**Temperate Rainforest Ecosystems**

Research and design by Roseanne Weir, Science teacher at John Steinbeck
Middle School, San Jose, California in conjunction with San Jose State
University and NASA Ames.

Focus Questions

What is a temperate rainforest?

How does a temperate rainforest compare to a tropical

Rainforest?

![](media/image1.png){width="2.259027777777778in"
height="3.01875in"}![](media/image1.pct)Oregon, and Northern California
trap the

air masses full of moisture that rise from the Pacific Ocean. As this
moisture condenses into rain it creates lush rainforests with trees like
the Coastal Redwood in California that grow to enormous sizes and a
**biomass** that exceeds that of the tropical rainforests.

What is a temperate rainforest?

Temperate rainforests receive from 1,500 to 5,000 millimeters (60 to 200
inches) of rain a year. In California, the rainfall is closer to the
lower end of the range and there is even a concern about drought in the
summer months. The climate is mild (temperate) because the same
mountains that block the ocean moisture help protect the rainforest from
extremes in the weather. There are two seasons in the temperate
rainforest; one long, wet season where the temperatures rarely drop to
freezing and one short dry season when the temperatures rarely exceed
80. Even in the dry season the climate is cool and cloud-covered with
fog providing the necessary moisture to nourish the rainforest. Fog
provides about 175-3,000 millimeters (7-12 inches) of rain each summer.
Temperate rainforests cover only 75 million acres of earth.

Two-thirds of all temperate rainforests are in the Pacific Northwest.
The trees grow to enormous sizes since the winters are mild and the rain
is abundant. Many **epiphytes** are found in the temperate rainforests.
Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants. The maple trees have
more epiphytes than any other tree and researchers cannot yet explain
why. The maples here are covered with club mosses. Other trees have
ferns, lichen, and mosses hanging from their branches. There is a fine
mist in the air. The forest is always damp with water dripping from the
tree branches and sunlight filtering through the canopy onto the forest
floor. 

**What is the structure of the temperate rainforest?**

Like the tropical rainforest, the temperate rainforest is divided into
layers. The topmost layer is called the **canopy,** which is dominated
by tall evergreen **conifers** (trees that produce cones with seeds).
Because of the heavy rain and mild temperatures, these conifers enjoy
maximum year-round growth and reach record heights and girth. Coastal
redwood giants in California have reached heights of over 300 feet (the
height of a 30 story building!). There are four additional conifers that
grow in the rainforest. The next tallest is the Douglas Fir (up to 280
feet), followed by the Sitka Spruce (230 feet), the Western Red Cedar
(200 feet), and the Western Hemlock (130 feet). Some of these trees may
be up to 500 to 1000 years old and the trunk can be more than 100 feet
around!

![](media/image2.png){width="2.75in" height="3.5555555555555554in"}

Beneath the canopy is the **understory**. In this layer are found small
shade-loving trees, such as the dogwood with its' beautiful pink and
white flowers, and vine maples. Ferns, salal, and berry shrubs grow in
the filtered sunlight beneath the small trees.

On the **forest floor**, the lowest layer, there is a thick covering of
low-growing lichens, mosses, small plants (such as oxalis), wildflowers,
and grasses. The ground is covered with conifer needles, leaves,
branches, twigs, and fallen dead trees. Mosses and algae cover the
rocks, tree trunks, and branches. Everything feels rich and moist and is
very green on the forest floor. This shady, rich environment allows many
varieties of mushrooms, toadstools, and other fungi to thrive. The soil
here is especially full of nutrients because there is much dead
**organic** material on the ground being broken down by **decomposers**
such as bacteria and insects. Because the temperatures are cool, the
material is broken down and recycled much more slowly than in the
tropical rain forest. Scientists have measured more biomass (living
things) in each square yard of this forest than anywhere else on Earth.

When a huge tree (usually a Sitka Spruce) dies and falls onto the forest
floor, small seedlings often take root on the horizontal trunk and it
becomes a **nurse log** nurturing the tiny plants. They are called nurse
logs, because young trees grow on the top mossy surface of the fallen
trees. These fallen logs make a moist, soggy habitat for mosses, ferns,
lichens, and new tree seedlings. Colonnades (trees standing in a row)
may form after the nurse log has completely disintegrated. Trees can
also be found standing on "stilts" because they first sprouted on stumps
of dead trees and as they grew over time, the stumps decayed leaving the
tree standing only on the roots.

Most of the animals in the temperate rainforest live on or near the
forest floor. Here, the understory and canopy provide protection from
the wind and rain and most of the food is found there. Cones drop from
the trees with nutrient rich seeds, which are eaten by birds and small
animals such as voles (mouse-like creatures) and chipmunks. Insects live
in the mossy floor and tree bark. Birds and amphibians feed on the
insects. Many amphibians live in the streams and ponds and salmon are
important consumers. Deer feed on the grass and leaves of the
understory. The top consumers of the food chain in the temperate
rainforest include black bears and cougars.

