Animals and Their Adaptations:
Black Bears, Ursus Arctos, Omnivore
- Long claws, used for digging and catching their prey especially fish like salmon
- Thick fur and layer of fat, used as an insulator for the cooler temperatures. The fur also helps to repel water.
- Color of fur helps to camouflage in the forest
- Large nose and nostrils, very good sense of smell
- Massive body structure, thick legs, shoulders, short back, for strength and power rather than speed. They overheat if running too far.
- Big legs, results in excellent tree climbers
Roosevelt Elk, Cervus Elaphus Canadensis, Herbivore
- Thick, gigantic antlers used as a defensive mechanism
- Strong powerful teeth used for grabbing and tearing prey
- Special hooves, different terrains, females use their hooves as a defensive mechanism since they do not have antlers to protect them
- Powerful physique, enables them to swim, break through snow and climb into higher elevations.
- Since the temperature in the temperate rainforest is mild, these elk have adapted and are non-migratory
Raccoons, Procyon Lotor, Omnivore
- Their paws make them capable of completing tasks, searching for food in hard to reach areas, climbing trees
- Solid body and bone structure helps protect against falls
- Adapts to the climate during winter time but does not hibernate instead just sleep for long periods of times when winter is at the
worst. During this time they live off of their fat and while this time they can lose half of their body size.
- Raccoons are adaptable to their home, they can live anywhere
The Great Horned Owl, Bubo Virginianus, Carnivore
- Northern population of owls will migrate but most live permanently in the more temperate climates
- Able to strike from above making them good predators
- Powerful and strong claws enabling them to kill and carry their prey bigger than themselves.
- Nocturnal animals and usually can be spotted right after sunset or before dawn. Not seen a lot by humans
- Owls have keen hearing and sharp vision which is an adaptation for hunting at night.
- Able to turn its head around in order to what is not only in front but able to see what is behind.
Banana Slug, Ariolimax Dolichophallus, Mollusc
- Can grow up to 10 inches long, and most commonly yellow but can also be brown, green, and white
- Live in temperate rainforests located from California to Alaska
- During dry season, these animals leave and go beneath debris sealing them inside a mucus shell.
- These slugs hibernate in the cooler seasons.
- Essential animals as they are ultimate recyclers as they feed off of leaves, mushrooms, or dead animals. They play an important role in replenishing the soil
- Color allows them to camouflage with leaves, and other debris on the floor
- In order not to 'dry out" during warmer weather, these slugs carry their aquatic environment in the form of slim.
- Long claws, used for digging and catching their prey especially fish like salmon
- Thick fur and layer of fat, used as an insulator for the cooler temperatures. The fur also helps to repel water.
- Color of fur helps to camouflage in the forest
- Large nose and nostrils, very good sense of smell
- Massive body structure, thick legs, shoulders, short back, for strength and power rather than speed. They overheat if running too far.
- Big legs, results in excellent tree climbers
Roosevelt Elk, Cervus Elaphus Canadensis, Herbivore
- Thick, gigantic antlers used as a defensive mechanism
- Strong powerful teeth used for grabbing and tearing prey
- Special hooves, different terrains, females use their hooves as a defensive mechanism since they do not have antlers to protect them
- Powerful physique, enables them to swim, break through snow and climb into higher elevations.
- Since the temperature in the temperate rainforest is mild, these elk have adapted and are non-migratory
Raccoons, Procyon Lotor, Omnivore
- Their paws make them capable of completing tasks, searching for food in hard to reach areas, climbing trees
- Solid body and bone structure helps protect against falls
- Adapts to the climate during winter time but does not hibernate instead just sleep for long periods of times when winter is at the
worst. During this time they live off of their fat and while this time they can lose half of their body size.
- Raccoons are adaptable to their home, they can live anywhere
The Great Horned Owl, Bubo Virginianus, Carnivore
- Northern population of owls will migrate but most live permanently in the more temperate climates
- Able to strike from above making them good predators
- Powerful and strong claws enabling them to kill and carry their prey bigger than themselves.
- Nocturnal animals and usually can be spotted right after sunset or before dawn. Not seen a lot by humans
- Owls have keen hearing and sharp vision which is an adaptation for hunting at night.
- Able to turn its head around in order to what is not only in front but able to see what is behind.
Banana Slug, Ariolimax Dolichophallus, Mollusc
- Can grow up to 10 inches long, and most commonly yellow but can also be brown, green, and white
- Live in temperate rainforests located from California to Alaska
- During dry season, these animals leave and go beneath debris sealing them inside a mucus shell.
