Plants and animals of deciduous forests. Description, photos and videos of flora and fauna of broad-leaved forests of Russia

A mixed forest is a combination of coniferous and deciduous trees. In a milder and warmer climate, the coniferous species of the taiga are replaced by small-leaved, and then broad-leaved plants. In the south of the mixed forest zone, conifers are represented mainly by pine. But there are many types of deciduous trees and shrubs. For example, oak, ash, elm, linden, maple and others.

The diversity of the flora of a mixed (coniferous-deciduous) forest makes this ecosystem more productive than a similar homogeneous forest. The upper tier of such a thicket consists of trees, shrubs grow under them, and grass, mosses, mushrooms, ferns, and berry plants grow below them.

Let's take a closer look at some typical plants of mixed forests:

English oak (common) is a broad-leaved tree of the Beech family. Lives up to 300 - 400 years. According to some sources, it can live up to 2 thousand years. It reaches a height of 20 - 40 m. The thickness of the trunk increases throughout life (the recorded maximum is 13 m). The tree has a developed root system, a thick, spreading crown, strong branches and a thick trunk. The bark of old oaks is blackish-gray, with cracks. The leaves are shed for the winter. The fruits are called acorns.

Scots pine is a coniferous tree of the Pinaceae family. Average life expectancy is 150 - 200 years. Reaches a height of 25 - 40 m and a trunk diameter of up to 1.2 m. It has a straight trunk, a highly raised crown and horizontally located branches. The bark of the lower part of the trunk is grayish-brown, scaly and thick; on the branches and upper part of the trunk - thin, reddish-orange, exfoliated in flakes. The dark green needles are 2.5 - 9 cm in length. The seeds ripen in cones, which open from February to April, after which they fall off.

Hazel or hazel is a woody shrub from the Birch family. Component of the undergrowth. Life expectancy is about 60 - 80 years. The leaves are wide, round or oval. The foliage is shed for the winter. It blooms in early spring, before the leaves appear. Flowers are divided into male (in the form of earrings) and female (buds). The fruits of the bush are everyone's favorite nuts.

Wild strawberry is a herbaceous perennial of the Rosaceae family. Grows on light forest edges and in bushes. It has a creeping thickened rhizome with branching “whiskers” rooting at the nodes. The leaves are oval, with long petioles and sharp teeth. Flowers 5-petalled, white. The plant is valued for its aromatic and tasty berries, which, like the leaves, are used in folk medicine.

It was not possible to find a video specifically dedicated to the vegetation of mixed forests, but watch a beautiful video about the wildlife of Poland:

Forests make up just over 45% of Russia's area, and almost a quarter of the world's total forest area. There are much fewer of them in the European part of the country than in the Asian part. The most common forest-forming tree species are spruce, larch, pine, cedar, oak, maple and hornbeam. The forests contain many berry bushes, mushrooms, valuable herbs, and are also home to countless species. leads to a reduction in forest areas and the threat of extinction of many animals. In the 21st century, it is very important to be able to reproduce, which play a major role in regulating the climate on the planet.

Map of forest cover of Russian territory in %

Russia is the largest country in the world, and for this reason, its territory is home to many trees in which various types of trees grow. The forests of Russia, depending on the predominance of certain tree species, are divided into four main types: 1) coniferous forests; 2) broad-leaved forests; 3) mixed forests; 4) small-leaved forests. Below we will look at each of these forest types in more detail.

Characteristics of coniferous forests in Russia

Coniferous forests are located in the territory and occupy about 70% of the country's total forest area. This area is known for low temperatures and humid air. Coniferous forests stretch from the western borders of Russia to the Verkhoyansk Range. The main forest-forming species are spruce, pine, fir and larch.

In harsh winter conditions, you can most often find mixed forests: dark coniferous and light coniferous. Evergreen tree species develop well. they begin in the spring with the onset of favorable weather conditions. There is practically no undergrowth in the taiga. There is podzolic soil and many swamps. Conifers shed needles, which, when decomposed, release compounds that are toxic to many plants into the ground. The ground is usually covered with mosses and lichens. Shrubs and flowers mainly grow along river banks; there are very few of them in dark places in the forest. There are lingonberries, junipers, rowan, blueberries and curly lilies.

