In the vast territories of North America and Eurasia, mixed and deciduous forests are located. The zones of these green areas are located in the temperate geographical zone of the Earth. The list of plants that these forests are rich in includes pine and spruce, maple and linden, oak and ash, hornbeam and beech.
Mixed and broad-leaved forests are the habitat of roe deer and
brown bears, moose and red deer, ferrets and martens, squirrels and beavers, wild boars and foxes, hares and chipmunks, as well as many mouse-like rodents. The birds that consider these massifs their home are storks and cuckoos, owls and capercaillie, hazel grouse and geese, ducks and eagle owls. The lakes and rivers of this forest zone are inhabited mainly by carp species of fish. Sometimes there are salmon.
Mixed and deciduous forests are heavily affected by human activities. Since ancient times, people began to cut them down, replacing them with fields.
Forests of North America and Western Europe
The territory of coniferous forests has its southern border. It is located in western Eurasia and in the North American Great Lakes region. Its coordinates are about sixty degrees north latitude. To the south of this mark, along with conifers in the forests there are broad-leaved. Moreover, trees in different parts of the world are represented by their different species.
The climate of mixed and deciduous forests is warmer than in the coniferous zone. The summer period in these zones is longer than in the north, but winters are quite cold and snowy. In such mixed and broad-leaved forests, broad-grass plants with wide plates dominate.
In autumn, deciduous trees drop their cover, resulting in the formation of humus. Moderate hydration contributes to the accumulation of mineral and organic substances in the upper soil layers.
The transitional strip, in the territory of which mixed forests are located , is heterogeneous. In the formation of vegetation in these massifs, an important role is played by local conditions, as well as types of soil rocks.
For example, in southern Sweden, as well as in the Baltic states, large areas are occupied by forests with a predominance of pure spruce. They grow on moraine loamy soils.
Somewhat south, coniferous species fall out of the forest stand. Forests become only broad-leaved. In these zones, the temperature in January on average does not fall below minus ten, and in July this figure is thirteen to twenty-three degrees of heat.
Forest vegetation in North America and Western Europe
It is difficult to draw a clear line between mixed as well as broad-leaved forests. Coniferous species can be found far in the south, right up to the subtropic zone. In addition, deciduous trees were felled more intensively. This caused a predominant share of conifers.
The vegetation of mixed and deciduous forests is diverse. In the south, from the subtropics, magnolia, paulownia and a tulip tree penetrated their territory . In the undergrowths next to lilac and honeysuckle, you can find rhododendron and bamboo. Distributed in such areas and vines from wild grapes, lemongrass, etc.
Forests of Russia
In those latitudes where the taiga extends its southern borders, mixed and broad-leaved forests take over. Their territory extends to forest steppes. The area in which the green areas consisting of mixed and broad-leaved trees are located is located from the western borders of Russia to the place where the Oka flows into the Volga.
The climate that is typical for mixed and deciduous forests of Russia
Nothing protects the area of green spaces from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which determines the weather conditions on its territory. The climate of mixed and deciduous forests of Russia is moderately warm. Moreover, it is quite soft. The climatic conditions of this zone favorably affect the growth of conifers along with broad-leaved trees. At these latitudes, warm summers and relatively long cold winters are observed.
The atmospheric temperature of mixed and deciduous forests in the warm period has an average value in excess of ten degrees. In addition, the climate in this zone is characterized by high humidity. During the warm period, the maximum amount of precipitation falls (ranging from 600 to 800 millimeters). These factors favorably affect the growth of broad-leaved trees.
Ponds
In the mixed and broad-leaved forests of the Russian Federation, high-water rivers originate, the path of which passes along the East European Plain. In their list is the Dnieper, as well as the Volga, Western Dvina, etc.
The occurrence of surface water in this zone is quite close to the surface layers of the earth. This fact, as well as the dissected relief landscape and the presence of clay-sand deposits, favor the emergence of lakes and swamps.
Vegetation
In the European region of Russia, mixed and broad-leaved forests are heterogeneous. In the western part of the zone, oak and linden, ash and elm are widespread. As you move east, the continental climate increases. There is a shift of the southern border of the zone to the north, and at the same time, fir and spruce become the predominant tree species. The role of broadleaf species is significantly reduced. In the eastern regions, linden is most often found. This tree forms the second tier in mixed forests. Undergrowth develops well in such areas. It is represented by plants such as hazel, euonymus, and honeysuckle. But in the low grass cover taiga species of plants grow - maynik and sour.
The flora of mixed and deciduous forests changes as they move south. This is due to climate change, which is becoming warmer. In these zones, the amount of precipitation is close to the rate of evaporation. Deciduous forests dominate these territories. Coniferous trees are found less and less. The main role in such forests belongs to oak and linden.
The territories of these green forests are rich in floodplain and upland meadows, which are located on alluvial soil layers. There are also swamps. Among them, lowland and transitional prevail.
Animal world
Mixed and deciduous forests were formerly rich in wild animals and birds. Now, people have been repressed by fauna to the least populated areas or even exterminated. To preserve or restore this or that species, specially created reserves exist. Typical animals living in the mixed and deciduous forest zone are black ferret, bison, elk, beaver, etc. The species of animals living in Eurasia are similar in origin to those species whose habitat is the European zone. This is roe deer and deer, marten and mink, muskrat and dormouse.
Sika deer and red deer, as well as muskrat, were acclimatized in this zone. In mixed and deciduous forests you can find a snake and a fast lizard.
Human activities
Mixed and deciduous forests of Russia contain huge reserves of wood. Their bowels are rich in valuable minerals, and the rivers have enormous energy reserves. These zones have been developed by man for a long time. This is especially true of the Russian Plain. Significant areas on its territory are reserved for cattle breeding and agriculture. In order to preserve forest complexes, national parks are created. Nature reserves and nature reserves are also open.