Broad-leaved forests: features, relief, plants and animals. Broad-leaved forests: characteristics of the natural zone, geographical location, climate and soils of broad-leaved forests, map

1. Geographical location of the forest zone
2. Taiga
3. Mixed forest
4. Broadleaf forest
5. Animal world forest zone
6. Traditional activities population
7. Environmental issues

1. Geographical location of the forest zone

The green ocean of forests is widely spread on the map of our country. Our country is often called a great forest power. Indeed, the forest zone occupies more than half of the territory of Russia. This natural area is the largest. There are three parts in this natural zone: the largest part is the taiga. She is painted dark - in green. There are also mixed forests - also green, but lighter. And another part - broad-leaved forests, the green color is even lighter. But between the "Tundra" zone and the "Forest" zone there is an INTERMEDIATE ZONE - this is FOREST-TUNDRA. It is a smooth transition from one zone to another. The closer to the south, the natural conditions become milder.

Forests are located south of the tundra. They begin to grow gradually, as the warming of the earth increases. Therefore, after the tundra, there is still, as it were, a layer, the forest-tundra. The further south, the higher the sun rises above the horizon and the more it warms the earth. Winter here is still severe, but less long. Summer is warmer than in the tundra. In more southern places no more permafrost. After winter, the snow melts and the earth warms up well. The soil layer is much thicker than in the tundra and more fertile. As you move south, coniferous forests become denser and gradually they occupy the entire space. Coniferous forests occupy most of Siberia, and the northern territories of the European part of Russia. These forests are called taiga. If we go further south, then weather will change. Winters will become shorter and milder, summers will be longer and warmer. Therefore, south of the taiga are mixed forests. Mixed forests grow in the southern regions of Siberia and in central area European part of Russia. There are much fewer swamps here. Further south, forests consisting of deciduous trees begin to occur. Such forests are called deciduous. They grow in the south and west of Russia, as well as in Far East.

2. Taiga

Taiga is coniferous forest. it occupies most of the forest zone. Winter in the taiga is cold, and summer is warmer than in the tundra, so trees grow here that are not very demanding on heat - these are coniferous trees. In coniferous trees, the leaves are needles, and they are always green. This tall trees with strong roots. In the taiga grow: spruce, pine, fir, larch, cedar pine.

Spruce - familiar to everyone Christmas tree. In spruce, the needles are short, rough, arranged singly and densely cover the branches. The cones are oblong in shape. Ate - long-lived. IN spruce forest dark and damp.

Pine - a coniferous tree with an even trunk yellow color. Pine needles are long, sitting in pairs. Pine cones are round in shape. Pine forests are light and dry.

Fir - differs from spruce in that its needles are flat, and the cones stick up and even mature ones do not fall to the ground, but scales simply fall from them.

Larch is the only coniferous tree that drops its needles for the winter.

The cedar pine is popularly called Siberian cedar. Her needles are collected in bunches of five pieces, and the seeds are pine nuts.

The taiga is characterized by the absence or weak development of undergrowth (since there is little light in the forest), as well as the monotony of the grass-shrub layer and moss cover (green mosses). Types of shrubs (juniper, honeysuckle, currant, willow, etc.), shrubs (blueberries, lingonberries, etc.) and herbs (sour, wintergreen) are not numerous

3. Mixed forest

To the south, the taiga is replaced by a mixed forest. Along with coniferous trees, alder, birch, and aspen grow in it. Winter in such a forest is milder. Deciduous trees have medium-sized leaves that they shed for the winter.

Birch can be recognized by its bark, it is white, no other tree propagating by seeds has such a bark.

Aspen has rounded leaves, and they tremble with every breath of wind, aspen bark is greenish, in spring you can see long fluffy catkins.

Alder has small dark bumps on the branches, the trunk is black or gray.

4. Broadleaf forest

Toward the south of the zone it becomes even warmer, and mixed forests are replaced by broad-leaved forests, in which large trees, for the winter shed foliage, propagated by seeds.

Oak can be recognized by its mighty trunk and carved leaves, the fruits of oak are acorns.

Linden has heart-shaped leaves. In summer, when flowering, linden spreads a wonderful aroma. Linden fruits are dark nuts, sitting in several pieces under one wing.

Elm can be recognized by its leaves and fruits: the leaves are “skew-sided” at the base, one half is larger than the other, the fruits are rounded winged nuts.

Maple is holly, Tatar and American. The fruits of all types of maple are winged.

5. Wildlife of the forest zone

The fauna of the forest zone is diverse: here you can meet large and small animals, insects. In the taiga live: nutcracker, chipmunk, flying squirrel, sable. Also living in the forest zone: red deer, elk, bear, wolves, foxes, lynxes, hares, squirrels, capercaillie, chipmunks, voles. There are no borders for animals - they live throughout the zone. Some animals go into hibernation for the winter (hedgehogs, bears), others make supplies for the winter.