- These slugs hibernate in the cooler seasons.
- Essential animals as they are ultimate recyclers as they feed off of leaves, mushrooms, or dead animals. They play an important role in replenishing the soil
- Color allows them to camouflage with leaves, and other debris on the floor
- In order not to 'dry out" during warmer weather, these slugs carry their aquatic environment in the form of slim.
All Animals and Climate Adaptations
- Variety of of animals migrate or hibernate in the cooler temperatures
- Variety of birds migrate
- Some mammals hibernate, black bears
- Some animals store their food for the cooler temperatures
- Squirrels, chipmunks, and some jays store their food, nuts for the wintertime
- Lots of animals have claws, which enables them to survive in the forest because of climbing trees and the forest floor with logs
- Tree climbers such as some bears, squirrels, raccoons, etc
- Some release slime during warmer weather
- Hide under debris, beneath trees
- Variety of birds migrate
- Some mammals hibernate, black bears
- Some animals store their food for the cooler temperatures
- Squirrels, chipmunks, and some jays store their food, nuts for the wintertime
- Lots of animals have claws, which enables them to survive in the forest because of climbing trees and the forest floor with logs
- Tree climbers such as some bears, squirrels, raccoons, etc
- Some release slime during warmer weather
- Hide under debris, beneath trees
Plants and their Adaptations
- Two different types of trees
- Evergreen = leaves all year, protection against cold winters, thicker leaves or needles
- Deciduous = lose their leaves in the winter time, usually change color in seasons
Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga Menziesii, coniferous tree
- Thick bark, enables them to survive forest fires which could be common in the areas of temperate rain forests
- Roots, the roots grow directly on the trunk rather than other roots which makes the tree stronger and less likely to tip over.
- Coniferous tree, because this is a "fir" tree it is considered a coniferous. This meaning that in the winter time it does not shed its leaves, it is an evergreen tree. This is beneficial because they shed the snow (if any), and still able to photosynthesize in cooler temperatures.
- This tree grows extremely tall in order to reach the sunlight to grow
- Many animals feed off of this tree, for example bears will eat the sap. Animals in the winter time will also feed off the plant since it still photosynthesizes in the cooler temperatures.
Oregon Oxalis, Oxalis Oregana, small plant
- Not only found in oregon. Found in temperate rainforests; British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California
- Very common, spreads easily, a small plant that grows at a height of 2 inches - 8 inches.
- Interesting!!
- In order to gain maximum amount of light in the forest, the plant tilts its leaflets horizontally
- In direct sunlight or at night, the leaflets move sharply downwards, sometimes taking 6 minutes to fold up and 30 minutes to flatten back again.
- Adaptation to help retain moisture
- When it rains the leaves curl up to protect itself against the raindrops
Epiphytes, loads of different types in temperate rainforest (e.x. mosses, liverworts, lichens, ferns, algae, orchids)
- Epiphytes are plants that these plants grow on other plants
- Ferns, lichens, and mosses hang from branches, on rocks, etc
- They use photosynthesis to get their energy, take moisture from the air in the form of rain or fog. The roots grow in order to attach to other plants, normally a tree.
- Puts minimal water stress on plants without roots.
- Orchids = Their roots have a large surface area which helps to absorb nutrients and water. Their stems can also hold water and is a good adaptation so in the warm dry seasons, can use this stored water in order to not dry out.
Sitka Spruce, Picea Sitchensis, coniferous tree
- Very tall tree, largest of the spruce species and the third largest tree in the world.
- Grows in mild temperatures with high rainfall, cool yet wet weather.
- Produce very good firewood
- An evergreen tree, coniferous. Can withstand the cooler weather therefore does not shed its leaves during the wintertime.
- Some sitka spruce trees grow near the coast. There needles stick out in all directions and very pointy. Their needles can take in mineral such as calcium and phosphorus from the ocean breeze, or rainfall/fog. The needles absorb ocean minerals
- The bark is quite thin, fire resistant.
- Climate, having thin needles that are cased in wax enables the tree to withstand cold temperatures without losing water through transpiration from their leaves
Coastal Redwoods, Sequoia Sempervirens, coniferous tree
- Contains a lot of biomass
- Tallest tree in the world and one of the oldest
- Very thick bark, enabling them to withstand all temperatures
- Usually grow inland, not common near the water because of the salt, wind and cooler temperatures
- Dependent on the fog, when in drought seasons, dependent for not drying out
- Since these trees are extremely big, the needles on the tree at the top are exposed to more sunlight. The needles at the treetop have tight spikes to converse moisture. The lower branches have different flat needles to catch additional light through the canopy of other branches.
