Biomes
Terrestrial biomes
	Tundra
	Taiga/boreal forests
	Montane grasslands and shrublands
	Temperate coniferous forests
	Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests
	Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
	Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
	Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
	Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
	Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
	Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
	Deserts and xeric shrublands
	Flooded grasslands and savannas
	Riparian
	Wetland
Aquatic biomes
	Pond
	Littoral/intertidal zone
	Mangrove forests
	Kelp forest
	Coral reef
	Neritic zone
	Continental shelf
	Pelagic zone
	Benthic zone
	Hydrothermal vents
	Cold seeps
	Pack ice
Other biomes
	Endolithic zone

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A temperate deciduous forest is a biome found in the eastern and western United States, Canada, central Mexico, South America, Europe, China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and parts of Russia. A temperate deciduous forest consists of trees that lose their leaves every year. Examples include oak, maple, beech, and elm.

Contents 1 Animals and their adaptations 2 Plants and their adaptations 3 Gallery 4 Human effects 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Animals and their adaptations

Many well-known animals live in this kind of forest. Some examples are the Eastern Gray Squirrel, bears, beavers, foxes, deer, rats, snakes, mice, wolves, raccoons, and large birds of prey like red-tailed hawks. These animals have unique adaptations suited for seasonal life. For example, some rodents store up fat, then hibernate during cold winters. Birds include the bald eagle, nightingale, cardinals, hawks, and the snow owl.

[edit] Plants and their adaptations

The plants of this biome must be very well adapted to survive in these conditions. For example, trees like the beech, white spruce, and the elm have leaves that absorb water and sunlight. The soaring branches do more than just provide shade for other creatures of this biome; they also provide nutrients necessary for the tree to live. Another example of adaptation: these trees shed their leaves in the winter. By shedding their leaves, they cannot transpire. Consequently, they are able to retain water for the winter. Plants also soak up nutrients from the soil. These plants shed their leaves in autumn.

[edit] Gallery

A forest of beech trees

Trees in a temperate deciduous forest lose their leaves during months, as shown here.

A mature elm tree

Young deciduous forest

[edit] Human effects

Humans have often colonized areas in the temperate deciduous forest. They have also harvested wood for timber. As a result, less than one quarter of original forests remain.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
• Satoyama

[edit] External links

• A map of biome distribution (Temperate Deciduous Forest is in dark green)