Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

Temperate Rainforest Plants, Animals and Trees

The temperate rainforest represents an ecosystem that covers a very small portion of the Earth. It is found along the northwest coast of the United States in Oregon and Washington. It extends through the coast of Canada and into southern Alaska. Other worldwide locations include small parts of New Zealand, southern Chile and Australia. Certain plants, animals and trees thrive in the wet environment.

Habitat
- Temperate rainforests exist in narrow bands along the ocean where mountains run close to the shore. Temperate rainforests receive large amounts of rainfall like their tropical rainforest counterparts; in the Olympic National Park in the state of Washington, 140 to 167 inches fall every year. The difference lies in the temperature; it gets cold in the temperate areas with snow. This cool climate affects the types and diversity of plants, animals and trees. Each must be able to survive in a cold wet climate.
Plants
- One of the main features of a temperature rainforest are epiphytes, or plants growing on top of other plants. In the warmer areas, mosses grow on trees and cover the ground. Other plants include ferns and lichens. Temperate rainforests contain considerable moisture due to the large rainfall. This factor along with the slower decomposition of plant material due to cooler temperatures provides a fertile environment for plant life.
Animals
- One of the largest protected temperate rainforests is the Olympic National Park in the state of Washington, containing nearly one million acres. It is home to the largest population of Roosevelt elk in the United States. Temperate rainforests also provide a safe environment for salmon to spawn in the streams. Grizzly and black bears live in the temperate rainforests of North America, although most grizzlies are in the Alaskan portion. The bears feed on the salmon. Two types of birds found are the blue grouse and Clark's nutcracker.
Trees
- Trees grow large and live a long time in the temperate rainforests. Sitka spruces and western hemlocks live hundreds of years and grow up to 250 feet with circumferences ranging from 30 to 60 feet. Other coniferous trees include the Douglas fir and western red cedar, although in the warmer rainforests, deciduous trees like the big leaf red maple are found. When these old trees die it takes centuries for the wood to decay, thus providing habitat for plants, small animals and insects. In addition, the decaying wood provides an environment for the growth of tree seedlings.

Nature