Students of GCSE Geography will look at some of the different climates and environments on Earth. One environment they will study is that of the temperate forests - coniferous, broadleaf and mixed.
Temperate climates are found in the milder places between the tropics and the polar regions. Without the extremes of temperature found in the tropics and at the poles, the temperate regions are considered moderate and their seasons show less extreme changes. The UK is in this temperate region and is heavily influenced by the maritime climate as the North Atlantic Current brings warmer waters up from the south.
Temperate forests have on average between 200mm and 350mm of rainfall per year, and mild and moderate temperatures. This steady rainfall and lack of extremes allows for shrubs, flowers and trees to grow at a steady rate and adapt to more generalised conditions.
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Temperate forests are divided into three types - coniferous forests, broadleaf forests and mixed forests. A specific type of broadleaf forest is the deciduous forest, a type that is found widely in the British Isles. Some temperate forests receive enough rainfall to be considered rain forests. Whilst these mostly occur in North America, the coastal regions of Africa and the mountainous regions of Asia, they also notably occur in New Zealand and the British Isles. In the British Isles these so called Celtic rainforests or Atlantic oakwood forests occur in isolated pockets around some notable lochs in Scotland, in the English Lake District, in Devon and Cornwall, on the valley sides of the River Dart and some riverine gorges on the slopes of Snowdonia. Some of these regions that are considered temperate rainforests receive in excess of 2,000mm of rainfall per annum.
These temperate areas are valuable ecosystems for a huge variety of species. They are simpler in terms of structure, having a canopy and under structure, but without the other layers that characterise tropical forests. Play this quiz and test your knowledge of coniferous, broadleaf and mixed temperate forests.
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1.
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Broadleaf trees have large leaves that have adapted to absorb the maximum amount of sunlight possible. This large size means that they are vulnerable to winter winds and freezing conditions. Some broadleaf trees lose their leaves in the winter. What is this type of forest known as? |
|
| [ ] |
Coniferous |
| [ ] |
Deciduous |
| [ ] |
Adaptive |
| [ ] |
Successional |
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2.
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Mediterranean forests include a special type of vegetative ecosystem known as Mediterranean scrublands. Whilst these are normally not large enough to be considered true forests they do include small oaks and pines. What is one of the main threats facing Mediterranean scrubland? |
|
| [ ] |
Overgrazing by sheep and goats |
| [ ] |
Forest fires |
| [ ] |
Drought |
| [ ] |
Flooding |
|
|
|
3.
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What type of tree dominates in coniferous forests? |
|
| [ ] |
Conifers |
| [ ] |
Broadleaf |
| [ ] |
Deciduous |
| [ ] |
Oak |
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|
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4.
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Why are coniferous forests described as being evergreen? |
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| [ ] |
The bark and branches are green so once they lose their leaves they still seem to be green |
| [ ] |
Their leaves don't go through a brown phase each autumn but stay green until they fall off each winter |
| [ ] |
Their small needle-like leaves are resistant to cold winters and so don’t need to be shed each winter |
| [ ] |
They are traditionally brought inside as a Christmas tree so stay green all year round |
|
|
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5.
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Why are mosses predominantly found on the forest floor and tree branches of temperate forests? |
|
| [ ] |
The strong levels of light allow the mosses to grow |
| [ ] |
Mosses feed on the sap of trees and need cold dry conditions |
| [ ] |
Mosses have a parasitic relationship with trees |
| [ ] |
The low light conditions and damp atmosphere mean there is little else to compete with the mosses |
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6.
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If a forest contains spruces, hemlock, pines and fir trees what type of forest is it? |
|
| [ ] |
Coniferous |
| [ ] |
Mixed |
| [ ] |
Broadleaf |
| [ ] |
Deciduous |
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7.
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Plant or ecological succession is the process from exposed ground through to a final established forest. In terms of succession what stage follows a mature forest? |
|
| [ ] |
Emergent forest or community |
| [ ] |
Defined forest or community |
| [ ] |
Climax forest or community |
| [ ] |
Successional forest or community |
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|
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8.
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What is a pioneer species? |
|
| [ ] |
The first species to colonise a previously disturbed or disrupted ecosystem, beginning the chain of succession |
| [ ] |
The final species to finish off a chain of succession |
| [ ] |
A species that takes root on a beach or coastline |
| [ ] |
The species that carries on after an emergent species has taken hold after a fire or other clearance |
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9.
