The humid forest or temperate rain forest is a type of vegetation where trees predominate, which develops in temperate latitudes with an oceanic climate. These forests are formed in regions located between the tropics and the polar circles, in areas where there is abundant rainfall, moderate to low temperatures and high humidity..
In humid forests there are two or three tree heights and a low part where herbs and shrubs grow. Also, there are few plants that climb or live on trees..
The climate that characterizes humid forests includes cold, but not frigid, winters and cool or warm summers. This is due to its proximity to the oceans, which moderates temperatures, as well as provides abundant rainfall..
These forests extend through North America and the extreme south of South America, as well as Eurasia and in areas of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. All humid forests have medium biological diversity, although in many cases they are home to a significant number of unique species.
With regard to flora, flowering plants, conifers or a combination of both kinds of plants are abundant. While the fauna is very characteristic, including animals such as the wolf, the lynx, the bear, deer, among others..
Moist forests have a number of characteristics:
Although they do not reach the level of biodiversity of the tropical forest, the humid forests are quite diverse ecosystems. In some cases the diversity becomes really high, as in some humid forests in Chile with about 4,000 species of plants, more than 30% of them being unique..
The humid forests develop so much in plains, as in valleys, plateaus and mountainous areas. Soils can become deep and in most cases with high fertility.
As in most rainforest and woodland ecosystems, there is a web of fungal roots and threads in the soil. This enables a complex system of matter and energy exchange below the ground, which is of great importance for the ecology of the forest..
There are four types of humid forests, all with vegetation that has abundant trees. In general, they occur from two to three different tree heights and a lower part, which is shady and with high humidity in the air..
There is a predominance of temperate climate species such as oak and beech, among others. In an environment of high precipitation and moderate temperatures, with few plants that climb or live on trees. Some examples are the humid forests of Great Britain and other areas of Western Europe..
Located in subtropical or temperate evergreen areas, with abundant rainfall and air humidity. They are forests with trees of different heights and abundant climbing plants, as well as herbs that live on the trees..
A very characteristic example is the humid forests of Chile and part of Argentina as well as those of the islands of Macaronesia (Canaries and Madeira).
Coniferous species such as pines and cypresses predominate. They are evergreen forests that present little variety in tree height. Climbing plants are practically absent, as are those that live on trees.
It is characteristic of the southern end of the Andes mountain range with abundant southern beech trees (Nothofagus spp.). It is distinguished by presenting lower average temperatures, between 5 to 6 ° C and rains of up to 5,000 mm per year.
The dominant climate in this type of forest is oceanic. It is a rainy temperate climate, where oceanic masses play a relevant role in providing humidity and regulating temperature..
On the one hand, the marine winds provide rains that are between 1,500 and 5,000 mm per year. While the seasonal temperature is moderate in such a way that the annual variation does not exceed 10 ° C.
This results in milder winters and cooler summers than those in the continental interior of temperate zones. In summer fogs are generated that cover these forests, they maintain humidity.
The different types of humid forests are distributed in North America on the Pacific coast. They go from the north of San Francisco (USA), through Canada, to the south of Alaska (USA). There are also them in the lower basin of the Mississippi River (USA). Then, they are located on the Pacific coast of Chile to the southern tip of the continent in Chile and Argentina.
In Eurasia they are found in Ireland, the west coast of Great Britain, northern Spain, the coast of Norway and the northwest coast of the Balkans. As in northeastern Turkey, western Georgia, parts of Azerbaijan, northern Iran, Japan, Taiwan, and southern and northeastern China.
On the other hand, in Oceania humid forest is located southeast of Australia, in Tasmania and in New Zealand.
There are oaks (Quercus spp.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica), birch trees (Betula spp.), poplars (Populus spp.), elms (Ulmus minur) and maples (Acer spp.). Likewise, in some humid forests myrtaceae, lauraceae, phagaceae, sapindáceas and betulaceae, among others, abound. In addition, there are humid forests where various species of pines and cypresses dominate..
In some humid forests, southern beech trees dominate (Nothofagus spp.), along with other species such as the Guaitecas cypress (Pilgerodendron uviferum). While in others, there are species such as the myrtle (Luma apiculata), hazel (Hazelnut Gevuina) and olivillo (Aextoxicon punctatum).
As well as the colihue (Chusquea culeou) and larch (Fitzroya cupressoides), the latter a conifer of the cypress family. Likewise, in some of these forests araucarias are abundant.
Conifers such as kauri (Agathis australis) and broadleaf trees as species of Dysoxylum Y Nothofagus. In the humid Australian forests are the satinwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum) and Australian red cedar (Toona ciliata).
The puma lives herePuma concolor), the black bear (Ursus americanus) and the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the latter is the emblem of the United States..
In these humid forests there are various species of amphibians, such as the Pugin toad (Eupsophus emiliopugini) and the southern litter frog (Eupsophus calcaratus). While among the birds are the Patagonian owl (Glaucidium nanum) and the bicolor hawk (Bicolor Accipiter).
While among the mammals the little monkey stands out (Dromiciops gliroides) and the smallest deer in the world, the Pudú (Pudu pudu). Among the predators is the feline called wink (Leopardus guigna).
In the humid forests of this region live the red deer (Cervus elaphus), the wolf (Canis lupus) and the brown bear (Ursus arctos). Endemic species such as the raccoon dog or tanuki (Nyctereutes procyonoides).
Kiwi (Apteryx spp.), a flightless bird, symbol of the country. As well as other birds such as the Kokako (Callaeas cinerea) and the Maori pigeonHemiphaga novaeseelandiae).
Like numerous species of bats, including the long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus). For its part, in Australia inhabit this type of forest the parma wallaby (Macropus parma), a small kangaroo.
Various birds are also found in this region, such as the yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) and the raptor gray goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae). While in the temperate rainforests of the island of Tasmania inhabits the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).
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