Final answer:
The temperate deciduous forest boasts high biodiversity with rich soils and a moderate climate allowing for various plant and animal species. Deciduous trees dominate, providing leaf litter that enriches the soil and habitats for invertebrates and predators. While less diverse than tropical rainforests, temperate forests maintain significant ecological variety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperate deciduous forest is characterized by high levels of biodiversity due to its rich soil and moderate climate. Deciduous trees are the dominant plant species, shedding their leaves seasonally which then enrich the soil as they decay. This leaf litter not only provides nutrients to the soil but also serves as a habitat for an array of invertebrates, such as the pill bug or roly-poly (Armadillidium vulgare), and their predators, like the red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus). Although temperate forests do not reach the extreme diversity seen in tropical rainforests, largely due to a shorter growing season and less variety in tree species, they still maintain a substantially diverse ecosystem. The temperate forest's biome allows more sunlight to reach the ground than tropical rainforests, supporting different layers of vegetation and animal life.