Deciduous Forest Biome

Forests are the earth’s gift and they occupy one-third of the earth’s land. They keep the ecology system alive and active. With an increase in the human population, the forests are facing destruction. Forest biomes are the plant communities that are classified on the basis of their numerous characteristics. One such forest biome is the deciduous forest biome. Deciduous is derived from the Latin term "decidere", which means "falling of at maturity".

Location of a Deciduous Forest Biome

Deciduous forests are found all around the globe. The countries where the deciduous forest biomes are located include New Zealand, southeastern part of Australia, eastern part of China, Japan and in southwest part of Russia. Deciduous forests are found in both the continents of America - South and North. Southern Chile and middle east coast of Paraguay, both South American countries, have the biggest deciduous forests. The deciduous forests in North America lie along the eastern side. Deciduous forests are found in most of the Central European countries and in Eastern Africa.

Types of Deciduous Forests

There are two types of deciduous forest biomes. They are temperate deciduous forest biomes, and tropical and subtropical deciduous forest biomes.

• Temperate deciduous forest biomes are the deciduous forests that are found in America , Europe and Asia. In the temperate deciduous forests, the vegetation is mainly tall trees and shrubs which bloom during the warm months of summer and become dormant in the cold winter months. The seasonal temperature of the climate has a great impact on the plant communities of the deciduous forest biome.
• Tropical and subtropical deciduous forests are found in Mexico, Madagascar and in Maputaland-Pondoland (Eastern Africa). Here, the vegetation not only depends on the seasonal temperature but also on the pattern of seasonal rainfall. During dry season, the trees shed all their leaves. This is to conserve water and to prevent the death of the tree. After the first showers of rain, the leaves sprout. Tropical and subtropical deciduous forests are found on the areas that have high water tables and are on the banks of streams and rivers.

Five Plant Zones of the Deciduous Forest

The deciduous forest biomes are classified into five zones.

• The Tree Stratum Zone is the first zone. The trees that grow in this zone are oak, beech, maple, elm, walnut and sweet gum. The trees in this zone have a height of 60 feet to 100 feet.
• The Sapling Zone, which has trees of medium height and the young trees, constitutes the second zone.
• The Shrub Zone is the third zone. The shrubs like mountain laurel, huckleberries, rhododendrons and azaleas grow in this zone.
• The Herbal Zone is the fourth zone and short herbal plants grow here.
• The Ground Zone is the fifth and the final zone. The plants like lichen, club mosses and true mosses grow in this zone.

Animal Life of the Deciduous Forests

There is a wide variety of animals, birds, reptiles and insects in the biome of a deciduous forest. The animals that are native of a deciduous forest biome are elk and bison. Some of the mammals that are commonly found in a deciduous forest biome include squirrels, wood mice, black and brown bears, skunks, raccoons and so on. The natural residents of the deciduous forest biome are the bobcats, mountain lions, timber wolves and coyotes. Some of the animals found in this forest biome are protected as they are under the threat of extinction.

Animals belonging to this biome adapt to these forests by either migrating or by hibernating. While the mammals such as bear hibernate in winter, a wide range of birds migrates to warmer places where there is plenty of food. Animals like squirrels store nuts and seeds in the hollow of the trees during the summer months. These are used as food in the months of winter.

Due to deforestation, many of deciduous forests around the world are facing a threat to their existence. The deciduous forests are fast fading because the forests are being cleared for farming and for human habitation. The animals living in the deciduous forests biomes are fast becoming extinct as they are being hunted down for their fur. The environmentalists need to create an awareness among the laymen to protect the forest biomes.