Zoo
Project
Temperate Forest
Biotic Factors
Deciduous Trees, Moss, Predators, Carnivores, Competition, Parasites,
Abiotic Factors
Rocks, Soil, Water, Sunlight, Temperature (Reproduction or Hibernation), Climate, Wind (Decomposition)
Biodiversity
High: This forest is an important benefactor to terrestrial diversity. The environment can support both a variety of plants and variety of animals.
Limiting Factors
Competition, Nutrients, Sunlight (Thick canopy)
Carrying Capacity
High: The environment suits the development of many plants, as well as animals. Water is almost always available and the soil provides a fertile base for most plants.
Plants
Plant 1: Maple Tree
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliphyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Aceraceae
Genus: Acer
Species: saccharum
Adaptations
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A maple tree has broad leaves in order to capture a lot of sunlight so that, through photosynthesis, it can make food for itself.
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When the temperature of the environment drops, the tree will cut off the supply of water to the leaves and actually seals off the areas between the leaf stem and tree trunk. When leaves have this limited water (and sunlight due to the environment), they will turn red, yellow, and orange.
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During the winter in the biome, the trees protect their own leaves from freezing by simply losing them and sealing the place where it attaches to the branch. This prevents the tree from losing vital water through transpiration.
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This tree has the ability to compete for light and water by growing very tall.
Plant 2: Beech Tree
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliphyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Fagus
Species: grandifolia
Adaptations
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The beech tree has a shallow and widely spread root system. This not only allows its large roots to compete for water, but also allows the tree to sprout new seedlings around itself in order to survive.
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The beech tree has also developed the ability to grow under low-light circumstances. This is beneficial and important for this plant because it doesn’t have to compete for sunlight as much as a maple tree for example. Therefore, without this requirement of a lot of sunlight, it has one less factor that deals with its survival.