Coniferous Forest Wahoo!Coniferous Forest Wahoo!By Dr. Herskovits and Dr. MillerBy Dr. Herskovits and Dr. Miller

You may be wondering, what is a You may be wondering, what is a Coniferous Forest? Hmm…Coniferous Forest? Hmm…

““Forest whose principal trees are Forest whose principal trees are conifers-needles or scale-leaved trees, conifers-needles or scale-leaved trees, mainly evergreens, with cones.” (mainly evergreens, with cones.” (www.tncccalifornia.org/glossary/www.tncccalifornia.org/glossary/))

““These are places where winters are These are places where winters are very cold, summers do not last very very cold, summers do not last very long, and there is not much rainfall.” (long, and there is not much rainfall.” (www.recycle4schools.org.uk/ecodict_c.www.recycle4schools.org.uk/ecodict_c.htmhtm) )

Location of our biome fo shoLocation of our biome fo sho

Climatogram of our biome oh yeahClimatogram of our biome oh yeah(Statistics for Beaverlodge, Alberta, (Statistics for Beaverlodge, Alberta,

Canada)Canada)

What is the soil like in coniferous What is the soil like in coniferous forests?forests?

The soil is poor and rockyThe soil is poor and rocky Tree roots are shallow due to the condition Tree roots are shallow due to the condition

of the soilof the soil The soil is acidic because few nutrients are The soil is acidic because few nutrients are

released into it and it becomes toxic for released into it and it becomes toxic for many plantsmany plants

The acidity of the soil mobilizes soluble The acidity of the soil mobilizes soluble metalsmetals

““Available soil moisture is high as a result Available soil moisture is high as a result of cool temperatures and low of cool temperatures and low evapotranspiration rates. Mineral soils are evapotranspiration rates. Mineral soils are generally thin and poorly drained.”generally thin and poorly drained.”

What does this type of soil mean?What does this type of soil mean? Not an ideal biome for farmingNot an ideal biome for farming Most of the vegetation is in the form of trees and shrubsMost of the vegetation is in the form of trees and shrubs ““The soil in a coniferous forest contains variable amounts of The soil in a coniferous forest contains variable amounts of

humus derived from leaf and needle litter. The ‘pine’ humus derived from leaf and needle litter. The ‘pine’ needles decay to produce an acidic soil…Because needles decay to produce an acidic soil…Because coniferous trees retain their leaves all year, the coniferous coniferous trees retain their leaves all year, the coniferous forest floor does not receive the same amount of sunlight…forest floor does not receive the same amount of sunlight…Because of all the conditions, there are different and fewer Because of all the conditions, there are different and fewer wildflowers and plants that grow on the coniferous forest wildflowers and plants that grow on the coniferous forest floor.”floor.”

5 Common Plant and Animal 5 Common Plant and Animal Species Living in a Coniferous Species Living in a Coniferous

Forest Yay!Forest Yay! PlantsPlants Balsam fir treeBalsam fir tree White spruce treeWhite spruce tree BlueberriesBlueberries Labrador tea shrubLabrador tea shrub White pine treesWhite pine trees Evergreen treesEvergreen trees FernsFerns MossesMosses

AnimalsAnimals White tailed deerWhite tailed deer FoxFox MiceMice OwlsOwls SquirrelsSquirrels SkunksSkunks WeaselsWeasels MooseMoose ElkElk Birds Birds WolvesWolves ChipmunksChipmunks LynxLynx

Food WebFood Web

An Example of a Symbiotic An Example of a Symbiotic Relationship in Our BiomeRelationship in Our Biome

Trees in coniferous forests need to fix nitrogen from soilTrees in coniferous forests need to fix nitrogen from soil But the trees cannot do this without the help of a But the trees cannot do this without the help of a

bacteria called bacteria called RhizobiaRhizobia The trees give the bacteria nutrients and the bacteria The trees give the bacteria nutrients and the bacteria

produce nitrogen for the tree through nitrogen fixationproduce nitrogen for the tree through nitrogen fixation This is an example of mutualism!! This is an example of mutualism!!

