When people view forests, the pictures that form in their mind are of trees, wild creatures, and other kinds of vegetation cover. To a large extent, trees, animals, and vegetation cover are only a minute aspect of a forest.
Beyond its biodiversity, there is a lot more to forests. There is an immense value that forest provides to our world and the universe.
This article uncovers the fundamental makeup of forests, providing an overview of the types of forests, and unveiling the immense importance of forests to our world.
That said, before delving into the details, it is best to have a basic understanding of the meaning of a forest.
What Is A Forest?
Forest is a community of several plants, animals, microorganisms, and biosystems. Forest constitutes all inhabitants of the land space. From the top of the trees to the depth of the earth beneath the trees.
It may be surprising to know that the parts of the forests that are visible to your naked eyes only constitute about 40 to 50 percent of the makeup of a forest. The remaining section is dominated by small creatures, vegetation, and microorganisms not visible to human eyes.
Currently, forest covers approximately one-third of the earth’s land area. Besides, the forests also serve as home to about 2/3 of the world’s species.
Despite the similarities in most woods, forests around the globe have significant differences that are readily observable.
The activities of the solar system, and the influence of humans can either affect the forests negatively or positively. The climatic condition of an environment determines the kind of vegetation that would exist on a forest.
There are typically three main types of forests: Tropical, Temperate, and Boreal Forests.
Note that each type of forest also has its subclass. Below is a detailed overview of each type of forest and the subtype.
Types of Forests
1. Temperate Forests
North America, Northeastern Asia, Western and Eastern Europe are the hotspot of Temperate forests. This type of forest is home to some unique species of trees and animals.
The location of the temperate forests gives it an exceptional climatic condition that is significantly different from all other types of forests.
Temperate forests experience four seasons, compared to tropical forests with mostly year-round rain. The location and composition of the forest give it a much fertile soil that supports a wide range of wildlife and vegetation.
Due to its widely varying climatic condition, animals inhabitants of the temperate forests tend to develop stronger adaptation instincts.
Sometimes, winter in temperate forests could last up to 6-7 months, forcing the animals to migrate or hibernate.
Distribution Of Temperate Forest
Located between the 25 degrees and 50 latitudes, Temperate Forests are usually in the Northern and some part of the Southern hemisphere: North America, Northeastern Asia, Western and Eastern Europe, including some parts of South America, South Africa, and Australia.
Alaska’s Tongass is the world’s largest temperate rainforest, with about 16.7 million acres.
The Climatic Condition Of Temperate Forests
In most cases, the region of the forest dictates the climatic condition of temperate forests.
Temperate forests experience four distinct seasons: Summer, Fall, Winter, and spring. The drastic change in weather from one season to another affects the animals and organisms in the forests.
Despite similarities in climatic conditions, there are slight variations in the amount of rainfall and drought experienced in the forests.
The temperature in the forests usually ranges between 22F to 86F. At this point, trees begin to shed their leaves to conserve energy. As spring approaches, the trees restore their trees and absorb energy from the sun.
The weather cools beyond ideal levels during winter, resulting in frosty forest. And, at this time, hords of animals begin to move to a more conducive environment for survival.
Features Of Temperate Forests
Temperate forests are rich in soil fertility that promotes growth. Some popularly known hardwoods like oaks, gum tree, maples, etc., are found in temperate forests.
Below the sky, rising trees of the temperate forest are grasses and shrubs benefiting from the fertile soil on the forest floor.
The grasses and shrubs provide a habitat for the reptiles and rodents found in the forest. The mild rainfall experienced in the forest supports the growth of a wide variety of mushrooms, fungi, and other microorganisms.
Animals In Temperate Forests
Temperate forest animal species include squirrels, foxes, deer, mountain lions, rabbits, birds, bobcats, timber wolves, and black bears.
Plants In Temperate Forests
Temperate forest tree species include oaks, hickory, willow, beech, maple, basswood, hemlock, cottonwood, elm, and many spring-flowering herbs like violet, partridgeberry, and goldthread.
Types of Temperate Forests
Temperate Rainforests (Mediterranean Forests), Coniferous Forests, Mixed Temperate Forests, and Deciduous Forests.
2. Boreal Forests (Taiga)
The name Boreal originates from the Latin expression “Aurora Borealis, meaning Northern Forest. The Boreal forest is, by far, the largest forest in the world, spanning North America, Asia, and a large part of Europe.
Boreal Forests is home to widely adaptive animals, including foxes, wolves, hawks, moose, bear, lynx, etc. In addition to the animals, about 2/3 of conifer trees worldwide are in the Boreal forests.
Taiga is among the least biodiverse biome in the world, with only six families of plants dominating this forest.
Distribution Of Boreal Forest
Boreal forests, or Taiga, are found between 50 and 60 degrees latitude in North America, Asia, and Europe. The adaptive nature of the biomes makes them survive in regions with extreme climatic conditions.
The Climatic Condition Of Boreal Forest
The climate of boreal forests is at the extreme. In the winter, temperature could drop as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit, even temperatures of -58 degrees Fahrenheit are common. The temperature during summer is usually around 64 degrees.
Trees with underdeveloped adaptive features may not survive the Boreal forest.
Usually, the plants found in the Boreal are mostly evergreen conifers with well-developed leaves, able to withstand the wide variation in temperature. The most common trees in the Boreal forest are the spruce, fir, and pine.
Animals In Boreal Forests
Boreal wildlife species include caribou, woodpeckers, hawks, moose, bear, lynx, foxes, wolves, deer, hares, shrews, and bats.
Plants In Boreal Forests
Conifers are the most abundant type of tree in the Boreal forest. Common Plants in the Boreal Forest include pines, spruce, fir, and larch, some areas also featuring broadleaf aspen and birch.
3. Tropical Forests
Tropical Forests, also referred to as Evergreen Forests and Tropical Rainforests. The name comes from the experience of the year-round rain in the regions where these forests are.
Often found close to the equator, the trees in Tropical Forests hardly shed their leaves because of the absence of dry seasons in this region, year on year.
One of the prominent physical features of Tropical forests is the proximity of the trees to one another. Unlike Temperate forests that give room to sunlight, Tropical Forests trees form a canopy that prevents the rays of the sun from reaching the forest floor, therefore, causing darkness experienced throughout the day.
Animals In Tropical Forests
Animal species in the Tropical Forest include birds, bats, mammals, and insects.
Plants In Tropical Forests
Tropical forests, trees, and plant species include orchids, bromeliads, vines, ferns, mosses, Rosewoods, Mahogany, ebony, and other hardwood.
Types of Tropical Forest
- Tropical Rainforest
- Tropical Moist Forest
- Tropical Dry Forest
- Mangroves
Final Thoughts
The forest is not just about trees, and animals. It also constitutes the total biomes and everything within. The climatic conditions of the region determines the distribution of forests.
The interactions with soils, minerals, water, and the atmosphere contribute to the nature, features, and type of forests.
Forests does not only provide vegetation. But they also play vital roles in the balance of nature: from carbon cycle to water cycle and air purification.
The forest also provide shelter to over 50 percent of global animals. The current imbalance in the climatic conditions is traceable to the vanishing forest, couple with human activities and rapid growth in the world’s population.
