Deciduous+Forest

== =__Second Period Group:__=

**__April 20, 2010__**
The Deciduous Forest is found in the mild temperate part of the Northern Hemispheres. The areas that are most covered by this forest are in eastern North America, Europe, and eastern Asia. The leaves in the trees that fall make rich soil for the plants and animals, even people. The Deciduous Forest is one of the major biomes.

**__April 22. 2010__**
'Deciduous' means shed, that's were it got it's name. 90 to180 cm. of rain fall each year. The first layer, also called canopy, is made up of tall trees. The second layer is made up of sapling and shorter kinds of trees. The third layer, also called understory, is made up of shrubs. The forth layer is made up of forest herbs, such as wildflowers and berrys. The fifth layer is made up of mosses and lichens that grow on tree trucks.

**__April 26th, 2010__**
The **Spicebush Swallowtail** is performing one of the best mimics known. They are found in the open during the day on the top side of the leaves. This picture displays the snake’s head mimicry, with large spots on the swollen thorax giving the appearance of a snake’s head. The spots look like eyes. They stay in these retreats by day; a bird hunting for food sees the rolled up leaf and can be confronted by a “snake” peering back at it.

=== This diagram to the top shows Temperate Deciduous Forests can be found in the eastern 1/3rd of America, Western Europe, China, Korea, Japan, and Australia. ===

__**April 27, 2010**__
There is a very extreme variety of animals in this biome. All types of animals, big and small walk through this forest and use it for their everyday needs. There are four seasons in this biome and they all differ from each other in many ways. In order for the animals that populate this biome to survive, they must be able to change their adaptions for each season. Many animals make their homes either high up in a tree or down below under logs.

Bald Eagle
They have two centers of focus, that allow the birds to see both forward and to the side at the same time. Eagles, like all birds, have color vision. An eagle's eye is almost as large as a human's, but its sharpness is at least four times that of a person with perfect vision. A bald eagle's **lifting power ** is about 4 pounds. The hook at the tip is used for tearing. Behind the hook, the upper mandible, the edge sharp enough to slice tough skin, over laps the lower, creating a scissors effect. A bald eagle's beak is a strong weapon, but is also delicate enough to groom a mate's feathers or feed a small portion of food to a newly hatched chick. Talons are important tools for hunting and defense. Eagles kill their prey by breaking in its flesh with their talons. Eagles live in small groups and usually keep the same mate for life. They eat fish, small birds, rats and mice, and food in trash cans.
 * Color ** - Both male and female adult bald eagles have a blackish-brown back and breast; a white head, neck, and tail; and yellow feet and bill.
 * **Size ** - The female bald eagle is 35 to 37 inches, slightly larger than the male.
 * **Wingspan ** ranges from 72 to 90 inches.
 * **Size ** - The female bald eagle is 35 to 37 inches, slightly larger than the male.
 * Bald eagles can fly to an altitude of 10,000 feet. During level flight, they can achieve **speeds** of about 30 to 35 mph.
 * Bald eagles **weigh** from ten to fourteen pounds.
 * Diet **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> - Mainly fish, but they will take advantage of dead and decaying flesh.

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 * __Sources__**