It is the weather conditions that determine. In the coniferous forest zone, a temperate continental climate prevails. Winters are dry and cold, and last on average six months. The short summers are warm and humid, with numerous cyclones. As a rule, only one month is allocated for autumn and spring. Conifers are not picky about temperature changes.

Representatives of the animal world feed on moss, lichens, bark and cones. The high forest crown protects animals from the winds, and the branches provide an opportunity to build nests. Typical representatives of the fauna of coniferous forests are the vole, the mountain hare, the weasel, and the chipmunk. Large ones include the Siberian tiger, brown bear, lynx and elk, and reindeer come from the forest-tundra zone to the coniferous forests. Eagles and vultures soar in the sky.

Coniferous wood is considered one of the most valuable. Its approximate reserve is 5.8 billion cubic meters. In addition to logging, oil, gold and gas are extracted in the taiga. Coniferous forests of Russia are a huge forest area. It also suffers from uncontrolled deforestation. Rare animals are dying due to negative human activities. There are many nature reserves, but for full restoration of forests it is necessary to properly organize protection and rational use.

Characteristics of broad-leaved forests of Russia

Broadleaf forest/Wikipedia

The territory of broad-leaved forests extends from the western border of Russia to the Ural Mountains. The main tree species are beech, oak, elm, linden, maple and hornbeam. Forests are multi-tiered: the upper tier is replaced by the canopy and undergrowth, which, in turn, are replaced by herbaceous plants and forest litter. The soil is covered with mosses. There are areas where lush crowns completely exclude undergrowth. When leaves fall, they decompose and form humus. The soil in the undergrowth is rich in organomineral compounds.

The forests are located in the temperate continental zone. The weather here is much warmer than in the neighboring taiga. Summer lasts four months, the average temperature for the season is +10°C. This promotes the growth of broad-leaved tree species. The climate is humid and there is a lot of rainfall. The average monthly temperature in January drops to -16ºС. Maximum precipitation occurs in summer; there is no deep snow cover.

The leaves cannot survive the cold period of the year and fall off in mid-autumn. A dense cover of foliage, branches and bark protects the ground from excessive evaporation. The soil is rich in microelements and provides trees with everything they need. Fallen leaves for the winter cover the root system, protect it from the cold and stimulate the roots for further growth.

The composition of the animal world in the European part is somewhat different from the Far Eastern forests. Asian lands are covered with thickets of fern, ilmen and linden. The dense thickets are home to elk, Himalayan bear and Ussuri tiger. Cottonmouth, viper and Amur snake are common reptiles. European broadleaf forests are home to wild boar, elk, deer, wolves, weasels, beavers, muskrats and nutria. Mice, lizards, snakes, moles and hedgehogs also live there. Birds are represented by black grouse, eagle owls, owls, starlings, swallows and larks.

The zone of broad-leaved forests has long been developed by humans, especially in the west of Russia. People had to significantly reduce the green area for grazing, crop production and city construction. Trees are the main raw material for the logging industry. Processing of recyclable materials has been established. The mineral resources are rich, and large rivers have the potential for hydroelectric power development.

The forest area is being significantly reduced, while forests are being cut down on the same scale. Due to anthropogenic influence, plants and animals listed in the Red List are becoming extinct. Unscrupulous entrepreneurs are cutting down huge areas of forests. To preserve natural complexes, several nature reserves and national parks were created, but this is not enough. Broad-leaved tree species grow relatively quickly. It is necessary to organize the planting of seedlings in the areas of cleared forests, as well as to carefully use the remaining forest areas.

Characteristics of mixed forests in Russia

Mixed forests are located in the regions of the Russian Plain, West Siberian Plain, Amur Region and Primorye. A variety of tree species are found in this area. These forests are characterized by a pronounced layering. Poplars, pines and spruce trees stretch towards the light. Below them rise maples, elms, lindens and oaks. The layer of shrubs is represented by hawthorn, rose hips, raspberries and blackberries. The soil is covered with lichens, mosses and low grasses.

