The UK’s main ecosystem, yet I bet you know more about the rainforest than the deciduous woodlands
\nThis webpage will cover the following:
\nthe climate of the ecosystem
\nthe stratification (layers) of the ecosystem
\nthe different types of vegetation
\nhow the deciduous forest is used and sustainably managed
\nVideo on the deforestation of the deciduous woodlands in the UK –
\nhttp:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/learningzone\/clips\/changing-ecosystems-the-deforestation-of-britain\/3234.html
\nThe climate
\nTemperate Deciduous forests are found across much of north-west Europe, eastern North America and parts of East Asia. They occur in these regions because they are well suited to the moderate climate. The climate isn’t extreme – summers are warm and winters are cool:
\nthe annual temperature range in these areas is low
\nprecipitation can occur throughout the year
\nthere is a long growing season
\nPicture
\nThe soil
\nThe most common type of soil is known as brown earth, which is reddish-brown in colour
\nDeciduous trees lose their leaves every year. The fallen leaves then slowly rot – helping to keep the soil fertile
\nMinerals are slowly washed (or leached) through the soil
\nPicture
\nThe vegetation
\nDeciduous types their leaves in the winter, when the light and temperature falls. The vegetation in temperate deciduous forests grows in layers (see the
\ndiagram below).
\nBluebells grow very quickly in the spring so they can flower before the trees get their leaves as the forest floor is too dark to grow when the canopy is complete.
\nPicture
\nThe stratification (layers) of the temperate deciduous woodlands
\nPicture
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