The nutcracker is a taiga bird that makes stocks of pine nuts for the winter.

The flying squirrel is a relative of the squirrel, but smaller than it. She can not only jump, but also fly: she has membranes between her front and hind legs.

The brown bear is an omnivorous animal, very mobile, it can run fast, jump, climb trees, swim.

Elk is a forest giant. Moose consume different amounts of food in different seasons of the year. In winter, they form groups.

The lynx is a predator, has a spotted color. Tanks are developed on the sides of the head, and tassels are on the ears. The lynx, hiding, waits for the victim and quietly creeps up to it.

The white hare changes color for the winter, becomes white, only the tips of the ears are black, the coat becomes thick. These are cautious animals.

The fauna of the taiga is richer and more diverse than the fauna of the tundra: here you can meet large and small animals, insects Numerous and widespread: lynx, mink, wolverine, chipmunk, marten, sable, squirrel, flying squirrel, etc. Of the ungulates, there are northern and noble deer, elk, roe deer; rodents are numerous: shrews, mice. Birds are common: capercaillie, hazel grouse, nutcracker, crossbills, etc.

IN taiga forest in comparison with the forest-tundra, the conditions for the life of animals are more favorable. There are more settled animals here. Nowhere in the world, except for the taiga, there are so many fur-bearing animals.

There are no borders for animals - they live throughout the zone. Some animals go into hibernation for the winter (hedgehogs, bears), others make supplies for the winter.

6. Traditional occupations of the population

Traditional occupations of the population - hunting for fur animal, collection of medicinal raw materials, wild fruits, nuts, berries and mushrooms, fishing, logging, (building houses), cattle breeding.

7. Environmental issues

reforestation work;
creation of nature reserves, sanctuaries and other protected areas,
rational use of wood

In our country, a lot of protected forest areas have been created.

Industrial timber reserves are concentrated in the taiga, large deposits minerals (coal, oil, gas, etc.). also a lot of valuable wood

As a result of the economic crisis, the volume of reforestation work has decreased.

Problem not solved with rational use wood. In Russia, only 50-70% of tree biomass is used.

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broadleaf forests

Deciduous forest zones are represented in the central regions of the European part of Russia: Samara, Ufa and partly the Oryol region.

There are also treeless zones here, but they are artificially created for the purpose of agricultural work.

In the strip that covers 55 ° and 50 ° N. sh. predominantly oak and linden groves grow. Closer to the south are bird cherry, mountain ash and birch. Broad-leaved forests are also characteristic of the Far East, in particular in the Amur River valley.

Such forests appeared here due to the proximity of two climatic directions at the same time: cold Siberia and warm China.

The main condition for distribution deciduous forests is a temperate climate with warm, mild winters and high humidity air in summer.

small-leaved forests

Such arrays are represented by a set of trees, the leaf plate of which is rather narrow compared to oak and maple plates. The zone of small-leaved forests covers the East European plains and some territories of the Far East.

A strip of small-leaved forests stretches from the Yenisei to the Urals.

Small-leaved trees include birch, aspen and gray alder.

Such trees are resistant to abrupt changes temperature regime: neither heat nor frost will harm them.

Small-leaved forests grow rapidly and are characterized by high recovery rates.

Taiga

taiga forest zone represented by coniferous trees that form the base biological system region. The taiga zone in Russia is divided into three main types: light coniferous (Scots pines), dark coniferous (spruces and firs) and mixed.

The undergrowth of the taiga forest zone is often represented by shrubs, tall grasses and mosses. The taiga forests include the Ural, Far Eastern, Altai, Kolyma, Transbaikal, Sakhalin forest mountain ranges.

Taiga occupies more than 80% of the forests of the Russian Federation.

forest tundra

This zone is located in subarctic belt, and covers the area from Kola Peninsula to the coast of the Indigirka River. Due to the low temperature and the low amount of precipitation, which, despite this, do not have time to evaporate, the forest-tundra is very swampy.

Trees grow here thanks to the rivers, which are fed by melted snow.

Forests here are located in small islands in desert areas. Spruce, fir, pine and many different shrubs are characteristic of this zone.

The forest zones of Russia are extremely diverse and rich.

However, widespread deforestation forest resources in business and economic purposes causes irreversible damage to the environment.

Therefore, the state, with the initiative of environmental societies, created many reserves in which forest resources are protected from poachers.

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Abstract on the topic:

Forest

Plan:

1Forest as a historical factor
2Forest as a geographical factor
3The importance of the forest for human life
4The importance of forests for human health
5Forest classification
- 5.1Depending on latitude
6Forest settings

Notes
Literature

Introduction

Forest- part of the surface globe covered with woody plants.

