45 The Deep Green Forest

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The Deep green Forest by Tisha Hamilton Table of Contents Introduction page 2 Chapter 1 Old Growth Forests page 6 Chapter 2 New Growth Forests page 8 Chapter 3 Forest Friends page 10 Chapter 4 Forest Enemies. page 12 Conclusion page 14 Glossary/ Index page 15 Comprehension Check page 16

Introduction What is a forest? A forest is a wooded area, a place where many trees grow. Forests are found on every continent except Antarctica. No two forests are the same. The contents of each forest depends on the climate where it is found. Forests are found in many places, and each forest is different. A forest can be damp or dry. It may be several centuries Old, or as young as a few days. Its trees may keep their leaves or they may drop their leaves. A forest may be composed of one kind of tree. More often it is made up of many different kinds of trees. Forests are all different from each other. In one way, though, they are all alike. All forests are shady Little sun can reach beneath the canopy of tall trees. This shade limits what can grow on the ground around the trees.

There are two main kinds of forest trees. Coniferous trees have needle-like leaves and they produce cones. Deciduous trees have broad, flat leaves and they lose their leaves in winter. A forest is more than a home for trees. It is also a home to other plants and animals. Animals nest in the forest's trees. They eat the fruit, nuts, twigs, and leaves. Plants grow in the soft compost beneath the trees. Trees provide a good home for raccoons. Did You Know... Small organisms also live on the forest floor. Some are so small you cannot see them with your naked eye. Tiny microorganisms have been munching on this dead leaf. That is why it looks so lacy. Deciduous trees grow new leaves in the spring. These leaves are green in the summer. They change color in the autumn. By winter they have fallen off.

CHAPTER 1 Old Growth Forests An old growth forest is exactly what it sounds like. It is a forest that has been growing for a long time, a hundred years or more. It has many old trees with trunks that are thick and tall. You may have heard of California's mighty redwood forests. They are a good example of old growth. Giant Redwoods Redwoods are the fastest-growing conifers in North America. They live a long time. An average redwood lives for about six centuries, but some have survived for over 2,000 years. It's hard to believe this enormous redwood tree grew from a seed about the size of a freckle. Tree Rings If you ever see a tree trunk that has been cut, look for a series of rings. Each ring shows one year of the tree's life. That is how scientists can tell how old a tree is. Think about counting the rings on a giant redwood! More than just old trees grow in old forests. In every forest you will find trees at different stages of growth. Tiny white seedlings sprout from seeds on the soft forest floor. Their small size shouldn't fool you. The tallest tree started out as a seed. The thickest tree trunk had a spindly beginning as a seedling.

CHAPTER 2 New Growth Forests How can a single tree create a forest? Like all plants, every tree produces seeds. Its seeds fall on the ground. Rain waters the seeds. The leaves or needles that fall from the tree add nutrients to the soil. They also protect the tiny seedlings. How a Seed Becomes a Tree Trees grow in two directions, up and down. The seed sends a root down into the soil. At the same time, it sends a shoot up toward the sun. The root helps the infant tree stay in place. Otherwise it might blow away. The root also gathers water to feed the tree. The shoot helps the tree get energy from the sun. This is how a tree grows. A stem grows into a plant with tiny leaves called a seedling. The seedling grows into a tree. When the new trees are mature, they will produce seeds too. The cycle of growth will begin again. More trees will start growing in the neighborhood of the first tree. Soon there will be a forest.