Temperate forest
A forest biome of regions with moderate climates and distinct seasons. It includes deciduous, evergreen, and mixed forests.
Temperate climate: A climate with moderate temperatures and seasonal variation, generally between tropical and polar climates. Moderate temperatures and seasonal contrasts establish the conditions temperate forests experience.
Leaf abscission: The controlled shedding of leaves or other plant organs. Deciduous trees shed leaves before unfavorable seasons to limit water loss and damage.
Sustainable forestry: Forest management intended to maintain ecological functions and benefits over time. It guides timber use without treating forest productivity as inexhaustible.
Deforestation: The removal of forest cover, commonly through conversion to agriculture, settlement, or other land uses. Clearing has greatly reduced and fragmented many temperate forests.
Atlantic Forest: A biodiverse tropical and subtropical forest region along Brazil’s Atlantic coast and neighboring areas. Its southern and montane formations include temperate forest types within a largely tropical region.
Deciduous forest: A forest dominated by trees that shed their leaves seasonally. Leaf fall is one of the defining strategies within temperate forests.
Canopy (biology): The upper layer of vegetation formed by the crowns of trees and other tall plants. Canopy structure controls light, rainfall interception, and habitat across forest layers.
Forest management: The planning and practice of stewardship, use, and restoration of forests. Management choices affect tree composition, habitat, regeneration, and harvest.
Habitat fragmentation: The division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Roads, farms, and settlements can isolate temperate forest populations.
Appalachian temperate rainforest: A humid forest region in the southern Appalachian Mountains, marked by high rainfall and rich plant life. It shows how abundant moisture creates a distinctive temperate forest in eastern North America.