Imagine a summer that is not hot and sweaty, and winters that are cool and not cold! The climate of the temperate rainforests is characterized by mild summers and winters. Since the temperature remains comparatively low throughout the year, climates are cool and rich in moisture, making it suitable for temperate rainforests to prosper along with the coastal areas. Winter seasons are marked by extreme temperatures resulting in snowfall in the high latitude coastal areas and the North American and East Canadian forests, accounting for its uniqueness in climate pattern.
The soil in temperate rainforests is also unique. The massive plant and animal debris produced in the forests are relatively slow to decompose. This forms a deep layer of humus beneficial for the growth of mushrooms and other fungi.
The fish-eating birds, like the marbled murrelet that inhabit the coastal forests, and the bears and wolves of the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia that feed on migratory salmon are irreplaceable links in the nutrient cycle of these temperate rainforests.
As for vegetation, the forest floor is characterized by a unique ‘pit and mound’ micro-topography. The holes left behind by uprooted trees are called pits while mounds are hummocks formed by decomposing log and wood waste and also plant roots that are thickly blanketed by mosses, liverworts, and ferns.
Picture Credit : Google