Trees in mixed forests can more easily withstand the severity of the climate than in neighboring broad-leaved forests. The vegetation can withstand frosts down to -30ºС. The amount of precipitation depends on the region. There is more snow in European forests than in the Far East. The maximum amount of precipitation occurs in the warm season. Summers are mild and humid. The climate changes from maritime to continental, from west to east.

Continuous renewal of green mass helps to nourish trees and cleanse the earth of unnecessary substances. Forest inhabitants use resources of all tiers as a food supply. Conifer seeds attract birds, rodents eat nuts, and larvae under the bark provide food for insectivorous birds.

Numerous once-numerous animals were exterminated as a result of uncontrolled hunting. You can also see roe deer and wild boar. The bison and red deer are preserved only in nature reserves. A well-known predator of the mixed forest is the common fox. The badger lives in the European part. Squirrel, mink, dormouse, marten, forest cat, brown bear are considered common representatives of the fauna of mixed forests. The world of birds is also diverse, especially many woodpeckers, wood grouse, wild pigeons, finches and robins.

Valuable timber reserves are located in the Asian part. Manchurian walnut, Korean cedar, and whole-leaf fir are famous for their strength and resistance to rotting. Eleutherococcus and Schisandra are used for medicinal purposes. Logging activities are carried out in Europe.

Mixed forests have suffered more than others at the hands of man. This has led to a number of environmental problems. The need for agricultural land has led to the deforestation of large parts of the area. Due to the draining of the swamps, it has changed. The growth of human settlements, especially in the west, has caused forest cover to decline by 30%.

The foliage of trees perfectly processes carbon dioxide. Deforestation, which has reached gigantic proportions, has destroyed millions of hectares. Because of this, they accumulate in the atmosphere, creating. Hundreds of species of flora and fauna are disappearing from the face of the earth. Due to the fault of people, forest fires occur, radically changing the ecosystem. Rare species of animals are illegally hunted. Resources are almost depleted; only interaction between the state and citizens can stop the process of destruction of the country's mixed forests.

Characteristics of small-leaved forests in Russia

The zone of small-leaved forests extends from the East European Plain to the Far East. The forests stretch in a narrow strip, at times replacing broad-leaved trees. Small-leaved trees play the role of a second forest, replacing broad-leaved and coniferous trees.

The main forest-forming species are birch, alder and aspen. Their foliage is distinguished by a narrow leaf blade. Trees are undemanding to climate and soil quality. Birch trees are most widespread.

Trees often grow in places where there are fires or deforestation. Alder reproduces by shoots, and aspen by root suckers. Where there were no forests, trees grow by seed. An amazing feature is the ability to accumulate moisture. Thickets of alder and birch block the path of fire and prevent it from spreading to noble species.

The fauna is formed under the influence of indigenous trees. A lot of birds. Mammals include hares, lynxes, moose and squirrels. Strips of small-leaved forest alternating with farmland are favorite places for raccoon dogs.

Secondary forests contribute to the restoration of green areas, although complete rehabilitation takes about 180 years. They act as a fire buffer. It remains to be hoped that small-leaved forests will contribute to the reorganization of the country's forest resources.

Broad-leaved forests predominate in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet, but are also found in regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Very often they are adjacent to a zone of mixed forests and have much in common with it. What features are characteristic of the flora and fauna of mixed and deciduous forests? We will talk about their main features in the article.

Geography of natural areas

Deciduous or summer-green forests differ from other tree communities by the fall of their leaves in autumn. One of their varieties is deciduous forests. They are characterized by relatively large leaf sizes, which is why they got their name. Such forests love light and warmth, but are considered shade-tolerant. They grow in humid temperate regions with a mild climate and even distribution of rainfall throughout all seasons.

These forests are distributed throughout Europe, except the Mediterranean and Scandinavia, growing in Western and Central Ukraine, and a little in the western part of Russia. There they are represented mainly by beeches, oaks, and a little less often - maples, ash trees, hornbeams, linden and elms. The undergrowth is hazel, bird cherry, wild apple, and buckthorn. In East Asia, broadleaf forests are much richer than in Europe. Many types of herbs, shrubs, ferns, and vines grow in them.

