Mixed and deciduous forests. The climate of mixed and deciduous forests

On the vast territories of North America and Eurasia are mixed and deciduous forests. The zones of these green massifs are in the Earth's temperate geographic belt. The list of plants with which these forests are rich includes pine and spruce, maple and linden, oak and ash, hornbeam and beech.

Mixed and deciduous forests are the habitat of roe deer and brown bears, moose and red deer, ferrets and martens, squirrels and beavers, wild boars and foxes, rabbits and chipmunks, as well as many rodent mice. Feathers who consider these massifs their dwelling are storks and cuckoos, owls and wood grouses, hazel grouses and geese, ducks and owls. In the lakes and rivers of this forest zone there are mainly carp species of fish. Sometimes there are salmons.

Mixed and broad-leaved forests were heavily affected by human activities. Since ancient times, people began to cut them down, replacing them with fields.

Forest Massifs of North America and Western Europe

The territory of coniferous forests has its southern border. It is located in the western part of Eurasia and in the North American Great Lakes region. Its coordinates are about sixty degrees north of latitude. To the south of this mark, along with coniferous species in the forest massifs there are broad-leaved species. In this case, trees in different parts of the world are represented by different types.

The climate of mixed and deciduous forests is warmer than in the coniferous zone. The summer period in these zones is longer than in the north, however winters are quite cold and snowy. In such mixed and broad-leaved forests dominated by broad-grass plants that have wide plates.

In the autumn deciduous trees discard their cover, resulting in the formation of humus. Moderate moistening promotes the accumulation of mineral and organic substances in the upper soil layers.

The transition zone, in which the mixed forests are located , is not homogeneous. In the formation of vegetation in these massifs, local conditions, as well as types of soil rocks play an important role.

So, for example, in the southern part of Sweden, as well as in the Baltic States, large areas are occupied by forests with a predominance of clean fir groves. They grow on moraine loamy soils.

Somewhat to the south, there is a fall of coniferous species from the stand. Forest ranges become only broadleaved. In these zones, the temperature in January does not drop below the minus-ten mark on average, and in July this figure is thirteen-twenty-three degrees of heat.

Vegetation of forests of North America and Western Europe

Between mixed as well as deciduous forests it is difficult to draw a clear boundary. Conifers can be found far to the south, up to the zone of subtropics. In addition, deciduous trees were cut more intensively. This caused a predominant share of coniferous species.

Vegetation of mixed and deciduous forests is diverse. In the south of the subtropics, magnolia, paulonia and tulip tree penetrated their territory . In the underbrush next to the lilac and honeysuckle you can find rhododendron and bamboo. Distributed in such zones and vines from wild grapes, magnolia vine, etc.

Forests of Russia

In those latitudes where the taiga extends its southern borders, mixed and deciduous forests enter their domains. Their territory extends to the forest-steppe. The zone in which the green massifs consist of mixed and broad-leaved trees is located from the western borders of Russia to the place where the Oka flows into the Volga.

The climate that is typical for mixed and deciduous forests in Russia

The zone of green massifs is not protected from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which determines the weather conditions on its territory. The climate of mixed and broad-leaved forests of Russia is moderately warm. But it is soft enough. The climatic conditions of this zone favorably influence the growth of coniferous tree species along with broad-leaved trees. At these latitudes there is a warm summer and a relatively long cold winter.

The atmospheric temperature of mixed and deciduous forests in the warm period has an average value exceeding ten degrees. In addition, the climate in this zone is characterized by high humidity. In the warm period, the maximum amount of precipitation falls (in the range from 600 to 800 millimeters). These factors favorably affect the growth of broad-leaved trees.

Reservoirs

In the mixed and broad-leaved forests of the Russian Federation, there are many rivers leading to the East European Plain. In their list is the Dnieper, as well as the Volga, the Western Dvina, and others.

The occurrence of surface water in this zone is quite close to the surface layers of the earth. This fact, as well as the dismembered landscape of the relief and the presence of clay-sand deposits favor the emergence of lakes and marshes.

Vegetation

In the European part of Russia, mixed and deciduous forests are heterogeneous. Oak and linden, ash and elm are widespread in the western part of the zone. With the progress to the east, the continentality of the climate is increasing. There is a shift of the southern boundary of the zone to the north, and at the same time the predominant species of trees are fir and spruce. The role of broad-leaved species is significantly reduced. In the eastern regions, a lime tree is common. This tree forms the second tier in mixed forest tracts. In such areas the undergrowth develops well. It is represented by such plants as hazel, spindle grass, and also honeysuckle. But in the low-lying grass cover grow taiga species of plants - Maynik and Kislitsa.

The flora of mixed and deciduous forests varies as one moves southward. This is due to climate change, which is becoming warmer. In these zones, the volume of precipitation is close to the evaporability index. Broad-leaved forests predominate on these territories. Coniferous tree species are encountered less often. The main role in such forests belongs to oak and lime.

The territories of these green forests are rich in floodplain and dry meadow meadows, which are located on alluvial soil layers. There are also swamps here. Among them, lowland and transitional ones predominate.

Animal world

Mixed and deciduous forests in former times were rich in wild animals and birds. Now the representatives of the fauna man pushed into the least populated zones or exterminated altogether. To preserve or restore a particular species, there are specially created reserves. Typical animals living in the zone of mixed and deciduous forests are black ferret, bison, moose, beaver, etc. Species of animals living in Eurasia are close in origin to those species whose habitat is the European zone. This roe deer and deer, marten and mink, desman and sleepwalker.

Spotted deer and maral, as well as muskrat, acclimatized in this zone. In mixed and broad-leaved forests, one can find a horror and a quick lizard.

Human activity

Mixed and deciduous forests of Russia contain huge timber reserves. Their minerals are rich in valuable minerals, and the rivers have colossal energy reserves. These areas have been mastered by man for a long time. Especially it concerns the Russian Plain. In its territory, considerable areas are reserved for cattle breeding and farming. In order to preserve forest complexes, national parks are created. There are also nature reserves and nature reserves.