Currently, forests cover about a third of the land area. The total forest area on Earth is 38 million km². Half of this forest zone belongs to tropical forests, the fourth part is located in the northern hemisphere.

The forest area in Russia is 8 million km².

1. Forest as a historical factor

The presence or absence of a forest often had a direct impact on the course of historical processes and the fate of ethnic groups.

It has been argued among some economists that life primitive man in the forests, where the gathering of forest gifts took place, carried out mainly by women, and hunting and fishing, which were mainly done by men, became the basis for the division of labor, as one of most important features human society.

The further development of tools and means of production, associated with the development of cattle breeding and agriculture, which meant significant progress in public relations, is associated with the release of a person from a strong dependence on the forest.

The founding of settlements on the site of forests that were uprooted and thus provided a place for life and agricultural activity is evidenced, for example, by the toponyms of German geography: Friedrichroda, Gernrode, Osterode, Rodach, Walsrode, Wernigerode, Zeulenroda and others.

Some of them settlements are tentatively located on the territory of the extended Hercynian forest, which approximately coincided with the place of residence of the Germanic tribes of the Hermundurs, Hermiones and Marcomanni

On the other hand, the forest, its proximity to housing, significantly influenced the historically developing way of life of people, in particular, national architecture.

So, a typical type of housing for Eastern Slavs were log buildings. Even in the case when the first floor of the building was built of stone (brick), the second floor and higher floors were wooden.

This was facilitated by the belief that life in a wooden building is healthier than in a stone one.

For the first time the historical role of the forest is documented in the notes of Julius Caesar (about 100-44 BC).

H.) about the Gallic War - De bello Galliko, who between 58 and 51 came into contact with the Germanic tribes who inhabited the forested lands on the right bank of the Rhine. Caesar explained his refusal to extend expansion to these lands by saying that these forests are inhabited by unicorns and other mythical animals, and therefore these lands can never be colonized, and it is more expedient to simply ignore them.

Most likely, the reason was Caesar's clear idea of the futility of using the tactics of the Roman legions in the forest area, in the open spaces bringing certain victory.

And this fear was confirmed in the year 9, when the Cheruscus Arminius utterly defeated the army of the Roman commander Publius Quintilius Varus in the Teutoburg Forest. As a result, at the beginning of our era, the wooded area inhabited by the Germans even bore the name "Free Germany" among the Romans ( germany libera)

For the main part of humanity living in areas with a temperate climate, forests have long ceased to be the place of residence of fairly large communities, but their function as a refuge from the enemy, as well as from excessive regulation by society, has been preserved throughout human history.

The forest has always been associated with the habitat of marginalized individuals, which is reflected in fiction (Robin Hood from Sherwood Forest) or in the national Russian epic - "The Nightingale the Robber" from Murom Forest.

During the Second World War, vast forests in Lithuania and Belarus were called "Partisan Land". Here, despite the occupation regime, the organs of Soviet power continued to exist.

After the war, these forests served as a refuge for nationalist groups called "forest brothers".

In the forest regions of occupied Yugoslavia, the partisan community even had the character public education with its armed forces differentiated by type of troops.

After World War II, extensive forested areas South America have also been the scene of major partisan formations(Che Guevara).

2.
Forest as a geographical factor

Forests have a significant impact on the weather, climate and processes occurring on the earth's surface and at some depth below it.

The forest interacts with the following components of the environment:

The forest participates in the oxygen cycle in nature in the most active way.
Due to the huge mass of the forest, the importance of the processes of photosynthesis and respiration of forests has a huge impact on the gas composition of the Earth's atmosphere. Solar energy is one of the main sources of forest existence. Thanks to solar energy, the forest can carry out the process of photosynthesis, which contributes to the release of oxygen necessary for the life of the subjects of the animal and plant world.
Hydrosphere.
The forest is directly involved in the water cycle in nature and thus interacts with the hydrosphere. The forest delays soil water from leaving with the rivers in large reservoirs. Predatory deforestation along river banks leads to their catastrophic shallowing, which leads to a deterioration in the water supply of settlements and a decrease in the fertility of agricultural land.
In winter, masses of snow that do not melt for a long time under the forest cover retain water and thereby weaken the intensity of the often destructive spring floods.
Atmosphere.
The influence of the forest on atmospheric processes is also great.