In the northeastern states of the United States and southern Canada, oak-chestnut forests, hickory trees, oaks, maples, tulip trees, plane trees, and walnuts are common. In the Southern Hemisphere, evergreen species predominate and there are very few deciduous forests. They are distributed mainly in Chile and the islands of New Zealand.

Mixed forests, in fact, are transitional between broad-leaved and coniferous, and therefore contain characteristics of both zones. They can withstand colder conditions, being found in regions with cool, long winters and warm summers. They are distributed in northern Europe, the south of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Far East and the plains of Siberia, the Great Lakes region and California in the USA, South America and New Zealand.

Within one region, the plants and animals of deciduous forests have much in common with representatives of mixed communities. The zones often border each other and have a similar species composition. For example, in the mixed zone of Europe the same oaks, beeches and maples grow, but pine, spruce, fir and other conifers coexist next to them.

Fauna of deciduous forests

Due to the presence of not only trees, but also shrubs, grasses, mosses, as well as a layer of falling leaves, the forests of the temperate zone have excellent layering. Thus, they create conditions for the habitat of a wide variety of life forms.

The high layer of litter and upper layers of soil are home to a huge number of invertebrates: stag beetles, longhorned beetles, earthworms, caterpillars, insect larvae, ticks, spiders. Birds nest in the crowns and pillars of trees, squirrels, lynxes, forest cats and all kinds of insects live. The most populated are the ground tiers. Here, the animals of mixed and deciduous forests are represented by ungulates, large and medium-sized predators, various birds, amphibians and reptiles.

Brown bear

The dangerous predator brown bear inhabits North America, Central and Eastern Europe, East Asia and Siberia. This is the largest animal of deciduous forests. Its average weight is 300-400 kilograms, and its body length reaches from 1.2 to 2 meters. The species consists of several geographical races, which differ from each other in color and size. The Siberian and European subspecies are common in temperate forests.

Pine marten

The yellowbird, or pine marten, lives mainly in Europe. It has long and thick fur of a dark brown color. There is a light yellow spot on the animal’s chest, by which it can be easily distinguished from other martens. The animal is excellent at climbing trees, jumping 4 meters in length, easily maintaining balance. Pine martens live in hollows or abandoned nests of large birds, spending most of their lives in trees.

Skunk

The skunk animal is not found in our broad-leaved forests, but it is typical for North America. It lives in burrows, which it digs with its own hands using long claws and powerful paws. The skunk climbs trees well, but does not live on them. He has good hearing and sense of smell, but his vision, for a predator, is weak. The animal sees no further than 3-4 meters.

It is difficult to confuse him with someone, because his appearance and habits are quite memorable. The skunk is black in color with two wide white stripes running from the head to the tip of the tail. With its colors, it does not even try to camouflage itself in the forest, but, on the contrary, warns not to be approached. If the enemy gets too close, the animal sprays an odorous secretion with the aroma of rotten eggs onto him.

Amur goral

Goral is a representative of the mountain forests of East Asia and the Far East. It lives on the Korean Peninsula, in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories of Russia, as well as in the northeastern regions of China.

This animal of broad-leaved forests resembles a goat in appearance, covered with thick, warm fur. It has a gray-brown color with a dark longitudinal stripe on the back and a white spot on the neck. His head is decorated with two small horns curved back. Gorals live in small groups or alone. They are not fighters, and in case of danger they begin to hiss and try to climb higher into the mountains.

Chilean cat

Another exotic animal of deciduous forests is the Chilean cat, or kodkod. The animal lives in Chile and Argentina, and is endemic to South America. This is the smallest representative of wild cats in the entire Western Hemisphere.

Kodkods also inhabit mixed and coniferous forests, living mainly at an altitude of 2000-2500 meters. They are slightly larger than regular domestic cats. The body weight of a kodkod usually does not exceed 3 kilograms, and its length is 80 centimeters. Chilean cats have large and round eyes, rounded ears and a large tail, the length of which is almost half the length of the body. The entire body of the Kodkod is dark red with dark spots on the back, sides and paws. There are dark stripes on the head and tail.

