Coniferous Forests

By Hannah Dawson,

Shivali Kohli

And Hannah Leyland

IntroductionOther names for the coniferous forests are Boreal and Taiga.These forests cover approximately 15% 0f the Earths surface.There are two types of coniferous forests: Open lichen woodland with trees spaced far apart with lichen in-between, and Closed forests which has trees close together with moss underneath.

Location

Coniferous forests are found across North America, Northern Europe and Northern

Asia.

Climate

There are strong seasonal variations in a coniferous forest’s climate. Sometimes it can vary by 100oF. It has a cool, short summer, and a very cold, long, dry winter. Some forests in lower locations have a much wetter winter. The average rainfall can be 300-900mm annually. In some extreme forest, the rainfall is 2,000mm.

Threats There are many threats to the coniferous forests such as:

Clear-cut logging is the biggest threat to the Coniferous forests. To replant after logging single-species conifer monocultures, which is not conducive to species biodiversity. Clear-cutting can accelerate soil erosion and degrades wildlife habitats, leading to the loss of biodiversity. Then land is being cleared for ski-slopes, landfills, housing, new roads, etc.

The rain in many areas of the world has become more acidic. These pollutants come from coal burning and power plants The tees die and stand like grey skeletons against the sky due to the acid rain.

Threats Continued…High- intensity hunting and trapping, has reduced many populations of fur-bearing animals.

Mining operation are a threat to the forests because of the chemicals used in mining, and the silt released by mining.

Road construction destroys the forest and also acts as a barrier to the wildlife. Roads isolate the population of the species, from feeding grounds, natural migration routes and limits breeding between larger groups.

As the Earth’s population continues to increase and people continue to move out of the city and into the suburbs, more and more Boreal forests will be lost in urbanization.

Plants Many species are becoming extinct and something needs to be

done soon. To many, it is apparent that today there is an extinction crisis. By destroying habitats, polluting the land, air, water and promoting the spread of exotic species humans have increased extinction to alarming rates.

Many 'at risk species' are plants. Plants play an important role in ecosystems. Through photosynthesis they provide food for animals. Plants are an important energy source for the entire ecosystem. Plants at risk of extinction, or some rare plants, are indicators of the overall health of an ecosystem. If a plant becomes rare, or a previously rare plant begins to decline dramatically, it is usually an indication of some type of imbalance within the ecosystem.

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Animals

• Ants• Foxes• Hares• Wolves• Badgers • Eagles• Beavers• Bears• Geese• Hawks• Weasels

• Deer• Earthworms• Owls• Lemmings• Lynx• Moose• Mosquitoes• Squirrels