There is a well-known practice of creating windproof forest belts, which also contribute to snow retention, as well as weaken the force of the wind, leading to the removal of the fertile soil layer, deprived of vegetation cover due to its cultivation for crops.
Animal world.
The forest serves as a habitat for many animals. Animals, in turn, often play a sanitary role in the forest.
Human. The forest has great value for human health and life.
Human activity, in turn, affects the forest.
Lithosphere. The composition of the upper layers of the lithosphere is associated with the growth of forests in the respective areas

3. The importance of the forest for human life

In the old days in Russia they said: “To live near the forest is not to be hungry.

The forest is richer than the king. The forest not only feeds the wolf, but also the peasant to his fill.

The following main areas of forest use for economic purposes can be distinguished:

Food source (mushrooms, berries, animals, birds, honey)
Energy source (wood)
Construction material
Raw materials for production (paper production)
Regulator of natural processes (forest planting to protect the soil from weathering)

Unfortunately, today the volume of deforestation is often several times higher than the volume of its natural restoration.

In this regard, in civilized countries much attention is paid to the reproduction of the forest, both through forest plantations that restore the number of trees, and the complete prohibition of any economic activity in some forests.

This ensures natural reforestation in these areas, and in some countries there are a small number of forest areas where human intervention in the life of the forest has never taken place. In Germany, these forests are called "urwald" - primeval or ancient forest. In them, even coniferous trees (spruce) live up to the age of 400 years.

4. Importance of the forest for human health

The forest has great sanitary and hygienic and healing value. In the air natural forests there are more than 300 names of various chemical compounds.

Forests actively transform atmospheric pollution, especially gaseous ones. Conifers (pine, spruce, juniper), as well as some varieties of lindens and birches, have the highest oxidizing ability.

The forest actively absorbs industrial pollution, in particular dust, hydrocarbons.

Forests, especially coniferous ones, emit phytoncides - volatile substances with bactericidal properties.

Phytoncides kill pathogenic microbes. In certain doses, they have a beneficial effect on nervous system, enhance the motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract, improve metabolism and stimulate cardiac activity. Many of them are enemies of pathogens of infectious diseases, but only if there are few of them.

Phytoncides of poplar buds, Antonov apples, eucalyptus have a detrimental effect on the influenza virus. Oak leaves destroy typhoid and dysentery bacteria.

5. Forest classification

There are several classifications of the forest, depending on the place of distribution, the age of the trees, and their species.

5.1. Depending on the latitude

Depending on the latitude in which the forest is located, there are:

Tropical rainforests(selva, gilea, jungle) - equatorial evergreen forests: has a large species diversity flora and fauna.
A large tier allows only a very small amount of light to penetrate inside (to the lower tiers). More than half of all rainforest already destroyed.

Classical examples are the forests of the Amazon, the jungles of India and the Congo Basin.
Caatinga- dry deciduous tropical forests, fall during the drought period.
eucalyptus groves Australia - evergreen subtropical forests.
Deciduous forests(broad-leaved and small-leaved): found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Due to the penetration of light, life on the lower tiers is more active. Ancient forests of temperate latitudes are represented only by scattered remnants.
Taiga- coniferous forest: the most extensive area. Includes forests over 50% of Siberia, Alaska, Scandinavia and Canada. There are also araucaria groves in South America.
The flora is represented mainly by coniferous evergreen trees and plants.
mixed forests- forests in which both deciduous and coniferous trees grow. The range extends to almost the entire Central and Western Europe.

6. Forest parameters

6.1. Grade

Notes

Engels Friedrich. family origin, private property and states. 1884
1 2 Baedecker.
Deutschland. Verlag Karl Baedeker. 2002. ISBN 3-8297-1004-6
Weltatlas. Printed in Spain-2002. ISBN 3-85492-743-6
Feller, V.V. German Odyssey. Scientific and popular publication. - Samara: Samar. Print House. 2001. - 344 p. ISBN 5-7350-0325-9
Spegalsky Yu. P. Pskov.
Artistic monuments. - Lenizdat, 1971.
Andreev V. F. The Northern Guardian of Russia: Essays on the History of Medieval Novgorod. - 2nd ed., add. and reworked. - L.: Lenizdat, 1989. - 175 p. ISBN 5-289-00256-1
Razgonov S. N. Northern studies. Moscow: Molodaya Gvardiya, 1972. 192 pages, with illustrations.
Notes of Julius Caesar and his successors "On the Gallic War". - M., 1991
Dr.
Fritz Winzer Weltgeschichte Daten Fakten Bilder. Georg Westermann Verlag. 1987. ISBN 3-07-509036-0
1 2 . Martin Kitchen. The Cambridge Illustrated History of Germany. Cambridge University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-521-45341-0
Reinhard Pozorny (Hg) Deutsches National Lexikon. DSZ-Verlag, ISBN 3-925924-09-4

Literature

Atlas of forests of the USSR.
The woods. - M., Thought, 1981. - 316 p. - (Nature of the world).
Brazilian Amazon cut down by 70% - zelenyshluz.narod.ru/articles/amazonia.htm
Brazil bans deforestation in 36 areas of the Amazon
Sokolsky I. Healing red forest // Science and life: Journal.
2008. - No. 2. - S. 156-160.

