Organisms: Producers
Producers in the deciduous forest biome are responsible for supporting the upper part of the food chain. Producers in this biome are green plants and range from shrubs to large oak trees and make up the greater part of the food pyramid. Most deciduous forests have up to five layers of plant growth. (23) The highest level of the plant growth is composed of broad leaf trees such as: American beeches, oak trees, tulip trees, and sugar maple trees. The tall trees create a moderately dense canopy that allows a moderate amount of light through for the smaller plant species. Trees that are shorter in stature compose the second level of plants. These trees are naturally shorter than the larger trees but still have ample access to light. An example of second level plants would be the birch tree that grows to a height of up to 40ft, and the dogwood tree that grows up to 20-30 feet. The understory of the deciduous forest biome is made of shrubs, such as the Eglantine, which is a blooming shrub with an average height of 10ft. Wildflowers, and berry plants make up the fourth layer. These plants are very short in stature and relative to the first layer do not receive much sunlight. The fifth and last layer of the deciduous forest biome includes mosses and lichens that grow on the trunks of trees. These fifth level organisms do not require much light and are found usually latched onto the larger trees. (17)