What are forests?
Forests are one of the major biomes in the world, amongst aquatic, desert, grasslands and tundra. There are 3 types of forests; tropical, temperate and boreal (taiga). Forests are differentiated by characteristics like temperature, precipitation, soil, flora and fauna. Tropical forests are most commonly known for their variety of species, temperate for their well-defined seasons, and boreal as the largest terrestrial biome.
Tropical forests have an average temperature of 20 - 25 °C throughout the year, with not much variation. They have an annual rainfall of 200 cm, which is evenly spread throughout the year. Soil in tropical forests are acidic and is poor in nutrients. However, flora and fauna within forests, thrive. Within 1 square kilometer, 100 species of flora can be found. The height of trees range from 20 - 35 m, and species such as orchids, bromeliads, vines (lianas), ferns, mosses, and palms grow in tropical rainforests. Fauna also includes various birds, bats, small mammals and insects.
Temperate forests are common in North America, Asia, and Europe. Known for their well-defined seasons, they have a moderate growing climate, with temperatures ranging from -30 - 30 °C. There is a growing season of about 140 to 200 days, in which the frosty winters that take over temperate forests are not present. Precipitation is well spread throughout the year, receiving approximately 75 - 150 cm of rain. Soil is generally quite fertile, and nutrient-rich, due to decaying litter. Flora, will still diverse, is not as varied as in tropical forests. There are 3-4 tree species per square kilometer, with trees being distinguished by broad leaves. Flora inside temperate forests inside oak, hickory, beech, hemlock, maple, basswood, cottonwood, elm, willow, and spring-flowering herbs. Fauna in temperate forests include squirrels, rabbits, skunks, birds, deer, mountain lion, bobcat, timber wolf, fox, and black bears.
Boreal forests are the largest terrestrial forests biome. Temperatures are low, and precipitation is generally in the form of snow, with about 40 - 100 cm per year. Soil is acidic and thin, and is not ideal for agriculture. As the climate is so cold, only trees that are cold-tolerant can survive in boreal forests. Flora such as evergreen conifers with needle-like leaves, such as pine, fir, and spruce are present in boreal forests. Fauna includes woodpeckers, hawks, moose, bear, weasel, lynx, fox, wolf, deer, hares, chipmunks, shrews, and bats.
Tropical forests have an average temperature of 20 - 25 °C throughout the year, with not much variation. They have an annual rainfall of 200 cm, which is evenly spread throughout the year. Soil in tropical forests are acidic and is poor in nutrients. However, flora and fauna within forests, thrive. Within 1 square kilometer, 100 species of flora can be found. The height of trees range from 20 - 35 m, and species such as orchids, bromeliads, vines (lianas), ferns, mosses, and palms grow in tropical rainforests. Fauna also includes various birds, bats, small mammals and insects.
Temperate forests are common in North America, Asia, and Europe. Known for their well-defined seasons, they have a moderate growing climate, with temperatures ranging from -30 - 30 °C. There is a growing season of about 140 to 200 days, in which the frosty winters that take over temperate forests are not present. Precipitation is well spread throughout the year, receiving approximately 75 - 150 cm of rain. Soil is generally quite fertile, and nutrient-rich, due to decaying litter. Flora, will still diverse, is not as varied as in tropical forests. There are 3-4 tree species per square kilometer, with trees being distinguished by broad leaves. Flora inside temperate forests inside oak, hickory, beech, hemlock, maple, basswood, cottonwood, elm, willow, and spring-flowering herbs. Fauna in temperate forests include squirrels, rabbits, skunks, birds, deer, mountain lion, bobcat, timber wolf, fox, and black bears.
Boreal forests are the largest terrestrial forests biome. Temperatures are low, and precipitation is generally in the form of snow, with about 40 - 100 cm per year. Soil is acidic and thin, and is not ideal for agriculture. As the climate is so cold, only trees that are cold-tolerant can survive in boreal forests. Flora such as evergreen conifers with needle-like leaves, such as pine, fir, and spruce are present in boreal forests. Fauna includes woodpeckers, hawks, moose, bear, weasel, lynx, fox, wolf, deer, hares, chipmunks, shrews, and bats.