Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains Park

Transcription

1 Gatlinburg, Tennessee Eastern deciduous forest Welcome to Welcome to the Smokies! You are visiting one of the oldest and richest deciduous forests in the U.S. There are more than l00 different kinds of trees growing here. Take a look around. There are many kinds of trees with broad leaves growing here, including oak, maple, hickory, ash, beech, basswood, tulip poplar and beech. In the fall their leaves turn the mountains into a blaze of color that brings many people to visit. These trees are alike in that they are deciduous. They drop their leaves every fall before they are frozen by winter. Each spring the trees grow fresh new leaves. But if you look closely, you will find some trees with evergreen needles like hemlock and spruce growing here as well. Another special time to visit is in the spring. Before the trees leaf out, the forest floor is covered with a carpet of wildflowers. They grow so quickly that they beat the trees to the first sunny days. By the time the woods are shady and green, most of the wildflowers will have disappeared. They are resting underground as swollen roots and bulbs until next spring's race begins again.

2 Gatlinburg, Tennessee Eastern deciduous forest Weather Report What s the weather like in Gatlinburg, Tennessee? SUMMER Here s the forecast for a typical day in June: The high this afternoon will be 82 F. Temperatures will drop to 57 F. during the night. Rain is expected this week. WINTER Here s the forecast for a typical December day: Our high today will be 51 F. The low tonight will be 27 F. It s not cold enough to snow today, but we may get a little snow later this week. ANNUAL RAINFALL The average amount of rain and snow that falls during a year is 56 inches.

3 DESCRIBING LEAVES DIVERSITY OF LIFE: Plants Alike and Different 1. Look at the way leaves are attached to the branch: opposite Alternate 2. Look for the number of leaves above a bud: simple compound doubly compound 3. Look at the edge of the leaf: entire toothed lobed

4 ANSWER KEY: What lives Here? DIVERSITY OF LIFE: Plants Alike and Different BOREAL FOREST Conifer trees are alike: All conifer trees make seeds in cones. Most conifers have needles or scales instead of leaves. They may keep their needles for several years before they drop off. Conifer trees differ: The shapes of the tree, the bark, the shape and size of the cones and the length of the needles differ among different kinds of conifers. Some conifers have evergreen needles; others have needles that drop off every fall. EASTERN DECIDUOUS FOREST Deciduous trees are alike: They drop their leaves in the fall and grow new leaves each spring. Deciduous trees differ: The shapes of the leaves, the bark, the flowers, the fruit and the shapes of the trees differ among different kinds of deciduous trees. PRAIRIE Prairie grasses are alike: Prairie grasses have long, narrow leaves and flexible stems. Their seeds are small. Prairie grasses differ: Prairie grasses differ in how tall the plants grow, and in the shape of the seed heads they produce. DESERT Cactus plants are alike: Cacti have thick, juicy stems. They have thorns instead of leaves, and their flowers are often big and fragrant. Cactus plants differ: Cacti differ in the color of their flowers, the size and number of thorns they produce, and the height and shape of the plant.

5 WHAT LIVES HERE? Deciduous Trees GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE, Eastern deciduous forest Red Oak Sourwood Sugar Maple Many of the trees in the eastern deciduous forest are DECIDUOUS. The word deciduous means to fall off. What is it that falls from deciduous trees? Look at these three kinds of deciduous trees. How are they alike? Now can you see any ways they are different?