**How does a temperate rainforest compare to a tropical rainforest?**

Mainly because of the differences in temperature and rainfall, the
temperate and tropical rainforests are very different places. The trees,
the plants, the structure of the forest, the animals that live there,
and even the type of soil are so different that if you stood in the
middle of each forest, you would have no trouble telling which forest
you were in just by looking around and observing!

In a lush **tropical rainforest** you would see that the types of trees
and plants are very different than in the temperate rainforest. There
would be many varieties (over 1,100 species of plants in some tropical
rainforests!) of leafy trees and plants, mainly palms, bamboo, and tree
ferns. Branches touch and leaves seem to fill every space in the canopy.
Vines, such as the Strangler Fig, hang down from the trees. Insects are
everywhere and there are colorful fruits, and birds such as parrots.
Most of the animals live in the canopy far above the forest floor and
you would also see a greater variety of animals and birds. You may see
monkeys, jaguars, bats, and large poisonous snakes. The forest would be
teeming with the movement and sounds of life. The temperature would
always be warm, never cool in the tropical rainforest.

Standing in a **temperate rainforest**, the temperature may be warm in
the summer, but most of the time it would be cool and wet. There would
be giant redwood trees mixed with only 3 or 4 other species of tall
conifer trees. In the understory are leafy, delicate trees and shrubs
such as dogwoods and maples. The forest floor is a thick layer of mosses
and other low-growing plants with nurse logs nurturing young plants.
This where most of the animals of this forest live because the soil is
rich, there is lots of food, and the tall trees provide protection from
the sun, wind, and rain above. You may see a bear or cougar, birds such
as owls or woodpeckers, raccoons and chipmunks, or a grazing deer or
elk. Never a poisonous snake! This forest is quiet and peaceful with
sunlight filtering down in beautiful beams from the canopy above.

Teachers can use the information below to lead an activity using a Venn
diagram.

+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Temperate Rainforest    | Temperate AND      | Tropical Rainforest   |
|                         | Tropical           |                       |
|                         | Rainforest         |                       |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| One long, wet           | Both wet and dry   | Two wet seasons, 2    |
| winter/spring season    | times of the year  | dry seasons           |
| with a dry, foggy       |                    |                       |
| summer                  |                    |                       |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| 5-16 feet of rain a     | Lots of rain!      | 6-30 feet of rain a   |
| year                    |                    | year                  |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Cool temperatures most  |                    | Warm temperatures     |
| of the year             |                    | most of the year      |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Located on the western  |                    | Located in a 3,000    |
| edge of North and South |                    | mile wide belt near   |
| America                 |                    | the equator           |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Mostly conifer trees,   | Huge amounts of    | Mostly broadleaf      |
| some broadleaf trees    | plants             | evergreens like       |
|                         |                    | palms, bamboo and     |
|                         |                    | tree ferns            |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Largest biomass of any  | Huge amounts of    | Largest biodiversity  |
| biome                   | animals            | of any biome          |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| 3 layers of the forest  | Canopies,          | 4 layers of the       |
|                         | understories, and  | forest                |
|                         | forest floors      |                       |
|                         |                    | Emergent layer        |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Most of the animals     |                    | Most of the animals   |
| live on the forest      |                    | live in the canopy    |
| floor                   |                    |                       |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Jungle-like appearance  | Jungle-like        | Jungle-like           |
| with epiphytes, ferns,  | appearance         | appearance with       |
| and mosses              |                    | palms, tree ferns,    |
|                         |                    | and vines             |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| No poisonous snakes     |                    | Poisonous snakes and  |
|                         |                    | other creatures       |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Large predators are     | Has a food chain   | Large predators are   |
| bears and cougars       | with predators and | jaguars and large     |
|                         | consumers          | snakes                |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Soil is rich            |                    | Soil is poor          |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Faster recovery from    | Vulnerable to      | Slower recovery from  |
| destruction             | destruction        | destruction           |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+

# 

# Vocabulary -- Temperate Rainforest

**Biomass** *n.* The total amount of living things in a region such as a
rainforest.

**Canopy** *n.* The layer of rainforest made up of the tops of the
tallest trees: Coastal Redwood, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Red
Cedar, and Western Hemlock.

**Conifers** *n.* Cone-bearing evergreen trees with needles.

**Decomposers** *n.* Microscopic fungi and bacteria that feed directly
on dead matter breaking it down.

## Epiphytes *n.* Plants that live on other plants instead of in the soil.

**Forest Floor** *n*. Also called the Ground Layer, this is the lowest
layer of the rainforest and has a thick layer of low-growing plants. It
is dark and moist with rich soil. Most animal life exists here.