Beaver

There are only two modern representatives of beavers - Canadian and common, or river. The first inhabits most of North America, the second - Europe and Central Asia. Both species are found in deciduous forests and are among the largest rodents on the planet.

The beaver is a powerful, squat animal whose body length can reach 1.3 meters. It has short paws with membranes between the toes, a long paddle-shaped tail covered with horny shields like scales. Its entire structure suggests that it spends a lot of time in water. He swims and dives beautifully, holding his breath for 10-15 minutes.

The main feature of these animals is their strong teeth, capable of chewing through a tree post in one night. With the help of such a tool, beavers build houses from logs and branches. Their home is located right on the water and consists of a hut and a dam around it. A beaver's structure can extend for several hundred meters.

Fox

The common fox is the most common inhabitant of the temperate zone. It is distributed throughout Europe, most of North America and Asia. The animal lives even on the northern outskirts of Africa. It inhabits tundra, desert and semi-desert, and, of course, deciduous and mixed forests.

The fox is a predator, but can also eat plant foods. It hunts small mammals, rodents, birds, snakes, and eats eggs and young animals. Foxes living near large rivers often fish. Thus, animals living in Canada and northeast Eurasia completely switch to a salmon diet during the spawning season.

Foxes live in holes that they dig themselves, or settle in the abandoned dwellings of other forest inhabitants. They belong to the canine family and have many habits that are characteristic of their “brothers”.

To the south of the taiga, a narrow strip of broad-leaved forests, more demanding on climatic conditions, stretches out, the tree species of which are distinguished by great diversity. Favorable conditions for the development of these massifs include: air temperature exceeding 10 C during the long summer period, annual precipitation in the range of 500-700 mm with predominant precipitation in the warm period. These conditions determine the main characteristics of the structure and development of tree species. Broad-leaved trees are covered with foliage only in the warm season; trunks and branches are protected from excessive evaporation in winter by thick bark.

For the Russian Plain, the main forest-forming species is pedunculate oak. In the Far East, other types of oaks grow; there are no oak forests in Siberia and beyond the Urals. Well-developed crowns of broad-leaved trees do not close tightly, so forests are characterized by a complex layered structure. Tall tree species include oak, elm, elm, ash, maple, and linden. The next tier is occupied by smaller trees: bird cherry, wild pear and apple tree, mountain ash, field maple. The undergrowth growing under the trees consists of large shrubs: buckthorn, viburnum, hawthorn, bird cherry. Located in the dense shade of trees, the shrubs bloom after the trees have leafed out. So that during the flowering period they can be easily found and pollinated by insects, the shrubs bloom in the most noticeable white color. Broad-leaved species are characterized by the presence of many dormant buds at the base of the trunk. A tree broken by the wind or cut down by a person produces shoots from these buds and restores its crown. This is how a less valuable forest of coppice origin appears in the place of felling.

Below the woody plants there are herbaceous plants: blueweed, scilla, Kashubian buttercup, hoofweed. Medicinal herbs grow in deciduous forests, and plants listed in the Red Book are found.

Plants and animals of deciduous forests located in the European part of Russia differ from the flora and fauna of the Far Eastern forests. A feature of the natural landscape of the Far East are giant trees: whole-leaved fir, Korean cedar, centuries-old lindens, oaks, Manchurian ash trees, and ilmen trees. The ground in dense thickets is covered with luxurious ferns. These forests are home to the Ussuri tiger, the Ussuri black bear, the Amur snake, the Ussuri relict longhorned beetle, and beautiful butterflies - the Maaka swallowtail. Also worth mentioning is the Chinese turtle, which eats fish and bites painfully. All of these are the largest representatives of their species.

