por We explain what humid forests are, their characteristics, the types that exist, their location, climate, flora and fauna.
What is a humid forest?
He humid forest or temperate rainforest is a type of vegetation where trees predominate, which develops in temperate latitudes with an oceanic climate. These forests form in regions located between the tropics and the polar circles, in areas where there is abundant rainfall, moderate to low temperatures, and high humidity.
In humid forests there are two or three heights of trees and a lower part where herbs and shrubs grow. Also, there are few plants that climb or live on the trees.
The climate that characterizes humid forests includes cold but not freezing winters and cool or warm summers. This is due to its proximity to the oceans, which moderates temperatures, as well as providing abundant rainfall.
These forests extend through North America and the southern tip of South America, as well as Eurasia and in areas of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. All humid forests present a medium biological diversity, although in many cases they harbor a significant number of unique species.
Regarding the flora, flowering plants, conifers or a combination of both kinds of plants are abundant. While the fauna is very characteristic, including animals such as the wolf, the lynx, the bear, deer, among others.
Characteristics of humid forests
Humid forests have a number of characteristics:
Biological Diversity
Although they do not reach the level of biodiversity of the tropical forest, the humid forests are quite diverse ecosystems. In some cases the diversity becomes really high, as in some humid forests in Chile with nearly 4,000 plant species, more than 30% of them unique.
relief and soil
Humid forests develop both on plains and in valleys, plateaus and mountainous areas. The soils can become deep and in most cases with high fertility.
mycorrhizae
As in most jungle and forest ecosystems, there is a network of roots and fungal threads in the soil. This makes possible a complex system of exchange of matter and energy below the ground, which is of great importance for the ecology of the forest.
Types of humid forests
There are four types of humid forests, all with a vegetation that has abundant trees. In general, there are two to three different tree heights and a lower part, which is shady and with high humidity in the air.
moist deciduous forest
There is a predominance of temperate climate species such as oaks and beeches among others. In an environment of high rainfall and moderate temperatures, with few plants that climb or live on trees. Some examples are the humid forests of Great Britain and other areas of Western Europe.
laurel forest
Located in subtropical or temperate evergreen zones, with abundant rainfall and humidity. They are forests with trees of various heights and abundant climbing plants, as well as herbs that live on the trees.
A very characteristic example is the humid forests of Chile and part of Argentina, as well as those of the Macaronesian islands (Canary Islands and Madeira).
humid forest coniferous
Coniferous species such as pines and cypresses predominate. They are evergreen forests that have little variety in tree height. Climbing plants are practically absent, as are those that live on trees.
magellanic forest
It is characteristic of the extreme south of the Andes mountain range with abundant southern beech (Nothofagus spp.). It is distinguished by presenting lower average temperatures, between 5 to 6 °C and rainfall of up to 5,000 mm per year.
humid forest climate
The dominant climate in this type of forest is oceanic. It is a temperate rainy climate, where the oceanic masses play an important role in providing humidity and regulating the temperature.
On the one hand, the offshore winds provide annual rainfall of between 1,500 and 5,000 mm. While the seasonal temperature is moderated in such a way that the annual variation does not exceed 10 °C.
This causes milder winters and cooler summers than those that occur in the continental interior of the temperate zones. In summer mists are generated that cover these forests, maintaining humidity.
Location
The different types of humid forests are distributed in North America on the Pacific coast. They go from the north of San Francisco (USA), passing through Canada, to the south of Alaska (USA). There are also them in the lower basin of the Mississippi River (USA). Then, they are located on the Pacific coast of Chile to the southern tip of the continent in Chile and Argentina.
In Eurasia they are found in Ireland, the west coast of Great Britain, northern Spain, the coast of Norway and the northwest coast of the Balkans. Like northeastern Turkey, western Georgia, part of Azerbaijan, northern Iran, Japan, Taiwan, and southern and northeastern China.
On the other hand, in Oceania humid forest is located in the southeast of Australia, in Tasmania and in New Zealand.
Flora of the humid forest
North America and Eurasia
Oaks are found (quercus spp.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica), birches (Betula spp.), poplars (Populus spp.), elms (Ulmus minur) and maples (Acer spp.). Likewise, in some humid forests there are abundant Myrtaceae, Lauraceae, Fagaceae, Sapindaceae and Betulaceae, among others. In addition, there are humid forests where various species of pines and cypresses dominate.
South America
In some humid forests southern beeches dominate (Nothofagus spp.), along with other species such as the Guaitecas cypress (Pilgerodendron uviferum). While in others, there are species such as the myrtle (luma apiculata), the hazelnut (Hazel Gevuina) and the olivillo (Aextoxicon punctatum).
As well as the colihue (smack culeou) and larch (Fitzroya cupressoides), the latter a conifer of the cypress family. Likewise, in some of these forests araucarias are abundant.
Oceania
Coniferous trees such as the kauri (Agathis australis) and broadleaf trees as species of Dysoxylum and Nothofagus. In Australian moist forests are satinwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum) and Australian red cedar (Toona ciliata).
fauna of the humid forest
North America
The puma lives here (puma concolor), the black bear (ursus americanus) and the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the latter is an emblem of the USA.
South America
In these humid forests there are various species of amphibians, such as the Pugin’s toad (Eupsophus emiliopugini) and the southern leaf litter frog (Eupsophus calcaratus). While among the birds are the Patagonian owlet (glaucidium nanum) and the bicolor hawk (Accipiter bicolor).
While among the mammals, the monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) and the smallest deer in the world, the Pudú (pudu pudu). Among the predators is the feline called guiña (leopardus guigna).
Eurasian
In the humid forests of this region inhabit the red deer (Cervus elaphus), the wolf (canis lupus) and the brown bear (ursus arctos). In the humid forests of Asia there are endemic species such as the raccoon dog or tanuki (Nyctereutes procyonoides).
Oceania
In the humid forests of New Zealand inhabits the kiwi (Apteryx spp.), a flightless bird, symbol of the country. As well as other birds such as the Kokako (Callaeas cinerea) and the Maori dove (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae).
Like many species of bats, including the long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus). For its part, in Australia this type of forest inhabits the parma wallaby (macropus parma), a small kangaroo.
Various birds are also found in this region, such as the yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and the gray goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae). While in the temperate rain forests of the island of Tasmania inhabits the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).
References
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