Research/Project ResultsTemperate Rainforest BiomePuget Sound, Page 3 |
Abiotic DataThere were several abiotic factors that affected the growth of organisms in this forest. Abiotic factors are non-living things that effect the life of an organism. These would include the precipitation, temperature, soil moisture, soil organic content, available sunlight, wind speed etc. Major findings in this field study were that: soil moisture: 30% soil organic content: very thick layer of humus, lots of partly decomposed organic material available sun: very little; it was very shady even in early spring very dense forest canopy wind speed: very little wind in the forest
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This photograph of the forest floor shows a sliver of light filtering through the dense canopy of shade. Note that the flowers are blooming in the area that receives light. Many spring plants produce their flowers before the leaf cover gets too thick. That way they can get light on their leaves for photosynthesis, so they can make the sugars required for flower growth. Once leaves develop, there is not enough light for this so occur. These flowers often wither in late spring, as the shade becomes more dense. Since these flowers last only for a short time in the spring, they are often called spring ephemerals.
This climatogram summarizes the monthly average temperature and precipitation. Note how the temperature profile increases in the summer, quite the opposite of the precipitation profile. The temperature profile shows distinct summer and winter seasons, as opposed to the climatogram of Kenya. Although there is winter, is there snow? Examine the graph carefully!
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