Broad-leaved (beech) forest in Slovenia

Coniferous (pine) forest

coniferous forest

Forest on San Juan Island, Washington

Valdivian forests on the island of Chiloe

Winter forest. Pinezhie

Spring forest. Slobozhanshchina

Mast forest (Lindulovskaya ship grove near St. Petersburg)

Urwald on the banks of the Arbersee lake

Flora secrets

For different trees a different amount of heat is required, one more - another. Coniferous breeds - spruce, Pine, larch, spruce, cedar pine(often called cedar) - less demanding on heat. They grow well in the northern part of the forest.

These trees consist of coniferous species - taiga. Taiga occupies most of the forest area.

coniferous

Summer in the tajg is much warmer than in the tundra, but the winter is very cold. It is also permafrost here.

True, in summer the surface of the earth sinks deeper than in the tundra. This is very important for trees with strong roots.

Flora of mixed and broad-leaved forests

To the south of the taiga, the winter is rather mild.

There is no permafrost here. These conditions are more favorable for deciduous. That's why they are in the south of the Taj Mahal mixed forests. Here, as if mixed with coniferous trees and deciduous trees. More south stretched out broadband forests. They are formed by thermal trees with wide, large leaves.

These trees oak,maple, Linden, ashes, Brest.

These species are called wide shells, as opposed to small leaves, which include birch, aspen.

October trees

Animal world of forests

On this page we will talk about some of the animals that live in the forest.

Questions and tasks

first

Natural regions of Russia:
a) tundra, arctic zone, forest zone
b) arctic zone, forest zone, tundra
c) Arctic zone, tundra, forest zone.

second

In Thai they grow:
a) spruce, spruce, larch
b) oaks, pines, spruce
c) birch, lime and larch.

3. Lives in the forests ...
a) arctic foxes, lemmings, wolves.
b) Sable, squirrels, squirrels.
c) seals, wet, whales.

4. Where are mixed forests located?
a) south of the taiga
b) north of the taiga

5. Which tree is deciduous?
a) maple, larch, pine
b) spruce, spruce, larch
c) brest, ash, lime

to answer

first

Work is done
Teacher elementary school
MKO School. 4
Location Mineral water
Zhuravleva Natalia Nikolaevna

second

The forest zone is located south of the tundra zone, marked in green on the map.
color.

The forest zone is located in the temperate zone, which means they are different
all four seasons, cold winters and hot summers. More forest area
part is located on the east and West Siberian Plains,
as well as on the middle Siberian plateau.

This natural area is the largest.
There are three parts in this natural zone: the largest part is taiga, colored
Dark green, they are still mixed forests - also green, but
lighter, and the other part is broadband forests, the green is even lighter.

the third

the woods
taiga
mixed forest
broadband
the woods

fourth

fifth

Taiga is coniferous, it sits a lot
part of the forest area.

Winter in the taiga - frost and
in summer it is warmer than in the tundra, so they grow here,
trees that are not very demanding
warm, they are conifers.

In conifers
trees - leaves - these are needles and always
green. This big trees with strong
roots.
In Thai they grow:

sixth

seventh

eighths

Macesen-
only
coniferous
which are for the winter
reload needles.

ninth

tenths

11

12 13th

fourteenth

In the south, Taeza is a mixed forest.
It grows with conifers
birch, aspen, alder. Winter in this forest
softer.

October trees are small
leaves that overflow for the winter.

fifteenth

We can recognize birch with bark, so it is white
Any tree has no bark,
seed distribution.

sixteenth

Aspen has rounded leaves and every moment hits
Windy, aspen is greenish, but in spring it looks like a long fluffy
earrings.

seventeenth

Joji has small, dark hands on the branches
The trunk is black or grey.

In black alder leaves
they have a sharp tip.

eighteenth

Toward the south, the region becomes even warmer, and
mixed forests are changing
Broadband where oak grows
maple, autumn, brest, linden. This warm love
trees, so they have big
leaves, for winter discarded foliage,
multiply by seeds.

nineteenth

Oak can be recognized
mighty
trunk and carved
leaves
oak fruit
it's a stomach.

twentieth

Maple - holly (with large carved leaves), Tatar
(leaves are oval with slight protrusions) and American
(each sheet contains three or five separate leaflets),
and the fruits of all types of maple are winged.

twenty first

twenty second

The board can be recognized from the list
and fruits: leaves at the bottom
coconut, half
more different, fruits -
winged walnuts rounded
the form.

twenty third

Lime has heart-shaped leaves.

