
ground from freezing
 Protects roots
 Helps animals
 Small
herbivores eat seeds
 Large herbivores eat plants and bark
 Many species migrate or hibernate
 Growing needs for wood has led to tree
harvesting
Temperate Coniferous Forests
 Exist
where soils are too shallow or nutrient-poor
to sustain hardwood trees.
 Often less dense than Taiga forests—grasses can
grow.
 Winters are less harsh, so diversity may be greater
 Fire is important to the ecosystem, as in a
grassland.
Quick Quiz
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9.1QQ
T or F
Coniferous means evergreen.
Exist in Northern portion of the southern hemisphere
Taiga has cool summers & short dry winters
Conifers have needles for leaves
Taiga is very diverse
Trees grow in dense stands – blocks sunlight
Soil poor and acidic
Forest floor has limited plant life: Fern, lichens, sphagnum moss
Heavy snow insulates ground: protects roots & helps animals
Small herbivores eat seeds & large herbivores eat plants and bark
Large animal species die off in winter
Growing needs for wood has led to tree harvesting
Temperate deciduous forests exist where it is too wet for hardwoods to
grow.
Temperate deciduous forests are more diverse than Taiga.
9.2 Deciduous forests
Objectives
 Identify
the characteristics of the deciduous forest
 Describe the organisms that inhabit the deciduous
forest
A tree that sheds its leaves during a
particular season of the year.
What is a Deciduous Forest
Deciduous Facts
 Grow
in the temperate zones
 Temperatures from –30oC to +30oC
 50cm to 300 cm of rainfall
 During growing season
 Photosynthesis
 Grows
occurs
rapidly
 Stores large amounts of food
Deciduous Facts Continued
 During
winter
 Photosynthesis
stops
 Leaves lose green color
 Sheds leaves
 Helps
to conserve water
 Minimizes snow damage
 Becomes
dormant
 Consumes food stored in trunk, branches and roots
Deciduous Forest Video
Types of Deciduous Trees
 Maple
 Oak
 Beech
 Ash
 Hickory
 Birch
More diverse than coniferous forest
Deciduous Forest Levels
 Canopy
 Upper
branches of tall trees
 Captures most of sunlight
 Understory
 Younger
and smaller trees
 Shrubs
 Forest
Floor
 Mosses,
ferns and other plants; also fungi
Deciduous Leaves
 Decay
quickly
 Produce a deep rich layer of soil – humus
 Humus and leaves are home to many insects and
other invertebrates
Deciduous Animals
Man’s Impact on the Deciduous Forests
 Very
little original deciduous forest remains
 Less
 Cut
than 0.1%
down for
 Farm
land
 Lumber
 Paper
 Fuel
Replanting the Forest
 Replanted
forests usually low in diversity
 The forest ecosystem regenerates slowly
 Communities come back slowly, if at all
Past, Present & Future
Quick Quiz 9.2 QQ T or F
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A deciduous tree sheds its leaves during a particular season of the
year
Temperatures from –30oC to +30oC
50 cm to 300 cm of rainfall
During growing season: photosynthesis, grows rapidly, store large
amounts of food
During winter: photosynthesis stops; leaves lose green color; becomes
dormant; consumes food stored in trunk, branches and roots
Shedding leaves: helps to conserve water & minimizes snow damage
More diverse than coniferous forest
Types: maple, oak, beech, hickory
Decaying leaves produce humus
Replanted forests usually low in diversity
The forest ecosystem regenerates slowly
Only 30% of original forest remain
9.3 Rain Forest
Objectives
 Describe
the characteristics of the tropical zone
and the rain forest
 Illustrate the complexity and diversity of the rainforest ecosystem
The rain forest is the most productive
and diverse biome on Earth.
Rain Forest Facts
 Located
in the tropical zones near the equator
 Average 25oC all year
 100 cm to 450 cm rainfall per year
 Growing season lasts all year
A rain forest is a biome with a dense canopy of
evergreen, broadleaf trees supported by at least 200 cm
of rain each year.
More Facts
 Contain
70% to 90% of all Earth’s species
 Only 6% of earth’s surface but 40% of biomass
 Trees are the basis of the forest
– Balsa – Teak – Mahogany – many more!
 Many reach heights of 50 - 60 m (195 feet)
 Cyprus
Rainforest Video
Rainforest Structure
 Upper
canopy
 Captures
99% of sunlight
 Lower
canopy
 Understory
 Forest floor
 Sparse
 Shallow
 Tree
population
roots
trunks have buttresses to support tree
Rain Forest Soil
 Thin
and poor
 Most nutrients in top 5 cm
 Organic matter decomposes quickly and is lifted
back up into trees
Organisms
 High
plant diversity leads to high animal diversity
 Wide variety of habitats at different levels
 Complex food web
 Millions of species of plants, animals, bacteria and
fungi
Organisms of the Canopy
Deforestation
Deforestation
 Rain
forests have been reduced from 10% of
Earth’s surface to 6%
 The destruction of forest as a result of human
activity is called deforestation
 Because of humans need for space and wood
 The rain forest cannot regenerate!
 The many organisms will be gone for ever.
Quick Quiz
9.3QQ
The rain forest is the most productive and diverse biome on Earth
2. Rain forests have been reduced from 10% of Earth’s surface to 6%
3. The destruction of forest as a result of human activity is called
deforestation
4. The rain forest cannot regenerate!
5. High plant diversity leads to high animal diversity
6. Wide variety of habitats at different levels
7. Complex food web
8. Millions of species of plants, animals, bacteria and fungi
9. Soil is thin and poor with most nutrients in top 5 cm
10. Organic matter decomposes quickly and is lifted back up into trees
11. Contain 70% to 90% of all Earth’s species, only 6% of earth’s
surface but 40% of biomass
12. Many trees reach heights of 50 - 60 m (195 feet): Cyprus – Balsa –
Teak – Mahogany
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