TaigaBoreal

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Taiga/Boreal

• By Tami and Kirsten

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Location

• Northern North America, Asia, and Europe

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Plant Life

• There is very little diversity in the boreal. The
  vegetation mostly consists of evergreens, known
  as coniferous because they have cones. They
  cannot get much energy from the thin, acidic soil
  and it is beneficial to keep leaves (needles)
  rather than re-grow them.
• Needles have a waxy coating so they dont lose
  valuable water (because it is all frozen in the
  ground).
• Dark needles absorb maximum sunlight for
  photosynthesis
• Pointy shape of conifers allows snow to slide
  off, protecting branches from breaking under the
  weight.

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Animal Life

• Few animals can live in the cold Taiga unless
  they have thick fur. Many animals hibernate or
  migrate during winter.
• Seed eating squirrels and jays are often present,
  along with weasels, moles, deer, moose, elk, and
  snowshoe hare.
• In the summer, swamps and ponds attract larval
  insects, which in turn attract birds.
• Predators include grizzly bears, wolves, lynxes,
  and wolverines.
• Many of the prey animals adapt to the ferocious
  predators by changing color to blend in with the
  snow (such as ermine, which are brown in summer
  and white in winter).

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Climate

• Long, cold winters and short, wet summers.
• Chilly arctic winds cool the short winter days.
• Summer fires remove dead vegetation, allowing
  space for new growth.
• Yearly precipitation (including snow) 10-30
  inches

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Landscape

• Acidic needles create acidic, nutrient-poor soil.
• Permafrost stop water from soaking into the soil,
  keeping it near the surface.
• This creates areas made up of different bogs,
  such as muskeg. These are created when material
  lands in a wet area and decomposes slowly due to
  the cold.
• In certain areas, the trees have such shallow
  roots (one inch) that they wiggle when you step
  on the saturated ground.

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Human Impact (boom!)

• Few large cities and sparse indigenous population
• Logging, mining and hydroelectric development
  damage the environment. Hydroelectricity changes
  stream flow and floods areas of the biome which
  changes the landscape. However, it is a renewable
  source of energy. Clear-cut logging removes all
  tress from one area, destroying habitats. Mining
  adds minerals to surrounding soils and water,
  creating acid rain.

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Endangered Species

• Caribou eat lichens, and can find them under
  thick snow. Young caribou are often prey to
  wolverines, grizzly bear and coyote.
• The caribou number has declined due to hunting,
  habitat loss, and degradation due to logging.
• Plans have been made to help these caribou such
  as habitat protection zones, removing predator
  species from its habitat, and monitoring hunting.

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Unique!

• Wolverine (it is a real animal!)
• Largest biome IN THE WORLD!!!
• Taiga is the Russian word for coniferous forest.