Biotic and Abiotic features of a Biotic and Abiotic features of a Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

For biotic features, see slide 5For biotic features, see slide 5 Abiotic features:Abiotic features:

• Climate: cold and dry, snowy winters and warm summers, temperatures Climate: cold and dry, snowy winters and warm summers, temperatures below freezing for half the yearbelow freezing for half the year

• The sun shines for only 6-8 hours a day in winter and 19 hours a day in The sun shines for only 6-8 hours a day in winter and 19 hours a day in the summerthe summer

• RocksRocks• SoilSoil

Human ImpactsHuman Impacts

Carbon has been pumped into the Carbon has been pumped into the atmosphere from fossil fuelsatmosphere from fossil fuels

The concentration of carbon dioxide is The concentration of carbon dioxide is rising rising

Clearcut logging Clearcut logging Hunting and trappingHunting and trapping Mining operationsMining operations Road construction and urbanizationRoad construction and urbanization

Environmental DamageEnvironmental Damage Acid rainAcid rain Rising levels of carbon dioxide are ruining Rising levels of carbon dioxide are ruining

the atmospherethe atmosphere Clearcut logging accelerates soil erosion, Clearcut logging accelerates soil erosion,

degrades wildlife habitat and leads to the degrades wildlife habitat and leads to the loss of biodiversityloss of biodiversity

Hunting and trapping reduce the Hunting and trapping reduce the population of fur-bearing animalspopulation of fur-bearing animals

Mining operations damage the biome Mining operations damage the biome because of the chemicals that are releasedbecause of the chemicals that are released

Possible Solutions to Possible Solutions to Environmental DamageEnvironmental Damage

Ban clearcut logging by voting into office candidates who support this Ban clearcut logging by voting into office candidates who support this legislaturelegislature

Decrease your use of fossil fuelsDecrease your use of fossil fuels• For example, don’t set your thermostat above 68°F (put on a sweater!!)For example, don’t set your thermostat above 68°F (put on a sweater!!)

Send letters to your government representatives asking them to stop Send letters to your government representatives asking them to stop building roads through forestsbuilding roads through forests

Lessen the demand for paper products (which lessens the need for Lessen the demand for paper products (which lessens the need for logging!)logging!)

Drive your car less=no more acid rain!Drive your car less=no more acid rain! Be careful when camping. With global warming, there are hotter, dryer Be careful when camping. With global warming, there are hotter, dryer

conditions and manmade fires spread easilyconditions and manmade fires spread easily Never throw cigarettes out of car windowsNever throw cigarettes out of car windows Reduce your use of wood productsReduce your use of wood products Stay informed about potential destructive operationsStay informed about potential destructive operations Instead of moving to the suburbs to build a new home, look for an already Instead of moving to the suburbs to build a new home, look for an already

built home in town. This will save wildlife habitats and the wildlife that live built home in town. This will save wildlife habitats and the wildlife that live there.there.

Sources CitedSources Cited http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/bioconiferous.htmlhttp://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/bioconiferous.html www.tncccalifornia.org/glossary/www.tncccalifornia.org/glossary/ www.recycle4schools.org.uk/ecodict_c.htmwww.recycle4schools.org.uk/ecodict_c.htm www.lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/coniferous.htmlwww.lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/coniferous.html www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/ncfbiome.htm www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/ncfbiome.htm http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/

conifers/conifweb.html conifers/conifweb.html http://www.newforestsproject.com/english/treeed.html#Nitrogenhttp://www.newforestsproject.com/english/treeed.html#Nitrogen

%20Fixation%20and%20Legumes %20Fixation%20and%20Legumes http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/coniferous3/coniferous3.html http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/coniferous3/coniferous3.html www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/c_forest.htm www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/c_forest.htm http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/

textbook/biogeography/textbook/biogeography/biomes_northern_forest.html biomes_northern_forest.html

Miller, G. Tyler. Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the EnvironmentLiving in the Environment, , Brooks/Cole: Canada, 2004Brooks/Cole: Canada, 2004