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In terms of forest management, what is coppicing? |
|
| [ ] |
Allowing trees to grow wild to form wildlife zones |
| [ ] |
Young trees are cut down nearly to ground level to allow multiple shoots to regrow in subsequent years |
| [ ] |
Growing single trees and removing the branches to form tall straight trunks |
| [ ] |
Logging single trees from within the forest to allow better growth of other trees. Removal often occurs using horses to minimise damage to trees surrounding the trees that are removed |
|
|
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10.
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Which of the following is not a way that coniferous trees are adapted to the conditions of winters? |
|
| [ ] |
Thick bark to protect themselves against the cold |
| [ ] |
Pine cones to protect the seeds during the winter |
| [ ] |
Broad leaves to absorb the maximum amount of sunlight |
| [ ] |
Dense forests to create warmth during the winter |
|
|
|
1.
|
Broadleaf trees have large leaves that have adapted to absorb the maximum amount of sunlight possible. This large size means that they are vulnerable to winter winds and freezing conditions. Some broadleaf trees lose their leaves in the winter. What is this type of forest known as? |
|
| [ ] |
Coniferous |
| [x] |
Deciduous |
| [ ] |
Adaptive |
| [ ] |
Successional |
|
|
|
2.
|
Mediterranean forests include a special type of vegetative ecosystem known as Mediterranean scrublands. Whilst these are normally not large enough to be considered true forests they do include small oaks and pines. What is one of the main threats facing Mediterranean scrubland? |
|
| [x] |
Overgrazing by sheep and goats |
| [ ] |
Forest fires |
| [ ] |
Drought |
| [ ] |
Flooding |
|
|
|
3.
|
What type of tree dominates in coniferous forests? |
|
| [x] |
Conifers |
| [ ] |
Broadleaf |
| [ ] |
Deciduous |
| [ ] |
Oak |
|
|
|
4.
|
Why are coniferous forests described as being evergreen? |
|
| [ ] |
The bark and branches are green so once they lose their leaves they still seem to be green |
| [ ] |
Their leaves don't go through a brown phase each autumn but stay green until they fall off each winter |
| [x] |
Their small needle-like leaves are resistant to cold winters and so don’t need to be shed each winter |
| [ ] |
They are traditionally brought inside as a Christmas tree so stay green all year round |
|
|
|
5.
|
Why are mosses predominantly found on the forest floor and tree branches of temperate forests? |
|
| [ ] |
The strong levels of light allow the mosses to grow |
| [ ] |
Mosses feed on the sap of trees and need cold dry conditions |
| [ ] |
Mosses have a parasitic relationship with trees |
| [x] |
The low light conditions and damp atmosphere mean there is little else to compete with the mosses |
|
|
|
6.
|
If a forest contains spruces, hemlock, pines and fir trees what type of forest is it? |
|
| [x] |
Coniferous |
| [ ] |
Mixed |
| [ ] |
Broadleaf |
| [ ] |
Deciduous |
|
|
|
7.
|
Plant or ecological succession is the process from exposed ground through to a final established forest. In terms of succession what stage follows a mature forest? |
|
| [ ] |
Emergent forest or community |
| [ ] |
Defined forest or community |
| [x] |
Climax forest or community |
| [ ] |
Successional forest or community |
|
|
|
8.
|
What is a pioneer species? |
|
| [x] |
The first species to colonise a previously disturbed or disrupted ecosystem, beginning the chain of succession |
| [ ] |
The final species to finish off a chain of succession |
| [ ] |
A species that takes root on a beach or coastline |
| [ ] |
The species that carries on after an emergent species has taken hold after a fire or other clearance |
|
|
|
9.
|
In terms of forest management, what is coppicing? |
|
| [ ] |
Allowing trees to grow wild to form wildlife zones |
| [x] |
Young trees are cut down nearly to ground level to allow multiple shoots to regrow in subsequent years |
| [ ] |
Growing single trees and removing the branches to form tall straight trunks |
| [ ] |
Logging single trees from within the forest to allow better growth of other trees. Removal often occurs using horses to minimise damage to trees surrounding the trees that are removed |
|
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following is not a way that coniferous trees are adapted to the conditions of winters? |
|
| [ ] |
Thick bark to protect themselves against the cold |
| [ ] |
Pine cones to protect the seeds during the winter |
| [x] |
Broad leaves to absorb the maximum amount of sunlight |
| [ ] |
Dense forests to create warmth during the winter |
|
|