- Evergreen = leaves all year, protection against cold winters, thicker leaves or needles
- Deciduous = lose their leaves in the winter time, usually change color in seasons
Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga Menziesii, coniferous tree
- Thick bark, enables them to survive forest fires which could be common in the areas of temperate rain forests
- Roots, the roots grow directly on the trunk rather than other roots which makes the tree stronger and less likely to tip over.
- Coniferous tree, because this is a "fir" tree it is considered a coniferous. This meaning that in the winter time it does not shed its leaves, it is an evergreen tree. This is beneficial because they shed the snow (if any), and still able to photosynthesize in cooler temperatures.
- This tree grows extremely tall in order to reach the sunlight to grow
- Many animals feed off of this tree, for example bears will eat the sap. Animals in the winter time will also feed off the plant since it still photosynthesizes in the cooler temperatures.
Oregon Oxalis, Oxalis Oregana, small plant
- Not only found in oregon. Found in temperate rainforests; British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California
- Very common, spreads easily, a small plant that grows at a height of 2 inches - 8 inches.
- Interesting!!
- In order to gain maximum amount of light in the forest, the plant tilts its leaflets horizontally
- In direct sunlight or at night, the leaflets move sharply downwards, sometimes taking 6 minutes to fold up and 30 minutes to flatten back again.
- Adaptation to help retain moisture
- When it rains the leaves curl up to protect itself against the raindrops
Epiphytes, loads of different types in temperate rainforest (e.x. mosses, liverworts, lichens, ferns, algae, orchids)
- Epiphytes are plants that these plants grow on other plants
- Ferns, lichens, and mosses hang from branches, on rocks, etc
- They use photosynthesis to get their energy, take moisture from the air in the form of rain or fog. The roots grow in order to attach to other plants, normally a tree.
- Puts minimal water stress on plants without roots.
- Orchids = Their roots have a large surface area which helps to absorb nutrients and water. Their stems can also hold water and is a good adaptation so in the warm dry seasons, can use this stored water in order to not dry out.
Sitka Spruce, Picea Sitchensis, coniferous tree
- Very tall tree, largest of the spruce species and the third largest tree in the world.
- Grows in mild temperatures with high rainfall, cool yet wet weather.
- Produce very good firewood
- An evergreen tree, coniferous. Can withstand the cooler weather therefore does not shed its leaves during the wintertime.
- Some sitka spruce trees grow near the coast. There needles stick out in all directions and very pointy. Their needles can take in mineral such as calcium and phosphorus from the ocean breeze, or rainfall/fog. The needles absorb ocean minerals
- The bark is quite thin, fire resistant.
- Climate, having thin needles that are cased in wax enables the tree to withstand cold temperatures without losing water through transpiration from their leaves
Coastal Redwoods, Sequoia Sempervirens, coniferous tree
- Contains a lot of biomass
- Tallest tree in the world and one of the oldest
- Very thick bark, enabling them to withstand all temperatures
- Usually grow inland, not common near the water because of the salt, wind and cooler temperatures
- Dependent on the fog, when in drought seasons, dependent for not drying out
- Since these trees are extremely big, the needles on the tree at the top are exposed to more sunlight. The needles at the treetop have tight spikes to converse moisture. The lower branches have different flat needles to catch additional light through the canopy of other branches.
All Plants and Climate Adaptations
- Their bark enables them to withstand extreme heat (fires)
- Evergreen trees in temperate rain forests = they do not loose their leaves in the winter time enabling them to still survive in the winter time, able to live for animals that feed off of them, still able to photosynthesize
- Some plants have leaves that "curl up" and take in the sunlight in order for in the times where there is no sunlight, they can use their stored supply. Some plants also have large leaves to soak up nutrients and water, very helpful in this biome since it rains a lot.
- Having some needles cased in wax, withstand cold temperatures and losing water from their leaves.
- Having thin bark and shallow roots enables trees to withstand fire.
- Evergreen trees in temperate rain forests = they do not loose their leaves in the winter time enabling them to still survive in the winter time, able to live for animals that feed off of them, still able to photosynthesize
- Some plants have leaves that "curl up" and take in the sunlight in order for in the times where there is no sunlight, they can use their stored supply. Some plants also have large leaves to soak up nutrients and water, very helpful in this biome since it rains a lot.
- Having some needles cased in wax, withstand cold temperatures and losing water from their leaves.
- Having thin bark and shallow roots enables trees to withstand fire.
Click on the photo for a larger image