The deciduous forests of Russia, least altered by humans, are inhabited by ungulates, carnivores, insectivores and rodents. The forest is a refuge and habitat for roe deer, elk, deer, and wild boar. The order of predators is the wolf, marten, fox, weasel, polecat, and ermine. Squirrels, muskrats, beavers, and nutria are rodents that are found in these ecological systems. The forest is inhabited by hedgehogs, moles, shrews, mice, snakes and lizards. Among the rare animals protected by law is the bison. They inhabit broad-leaved forests and a variety of birds. A large order of passerine birds is represented by finches, tits, starlings, swallows, and larks. The forest is inhabited by large birds - hazel grouse, black grouse, and among the birds of prey there are harrier, owl, owl, and eagle owl.

A mixed forest is an area in which deciduous and coniferous trees coexist harmoniously. If the admixture of tree species is more than 5% of the total flora, we can already talk about a mixed type of forest.

The mixed forest forms a zone of coniferous-deciduous forests, and this is a whole natural zone characteristic of forests in the temperate zone. There are also coniferous-small-leaved forests that form in the taiga as a result of the restoration of previously cut down pines or spruces, which begin to displace different types of birch and aspen.

Main characteristics

(Typical mixed forest)

Mixed forests almost always coexist with broad-leaved forests in the south. In the northern hemisphere they also border the taiga.

The following types of mixed forests in the temperate zone are distinguished:

• coniferous-deciduous;
• secondary small-leaved with the addition of coniferous and broad-leaved species;
• mixed, which is a combination of deciduous and evergreen species.

Subtropical mixed foxes are distinguished by a combination of laurel leaves and conifers. Any mixed forest is distinguished by a pronounced layering, as well as the presence of areas without forest: the so-called opoles and woodlands.

Location of zones

Mixed forests, a combination of coniferous and broad-leaved species, are found on the East European and West Siberian plains, as well as in the Carpathians, the Caucasus and the Far East.

In general, both mixed and broad-leaved forests do not occupy as large a share of the forest territory of the Russian Federation as coniferous taigas. The fact is that such ecosystems do not take root in Siberia. They are traditional only for the European and Far Eastern regions and at the same time grow in broken lines. Pure mixed forests are found south of the taiga, as well as beyond the Urals to the Amur region.

Climate

Mixed-type forest plantations are characterized by cold, but not very long winters and hot summers. Climatic conditions are such that precipitation falls no more than 700 mm per year. The moisture coefficient is increased, but can change throughout the summer. In our country, mixed forests stand on soddy-podzolic soil, and in the west - on brown forest soil. As a rule, winter temperatures do not fall below - 10˚C.

Broad-leaved forest plantations are characterized by a humid and moderately humid climate, where precipitation is distributed evenly throughout the year. The temperatures are quite high, and even in January it never gets colder than -8˚C. Increased humidity and abundant heat stimulate the work of bacteria and fungal organisms, due to which the leaves quickly decompose and the soil maintains maximum fertility.

Features of the plant world

The peculiarities of biochemical and biological processes determine the consolidation of species diversity as we move towards broad-leaved species. European mixed forests are distinguished by the obligatory presence of pine, spruce, maple, oak, linden, ash, elm, and among the shrubs the leaders are viburnum, hazel, and honeysuckle. Ferns are very common as herbs. Caucasian mixed forests contain large quantities of beech and fir, while the Far Eastern forests contain birch, walnut, hornbeam, and larch. These same forests are distinguished by a variety of vines.

Representatives of fauna

Mixed forests are home to those animals and birds that are generally considered typical for forest conditions. These are moose, foxes, wolves, bears, wild boars, hedgehogs, hares, badgers. If we talk about individual broad-leaved forests, the species diversity of birds, rodents and ungulates is especially striking here. Roe deer, fallow deer, deer, beavers, muskrats and nutria are found in such forests.

Economic activity

The temperate natural zone, including mixed forests, has long been developed by local residents and is densely populated. An impressive part of the forest plantations was cut down several centuries ago, which is why the composition of the forest has changed and the proportion of small-leaved species has increased. In place of many forests, agricultural areas and settlements appeared.

Broad-leaved forests can generally be considered rare forest ecosystems. After the 17th century, they were cut down on a large scale, largely because wood was needed for the sailing fleet. Also, broad-leaved forests were actively cut down for arable land and meadows. Oak plantations have suffered especially badly from such human activity, and it is unlikely that they will ever be restored.