In the summer when it blooms, the lime spreads
wonderful fragrance. Linden fruits are dark nuts that sit on several pieces
under one roof.

The forest zone is located in the temperate zone

English RussianSteering wheels

Where does larch grow?

Larch, despite its name, is coniferous plant from the pine family. Her only needles fall for the winter, so you can’t call her evergreen. Only larch seedlings retain their needles throughout the year.

This suggests that the ability to drop needles was acquired by the plant as a result of adaptation to changing climate conditions.

In what natural area does larch grow?

The question of where and in what forests larch grows in nature can be generally answered as follows: it loves mixed-type forests located in Western and Northern Europe up to the Carpathians.

In general, there are many varieties of trees, the range of which varies slightly.

Where larch grows in Russia: most often it can be found in Siberia and the Far East. The plant is demanding on lighting. It does not grow in shady areas.

What soils does larch grow on: the tree is completely undemanding to the soil. It can be found both in swamps and on dry soils and even in permafrost conditions.

However, the best soil for larch is sufficiently moist and well-drained.

Differences between larch and pine

First of all, larch sheds its needles for the winter, but pine does not. Pine is an evergreen coniferous tree that changes the shade of needles at different times of the year.

In larch, the needles are soft and not long - up to 4.5 cm. It is located spirally on the shoots in bunches of 20-40 needles. At the same time, her needles do not prick at all. Pine needles reach 5 cm, located along the entire trunk in bunches of 2 pieces.

The larch has a more powerful trunk, sometimes it reaches 1.8 m in diameter. Yes, and it lives twice as long as a pine. Her crown is more transparent, while that of a pine is thicker and more fluffy.

Cones on larch are very beautiful, rounded.

In pine they are cone-shaped.

South of the taiga zone in temperate continental and continental climate mixed and broad-leaved forests are common. Unlike the tundra and taiga, which stretch from the western to the eastern borders of the country, this zone is not a continuous strip. Mixed forests occupy central part East European Plain and south Western Siberia. Broad-leaved forests are represented in the European part of Russia, as well as in the south of the Far

East, where they are called "Ussuri taiga".

Most of the zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests is located

lies in a temperate continental climate, which is characterized by rather warm and longer, compared to the taiga, summer and less Cold winter. Average temperatures in July are + 16...+20 °С, and in January -8...-16 °С. The average annual precipitation (500-600 mm) slightly exceeds the evaporation rate. In the south of the zone, in broad-leaved forests, summers are warmer and longer, therefore, evaporation is higher, the moisture coefficient approaches 1. In general, the zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests is characterized by a milder climate compared to the taiga zone. The species composition of vegetation (both trees and grasses) is much richer than in the taiga. There are both coniferous (spruce, pine) and broad-leaved (oak, linden, maple, etc.) tree species. At the same time, there are more conifers in the north of the zone, closer to the taiga, and broad-leaved species - in the south, closer to the steppes. The distribution of trees is determined not only by climatic conditions, but

and mechanical composition of soils. Light sandy soils are most favorable for pine, heavy loam - for spruce. Oak "prefers" carbonate soils. In place of cut down forests, secondary forests of small-leaved species - birch and aspen - appear. In contrast to the taiga, in mixed and especially broad-leaved forests, layering is clearly visible. There are many shrubs (hazel, bird cherry, honeysuckle, elder, euonymus) and herbs.

(lungwort, lily of the valley, hoof, bell, etc.).

Soil formation conditions, primarily climate and vegetation,

are not the same in the north and south of the zone, which leads to the formation of different

soil types. Sod-podzolic forests are developed under mixed forests, and under

broad-leaved - gray forest soils. They differ in their

structure, thickness of the humus horizon, humus content, and hence

and fertility. The highest natural fertility among forest soils

characteristic of gray forest soils.

Animal world. Diverse fodder base determined the species richness

nature of the animal world. Of the ungulates here, in addition to the elk, we meet

There are red deer, roe deer, wild boar and bison (in reserves). From predator

kov - fox, wolf, Brown bear, black ferret, weasel, marten. In forests

many birds, especially songbirds. However, in winter their numbers and species composition

are significantly reduced.

Many species of animals in the zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests on

are on the brink of extinction, others are declining. In Este

In its natural form, the fauna of the zone has been preserved only in reserves.

Subzone of mixed forests lies to the south. Starting at the west

de European part of the Union in a wide strip, she, gradually

narrowing, it reaches the Urals. In mixed forests, along with needles

ny and small-leaved species broad-leaved grow -

linden, oak, maple, elm. Beautiful mixed forests! At various times

change of year they become either bright green or golden yellow

tymi or crimson.