**Nurse log** *n.* A dead tree that falls in the forest and provides
nutrients for tree seedlings and other plants to grow.

**Organic** *adj.* Coming from living material such as plants.

**Understory** *n.* The middle layer of rainforest containing broadleaf
trees and shrubs.

# ![](media/image3.png){width="1.8194444444444444in" height="2.5833333333333335in"}Related Web Sites 

## Redwood National and State Parks, California

[http://redwoodnationalandstateparksca.arp.myareaguide.com](http://redwoodnationalandstateparksca.arp.myareaguide.com/)

This site contains information about the Redwood National and State
Parks. You can view and print maps to the redwood state parks along the
California coast. Another section provides information about the
redwoods. A photo gallery provides images of the forest. Other
information about traveling and visiting the redwood forest is also
offered.

## Redwood National and State Parks

<http://www.nps.gov/redw>

This is the home page for the Redwood National and State parks, part of
the National Parks Service web site. A general description is provided
about the redwood parks. By clicking on the "In Depth" button, detailed
information is provided. Maps, Frequently Asked Questions, information
about the trees, a photo gallery, and on-line games about the redwoods
for kids is available.

## What's It Like Where You Live?

<http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/index.htm>

Discusses and compares the difference between the tropical and temperate
rainforests. Offers several pictures and links to other biomes and
ecosystems. A detailed section on rainforest plants is offered with
descriptions, pictures and illustrations.

## The Temperate Rainforest

<http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/2001Outwest/PacificNaturalHistory/Projects/LachowskyR/Default.htm>

This page provides a great description of the location, climate, trees,
and animals that make up a temperate rainforest. A glossary of terms is
provided as well as a comparison of tropical and temperate rainforests.
Links are also provided to other related rainforest sites.

## Temperate Forest Foundation

[http://www.forestinfo.org](http://www.forestinfo.org/)

This site is designed to provide information regarding the temperate
forests. A teacher's resource section provides access to photos,
posters, videos, field trips, and links to other related sites.

## The Temperate Rainforest Canopy of the Pacific Northwest

<http://academic.evergreen.edu/n/nadkarnn/TRFwebsite/TRFhome.htm>

This interactive site allows you to explore and learn about the
creatures in the forest canopy. Another section provides 3 activities
for children: tree and bark rubbings, canopy poetry, and "Ask Dr.
Canopy!" where questions about the forest canopy can be submitted.
Suggestions for being more environmentally aware are presented. A link
to various teacher resources regarding the temperate rainforests is also
available.

## American Rainforest Web Adventure

[[http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/curriculum/weeklywebadventures/american_rainforest/t_home.html]{.underline}](http://www.teachervision.com/tv/curriculum/weeklywebadventures/american_rainforest/t_sugg_seq.html)

This rich site contains resources for students and teachers. The
American Rainforest Main Page contains online activities for students,
which educate and test the student's knowledge of the temperate
rainforest. The teacher section outlines several lessons and activities
that can be used in the classroom. Links to related web sites are also
presented. The Web Adventures Main Page provides links to several
interactive web-based learning activities, including the American
Rainforest. These activities are aimed at grades 5 and 6 and include
curriculum connections to math, language arts, and science.

## Olympic Mammals

<http://www.nps.gov/olym/edmam.htm>

Describes with some photos, the animals that inhabit the Olympic
National Park.

## World Builders - Rainforests

<http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/rainforest/rainintro.html>

This site provides a good explanation of tropical and temperate
rainforests. Excellent information and diagrams are also provided for
the food webs for each type of rainforest.

## Exploring the Temperate Rainforest Canopy Curriculum

<http://academic.evergreen.edu/n/nadkarnn/TRFwebsite/curriculum.html>

A six-activity curriculum for grades 4th-12th that includes interactive,

hands-on, student-centered lesson plans.  These activities include:

• a canopy hydrology field experiment,

• a tardigrade microscope lab and international database where students
can submit their samples,

• two interactive, cooperative learning activities on canopy structure
and ecology,

• two activities that engage the students in creative expression and
presentation.

Lists over 100 links to rainforest information.

[http://www.kidskonnect.com/Rainforest/RainforestHome.html](http://www.kidskonnect.com/Rainforest/RainforestHome.html%0D%0D%0D%0D)

## [Free Stock Photos](http://www.kidskonnect.com/Rainforest/RainforestHome.html%0D%0D%0D%0D)

[http://www.freestockphotos.com](http://www.freestockphotos.com/)

This site contains many images that are free to use in your publications
and also includes links to other public domain photography web sites.

\- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

### 

## Free Lesson Plans, WebQuests, Worksheets

[http://www.edhelper.com](http://www.edhelper.com/)

(Rainforest info only deals with tropical rainforests -- temperate
rainforests not discussed.)

## BIOME: Rainforests -- An AskERIC Lesson Plan

<http://askeric.org/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Ecology/ECLO24.html>

(Nothing on temperate rainforest)

## Rainforest Teaching Theme -- Lesson Plans, Worksheets

<http://www.bestteachersites.com/themes/science/rain/>

(Tropical rainforest ONLY)

## Wealth of the Rainforest -- Pharmacy to the World

[http://www.rain-tree.com](http://www.rain-tree.com/)

(Great site, BUT only addresses the Amazon rainforest)

## Geology of Redwood National Park

<http://www2.nature.nps.gov/grd/parks/redw/index.htm>

(This site covers geology of the redwood parks, but does not discuss
temperate rainforest)

###### Bay Area Field Trips

#### Coyote Point Museum

##### For Environmental Education

1651 Coyote Point Drive

San Mateo, CA 94401

\(650\) 342-7755

[www.coyoteptmuseum.org](http://www.coyoteptmuseum.org/)

Classes on Bats, nocturnal animals, and the Redwood forest as well

as "Deep Into the Forest" (formerly "Temperate rainforest") and

multiple additional courses. Fees. Please call.

Bay Area Science Alliance (BASA)

<http://www.basa.info/cs/basa/print/docs/basa/about.html>

The Bay Area Science Alliance (BASA) is a non-profit partnership of
education and business leaders committed to fostering science education
and literacy throughout the Bay Area. BASA provides access to resources
for teachers, parents, providers and the general public; encouraging
participation in fun and educational activities related to the
environment and science. BASA members collaborate to enhance science
understanding and K-12 educational practices, in both formal and
informal science instructional experiences. 99 links to Bay Area science
resources.

####### Additional Resources

![](media/image4.png){width="2.4166666666666665in"
height="1.5034722222222223in"}

######## Into the Forest -- Nature's Food Chain Game

Ampersand Press

\(800\) 624-4263

[www.ampersandpress.com](http://www.ampersandpress.com/)

This unique card game has beautiful color cards listing what each animal
eats and what it is eaten by. The game works just like the natural food
relationships in the forest helping students discover the world of food
chains in nature. The animals are all from the temperate rainforest.
There is a well-designed mini-poster included.

Biomes Atlases: Temperate Forest

By John Woodward, 2003

Heinemann Educational Books - Library Division

ISBN: 1844211568

Each book in this series provides readers with a deeper understanding of
the world\'s biological communities, with each title focusing on a
particular biome. The books contain an introduction to the Earth\'s
principal biomes with enough depth for project work.

## The Tree in the Ancient Forest

By Carol Reed-Jones, Illustrations by Christopher Canyon, 1995

ISBN: 1883220319

DAWN Publications

<DawnPub@oro.net>

The remarkable web of plants and animals living around a single old fir
tree takes on a life of its own in this stunningly illustrated story,
written in a poetic verse style. Complete with a guide to the forest
creatures and their relationships.

**America's Rainforest (video)**

## Connecticut Valley Biological Supply Science Catalog -- 2003

\(800\) 628-7748

Beautiful cinematography portrays the temperate rainforest of the
Pacific Northwest as an endangered biosphere. Documents the 300 years of
unsound commercial timbering practices that have led to this delicate
and complex ecosystem coming to a crossroads.

Life in the Temperate Rainforest (#655)

**Milliken Primary Science Resource/Activity Guides**

Colorful books provide transparencies and activities that encourage
scientific thinking such as predicting, inferring, classifying,
measuring, etc. Grades 2-3.

NASCO EcoQuest Biodiversity Temperate Rainforest Kit

Nasco Science Catalog No. 522 - 2003

\(800\) 558-9595

[**www.eNasco.com**](http://www.eNasco.com/)

Students can explore and model the rainforest using a multidisciplinary
approach. Includes Flex-Tank stacks and domes, soil, spores for mosses
and ferns, and seeds for 6 tree species for growing rainforest plants.
Also has 3 temperate rainforest books, a video on ancient trees, a
poster, teacher guide, and student activity sheets.

Virtual Field Trip

Contact: Ken Freeman

E-mail: <ken.freeman@cincyzoo.org>

\(513\) 475-6130

[www.cincyzoo.org](http://www.cincyzoo.org/)

Radiant Rainforests - Students will learn about the remarkable
biodiversity of two rainforest types; tropical and temperate. Focusing
on the tropical rainforests of South America and the temperate
rainforest of the Pacific Northwest, students will learn about the
similarities and differences of these two rainforests in terms of
climate, flora, and fauna.