Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate deciduous forests are characterized by changing weather conditions

In the northern hemisphere, temperate deciduous forests can be found south of the taiga, in Europe, Asia and North America. There are also deciduous forests in Chile and Paraguay, in South America, and in New Zealand and Australia.

Many different species of trees live in temperate deciduous forests.

The tallest trees of these trees form a canopy.

However, since the leaves of deciduous trees tend to be thin, they do not prevent light from reaching the lower layer of trees - the understory.

A layer of shrubs often grows beneath the understory.

Mosses and ferns grow close to the ground.

In the summer, the days are long and the sun is high in the sky. This means that living things can receive a great deal energy from the Sun.

Squirrels, which live in the treetops, gather food from the ground

Roe deer feed on shrubs and low tree branches.

Birds such as goldcrests, flycatchers, treecreepers and woodpeckers eat insects, which can be found in all layers of the forest.

Badgers, which are omnivorous, eat many different things, including mammals, small insects and acorns.

In the autumn, leaves on the trees change color - becoming orange, red, copper and brown. Eventually, they fall to the ground, along with nuts and acorns.

Squirrels and some other mammals store food in the autumn.

Others mammals form thick layers of fat and then hibernate.

Reptiles also hibernate.

Many birds migrate to the tropics.

In the winter, when water in the soil is frozen, the deciduous trees, which are now leafless, do not lose much water.

Most mammals become less active.

Birds look for insect eggs and dormant insects in crevices in tree bark

When spring comes, many herbaceous plants grow on the forest floor. They quickly grow leaves and flower.

These plants finish their photosynthesis for the year by the time leaves have grown back on the trees. With food stored in roots and underground stems, they disperse their seeds.