The mixed forest subzone has a milder climate and longer summers.

her than in the taiga. Therefore, it is possible to grow here widely.

number of tree species.

The number of broad-leaved species decreases towards the east.

Beech and hornbeam are widespread in the southwest. East

35° E on the East European Plain they no longer meet

Linden. Beyond the Urals, due to the continentality of the climate, disappear along

last broad-leaved trees; from hardwood remain without

cut and aspen.

Broad-leaved species reappear only in the south

Far East. Here, in humid summer conditions, the plant

ness is very rich, differing from the European one in its

ladies. Grow various maples, Mongolian oak, Amur linden

with bright yellow, larger than that of ordinary linden,

flowers, Manchurian walnut, velvet tree, so called

for its light gray, velvety to the touch bark, black bere

behind with dark brown birch bark; some trees give a beautiful,

valuable ornamental wood for various products.

natural conditions forest zone are very favorable for life

not many animals. Here they are provided with abundant food,

especially the seeds of coniferous trees obtained from ked cones

ra, pine, larch, spruce. Hunters often find

eat pine nuts stored for the winter by taiga rodents

(squirrel, chipmunk) and some birds (nutcracker).

Many animals are adapted

got together to climb

tree lamas, such as lynx.

Like on the ground, they run on de

revyam squirrel, chipmunk (Fig.

35), sable.

In addition to them, an elk lives, which chooses marshy areas in summer.

places and forest riverbanks, and in winter - dry watersheds. all over

In the taiga there are bears, foxes, and ferrets (Fig. 36). Very

many birds nesting in trees. Animals and birds

living in the forest, have a protective color to match the color of the soil, stem

fishing for trees, fallen leaves, greenery.

In the forest zone, especially in the taiga, hunting and breeding are developed.

in special farms of fur-bearing animals.

Geographical position n The zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests is located in the western part of the East European plain between the taiga and the forest-steppe and extends from the west to the confluence of the Oka and the Volga. The territory of the zone is open to Atlantic Ocean and its impact on the climate is decisive.

Climate n Mixed and broad-leaved forests are characterized by warmer, longer summers than in the taiga and cold, long winter. average temperature January changes from -4 C in the west to -16 C in the east of the Russian Plain. In the Far East, the January temperature is -20 ... -24 C. There is no deep snow cover. The annual amount of precipitation reaches 500800 mm.

Soil n In mixed forests temperate zone podzolic soils acquire humus soil horizons. First of all, this is due to the fact that many herbaceous plants grow here, the remains of which are mixed by soil-dwelling animals (worms, moles, etc.) with the mineral substances of the soil. Such soils with a humus horizon, a horizon of leaching of iron and clay particles, as well as a brown leaching horizon are called soddy-podzolic. In the subzone of mixed forests, there are also waterlogged soils of swampy meadows with humus and gley soil horizons - they are called soddy-gley soils. These types of soils are very widespread, especially in the European part of Russia.

Vegetable world Far Eastern mixed and broad-leaved forests are very peculiar. The vegetation of the zone has been greatly altered as a result of human activities. Now forests occupy less than 30% of the area of the zone. They include a significant proportion of secondary, small-leaved forests. The zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests is characterized by large reserves of heat and sufficient moisture. n

Animals In mixed and broad-leaved forests there are many shelters, varied and quite plentiful food. This allows the animals all year round stay in the forests. migratory birds much less here than in the tundra. Forests are characterized by a tiered distribution of animals. Animals are common here: squirrel, pine marten, polecat, brown bear, foxes, elk, the bats, woodpeckers, owls. n

European broadleaf forests - endangered forest ecosystems. Just a few centuries ago, they occupied most of Europe and were among the richest and most diverse on the planet. In the XVI - XVII centuries. natural oak forests grew on an area of several million hectares, and today, according to the forest fund records, there are no more than 100 thousand hectares left. So for several centuries the area of these forests has decreased tenfold. Formed by deciduous trees with wide leaf blades, broad-leaved forests are common in the eastern part North America, Europe, North China, Japan and the Far East. They occupy an area between mixed forests in the north and steppes, Mediterranean or subtropical vegetation in the south.

Broad-leaved forests grow in areas with a humid and moderately humid climate, which are characterized by a uniform distribution of precipitation (from 400 to 600 mm) throughout the year and relatively high temperatures. The average temperature in January is -8…0 °C, and in July +20…+24 °С. Moderately warm and humid climatic conditions, also active soil organisms(bacteria, fungi, invertebrates) contribute to the rapid decomposition of leaves and the accumulation of humus. Under deciduous forests, fertile gray forest and brown forest soils, less often chernozems, are formed.

