Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/temperate-broadleaf-and-mixed-forests

1. What is the annual precipitation range?
2. What is the key ecosystem services?
3. What makes temperate broadleaf and mixed forests special compared to other forests?
4. Why do the leaves change color in autumn?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the annual precipitation range?750 to 1500 mm (30 to 60 inches), distributed throughout the year
2. What is the key ecosystem services?Carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, water cycle regulation, and biodiversity support
3. What makes temperate broadleaf and mixed forests special compared to other forests?They have four distinct seasons, a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, and a layered structure with emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor layers that support many different plants and animals.
4. Why do the leaves change color in autumn?When the leaves stop making chlorophyll, the hidden colors called carotenoids and anthocyanins show through, creating the bright reds, oranges, and yellows we love.

Biome: A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, such as forest or tundra.
Emergent Layer: The uppermost layer in a forest, consisting of scattered trees that tower above the main canopy.
Carbon Sequestration: The process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in solid or dissolved form.