The document outlines three main types of forests: tropical rain forests which experience year-round high temperatures and rainfall and contain broadleaf evergreen trees; temperate deciduous forests like those in Ohio that have warm summers and cold winters with precipitation and are dominated by trees like oak and maple that lose their leaves seasonally; and evergreen coniferous forests found in places like Canada and the Rocky Mountains that have long cold winters and warm summers and are dominated by needle-leaf evergreen trees like spruce and pine that create acidic soil conditions.
2. Learning Goal
Students will be able to explain the
difference between a
temperate, coniferous, and rain forest.
3. 1. Tropical rain forests
Examples: South America & Africa
Year round high temp., humidity &
precipitation
Large broadleaf evergreen trees – make the
forest floor dark – many vines
High productivity & species diversity
4. 2. Temperate Deciduous Forests
Example: Ohio
Warm summer/ cold winter good precipitation
Dominated by trees –
Oak, Hickory, Maple, drop leaves – no water in
winter
Deep nutrient rich soil
5. 3. Evergreen coniferous forests
Examples: Canada & Rocky Mountain
Long dry cold winters – warm summers
Dominated evergreen trees with needle leaves
– spruce, pine, cedar
Needles – high acidity not much lives under the
trees
