Tropical Rainforests. Tropical Rainforests of the world A C B.
Coastal Temperate Rainforests of the World · Temperature (°F) 73°-81° 39°-54° Rainfall...
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Difference between Temperate and Tropical Rainforests 3 Tropical Temperate Global Coverage 12% 2% Temperature (°F) 73°-81° 39°-54° Rainfall (inches/yr) > 67 33-105 # of Tree Species 100(s) 10-20 Dominant Leaf Type Broadleaf Needles Age of Trees (yrs) 50-100 500-1000 Decomposion Rate Rapid Slow Biodiversity CTRFs represent only 2% of the world’s forests, but provide crical habitat for many unique species. In the four largest CTRFs, there are approximately 4 : • 12,800 plant species • 985 bird species • 305 freshwater fish species • 215 mammal species • 145 reple species • 100 amphibian species Forests of the Northern Hemisphere are comprised of tree species closely related to the pine family, (e.g. hemlock, Douglas fir, spruce, cedar, and pine), and the understory contains a variety of bryophytes and deciduous woody shrubs. Pine, spruce, and fir species are absent from CTRFs of the Southern Hemisphere, that are dominated by broad-leaved evergreens, and the understory is comprised of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. 5 Coastal Temperate Rainforests of the World ctrf coastal temperate rainforests What is a Coastal Temperate Rainforest? Coastal temperate rainforests (CTRFs) are characterized by cool summers, mild winters, and abundant precipitaon distributed throughout the year. 1 A CTRF has the following characteriscs: 2 • Locaon within 93 miles of the coast • High annual precipitaon ( 33-105 inches) • Over 100 days of precipitaon seasonally, with 10% during the summer months • Dominance by numerous coniferous species • Some of the greatest biomass accumulaon and highest producvity levels of any rainforest in the world--temperate, tropical, or boreal Rainforests of the World Tropical Rainforest Temperate Rainforest North North America America South South America America Africa Africa Austrailia Austrailia Asia Asia Europe Europe North Pacific North Pacific Ocean Ocean North Pacific North Pacific Ocean Ocean North Atlantic North Atlantic Ocean Ocean Indian Indian Ocean Ocean Artic Artic Ocean Ocean Artic Artic Ocean Ocean South Atlantic South Atlantic Ocean Ocean South P South P Oce Ocea South Pacific South Pacific Ocean Ocean M 0 2,000 mi 0 2,000 km Figure 1: Global distribuon of coastal temperate rainforests and tropical rainforests
Transcript of Coastal Temperate Rainforests of the World · Temperature (°F) 73°-81° 39°-54° Rainfall...
Difference between Temperate and Tropical Rainforests3
Tropical TemperateGlobal Coverage 12% 2%Temperature (°F) 73°-81° 39°-54°Rainfall (inches/yr) > 67 33-105# of Tree Species 100(s) 10-20Dominant Leaf Type Broadleaf NeedlesAge of Trees (yrs) 50-100 500-1000Decomposition Rate Rapid Slow
BiodiversityCTRFs represent only 2% of the world’s forests, but provide critical habitat for many unique species. In the four largest CTRFs, there are approximately4:
• 12,800 plant species• 985 bird species• 305 freshwater fish species• 215 mammal species• 145 reptile species• 100 amphibian species
Forests of the Northern Hemisphere are comprised of tree species closely related to the pine family, (e.g. hemlock, Douglas fir, spruce, cedar, and pine), and the understory contains a variety of bryophytes and deciduous woody shrubs. Pine, spruce, and fir species are absent from CTRFs of the Southern Hemisphere, that are dominated by broad-leaved evergreens, and the understory is comprised of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.5
Coastal Temperate Rainforests of the World
ctrfcoastal temperate rainforests
What is a Coastal Temperate Rainforest?Coastal temperate rainforests (CTRFs) are characterized by cool summers, mild winters, and abundant precipitation distributed throughout the year.1
A CTRF has the following characteristics:2
• Location within 93 miles of the coast• High annual precipitation ( 33-105 inches)• Over 100 days of precipitation seasonally, with
10% during the summer months• Dominance by numerous coniferous species• Some of the greatest biomass accumulation and
highest productivity levels of any rainforest in the world--temperate, tropical, or boreal
Rainforests of the World
Tropical Rainforest
Temperate Rainforest
North North AmericaAmerica
South South AmericaAmerica
AfricaAfrica
AustrailiaAustrailia
AsiaAsia
EuropeEurope
North PacificNorth PacificOceanOcean
North PacificNorth PacificOceanOcean
North AtlanticNorth AtlanticOceanOcean
IndianIndianOceanOcean
ArticArticOceanOcean
ArticArticOceanOcean
South AtlanticSouth AtlanticOceanOcean
South PacificSouth PacificOceanOcean
South PacificSouth PacificOceanOcean
M0 2,000 mi
0 2,000 km
Figure 1: Global distribution of coastal temperate rainforests and tropical rainforests
Protected AreasIn recent years, policies within many CTRFs has increased the area of land protected. New Zealand, Tasmania, and Alaska have the highest proportion of protected areas with 28%, 32%, and 36% protected, respectively.6 Globally, CTRFs originally covered approximately 75-100 million acres and currently cover approximately 43 million acres.7
Cover Photo: Tongass National Forest, © Laurent DickCenter Back Photo: Oregon CTRF © Sam BeebeBack Photos (left and right): Cinquefoil and Arctic Lupine © Adriane Honerbrink
Figure 1 and 3. DellaSala, Dominick, et al. Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World: Ecology and Conservation. 2011. Island Press.Figure 2. Data from (1) Dellasala, Dominick et al. Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World: Ecology and Conservation. 2011 and (2) Kellogg, Erin-Coastal Temperate Rain Forests: Ecological Characteristics, Status and Distribution Worldwide, 1992.
Ecosystem ServicesCTRFs provide communities with a wide range of benefits including food, fiber, and timber to fulfill immediate social and economic needs. Additional ecosystem services include nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, recreation, and spiritual enlightenment.
(cont’d)1. Alaback, Paul. Comparative Ecology of Temperate Rainforests of the Americas along Analogous Climatic Gradients. 1991.2. Hagen, Bettina Von. and Peter K. Schoonmaker. Rainforests of Home: Profile of a North American Bioregion. Washington, DC. 1998. 3. DellaSala, Dominick., et al. Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World: Ecology and Conservation. 2011. Island Press.4. Biodiversity Hotspots. Web. 05 Apr. 2012. <http://www.conservation.org/where/priority_areas/hotspots/Pages/hotspots_main.aspx>.5. DellaSala, Dominick., et al Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World: Ecology and Conservation. 2011. Island Press.6. Hagen, Bettina Von., and Peter K. Schoonmaker. Rainforests of Home: Profile of a North American Bioregion. Washington, DC. 1998.7. Kellogg, Erin. Coastal Temperate Rain Forests: Ecological Characteristics, Status and Distribution Worldwide. Portland, OR. Ecotrust. 1992.
ctrfcoastal temperate rainforests
“Biodiversity is the greatest treasure we have... Its diminishment is to be
prevented at all cost.” -Thomas Eisner
Figure 3: Global carbon dioxide equivalent emissions versus rainforest carbon storage in gigatons
Figure 2: Historic, current, and protected global distribution of coastal temperate rainforests in millions of acres
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