The upper tier in these forests is occupied by oak, beech, hornbeam and linden. In Europe, there are ash, elm, maple, elm. The undergrowth is formed by shrubs - hazel, warty euonymus, forest honeysuckle. The dense and high grass cover of European broad-leaved forests is dominated by goutweed, green hoof, lungwort, woodruff, hairy sedge, spring ephemeroids: corydalis, anemone, snowdrop, blueberry, goose onion, etc. In North America, species of oaks grow in this zone, characteristic only for this mainland. In the broad-leaved forests of the Southern Hemisphere, southern beech predominates.

Modern broad-leaved and coniferous-broad-leaved forests were formed five to seven thousand years ago, when the planet warmed up and broad-leaved tree species could move far to the north. In subsequent millennia, the climate became colder and the zone of broad-leaved forests gradually decreased. Since the most fertile soils of the entire forest zone formed under these forests, the forests were intensively cut down, and arable land took their place. In addition, oak, which has a very durable wood, was widely used in construction.

The reign of Peter I was the time for Russia to create a sailing fleet. "The Tsar's Idea" demanded a large number high-quality timber, so the so-called ship groves were strictly guarded. Forests that were not included in protected areas, inhabitants of the forest and forest-steppe zone actively cut down for arable land and meadows. In the middle of the XIX century. the era of the sailing fleet ended, the ship groves were no longer guarded, and the forests began to be reduced even more intensively.

By the beginning of the XX century. only fragments of the once unified and vast belt of broad-leaved forests have survived. Even then, they tried to grow new oaks, but it turned out to be a difficult task: young oak groves died due to frequent and severe droughts. Research conducted under the guidance of the great Russian geographer V.V. Dokuchaev showed that these disasters were associated with large-scale deforestation and, as a result, changes hydrological regime and climate of the area.

Nevertheless, in the 20th century, the remaining oak forests were intensively cut down. Insect pests and cold winters at the end of the century made the extinction of natural oak forests inevitable.

Today, in some areas where deciduous forests used to grow, secondary forests and artificial plantations have spread, dominated by conifers trees. To restore the structure and dynamics of natural oak forests not only in Russia, but throughout Europe (where they experienced even stronger anthropogenic influence) is unlikely to succeed.

The natural zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests occupies a smaller area than coniferous forests. However, this complex, formed under conditions of sufficiently warm and humid climate, has a great variety of flora and fauna.

Characteristics of the natural zone Mixed forests

Mixed forests are a transitional link between the taiga zone and broad-leaved forests. Name natural area speaks for itself: both coniferous and deciduous trees grow here. Mixed forests are found on the territory of Russia and the European region, South and North America, New Zealand.

The climate of this natural complex pretty soft. In winter, the temperature drops to -15 degrees Celsius, and in summer it fluctuates between + 17-24.

Compared to the taiga, summer is warmer and longer. Number of annual precipitation exceeds evaporation, which was the impetus for the emergence of deciduous trees.

A distinctive feature of mixed forests is a well-developed grass cover growing on soddy-podzolic soils.

Rice. 1. The grass cover is very developed in the zone of mixed forests.

This natural zone is characterized by a pronounced layering - a change in the type of vegetation depending on the height:

the highest tier of coniferous-deciduous forests is made up of mighty oaks, pines and spruces;
below are lindens, birches, wild apple trees and pears;
further grow the lowest trees: viburnum, mountain ash;
below are raspberry, hawthorn, wild rose bushes;
the layering of mixed forests is completed by a variety of grasses, mosses and lichens.

The fauna of mixed forests is also diverse. Here live large herbivores (moose, wild boars, deer and roe deer), rodents (beavers, mice, ferrets, squirrels), predators (foxes, wolves, lynxes).

Description of the broadleaf forest zone

When moving to the south of the mainland, climatic conditions change, which leads to a change from mixed forests to broad-leaved ones. As a result, coniferous trees become much smaller, and dominance completely passes to deciduous species.

Broad-leaved forests are characterized by a rather warm climate with mild winters and long warm summers. The amount of annual atmospheric precipitation slightly exceeds evaporation, due to which waterlogged soils are a rarity for these territories.

Typical tree species for this zone are maple, linden, oak, beech, ash.

In dense thickets of broad-leaved forests, dense crowns of trees do not allow the grass cover to fully develop. The ground in such areas is covered with a layer of fallen leaves. Decaying, it contributes to the formation of humus and the enrichment of gray and brown forest soils.

Rice. 3. In the zone of deciduous forests, coniferous trees are rare.

The fauna of deciduous forests is no different from the zone of mixed forests. However, as a result of active human activity, the number of wild animals has significantly decreased, and at present they live only in nature reserves or in remote areas.