TaigaTaiga

Steve BarchettiSteve Barchetti

Abiotic factorsAbiotic factors Climate:Climate: The taiga corresponds with regions  The taiga corresponds with regions

of subarctic and cold continental climate. of subarctic and cold continental climate. Long, severe winters (up to six months with Long, severe winters (up to six months with mean temperatures below freezing) and mean temperatures below freezing) and short summers (50 to 100 frost-free days) short summers (50 to 100 frost-free days) are characteristic, as is a wide range of are characteristic, as is a wide range of temperatures between the lows of winter temperatures between the lows of winter and highs of summer. For example, and highs of summer. For example, Verkhoyansk, Russia, has recorded extremes Verkhoyansk, Russia, has recorded extremes of of minusminus 90 ° Fand  90 ° Fand plusplus 90 ° F. Mean annual  90 ° F. Mean annual precipitation is 15 to 20 inches, but low precipitation is 15 to 20 inches, but low evaporation rates make this a humid climate. evaporation rates make this a humid climate.

Abiotic continuedAbiotic continued Soil:Soil: Podzolization  Podzolization

occurs as a result occurs as a result of the acid soil of the acid soil solution produced solution produced under needleleaf under needleleaf trees. The main trees. The main soil order soil order associated with the associated with the taiga is taiga is spodosolspodosol..

Subclimaxes: EdapSubclimaxes: Edaphic conditions hic conditions result in result in sometimes sometimes extensive, extensive, persistent patches persistent patches of vegetation other of vegetation other than spruce and than spruce and fir:fir:

Biotic factorsBiotic factors Bogs (muskeg)Bogs (muskeg)    Pine forestsPine forests Larch forestsLarch forests

Fauna:Fauna: Fur-bearing predators like the lynx  Fur-bearing predators like the lynx ((Felis lynxFelis lynx) and various members of the ) and various members of the weasel family (e.g., wolverine, fisher, pine weasel family (e.g., wolverine, fisher, pine martin, mink, ermine, and sable) are martin, mink, ermine, and sable) are perhaps most characteristic of the boreal perhaps most characteristic of the boreal forest proper. The mammalian herbivores on forest proper. The mammalian herbivores on which they feed include the snowshoe or which they feed include the snowshoe or varying hare, red squirrel, lemmings, and varying hare, red squirrel, lemmings, and voles. voles.

AdaptationsAdaptations The taiga is susceptible The taiga is susceptible

to many wildfires. Trees to many wildfires. Trees have adapted by growing have adapted by growing thick bark. The fires will thick bark. The fires will burn away the upper burn away the upper canopy of the trees and canopy of the trees and let sunlight reach the let sunlight reach the ground. New plants will ground. New plants will grow and provide food grow and provide food for animals that once for animals that once could not live there could not live there because there were only because there were only evergreen trees. evergreen trees.

InteractionsInteractions Taigas are relatively Taigas are relatively

low in animal diversity low in animal diversity because of the harsh because of the harsh winters. Some taiga winters. Some taiga animals are able to animals are able to cope with the cold cope with the cold winter environment, winter environment, but many migrate but many migrate south to warmer south to warmer climates during the climates during the winter and others go winter and others go into hibernation. into hibernation.

Human InteractionsHuman Interactions Large-scale clear cutting, plantation forestry, Large-scale clear cutting, plantation forestry,

introduction of exotic tree species, soil introduction of exotic tree species, soil sacrification, ditching, and use of pesticides or sacrification, ditching, and use of pesticides or herbicides have led to habitat loss. Large-scale herbicides have led to habitat loss. Large-scale industrial forestry, or logging, is the greatest industrial forestry, or logging, is the greatest important threat effecting the boreal forest. important threat effecting the boreal forest. The wood is used in the "pulp factory" for pulp The wood is used in the "pulp factory" for pulp and paper. Other threats to the Taiga are oil and paper. Other threats to the Taiga are oil and gas exploration, road building, mining, and gas exploration, road building, mining, human triggered forest fire, and climate human triggered forest fire, and climate change. Animals of the Taiga are being hunted change. Animals of the Taiga are being hunted and trapped for their fur which decreases their and trapped for their fur which decreases their population greatly. Hydroelectric power has population greatly. Hydroelectric power has ruined the water system. Many fish have ruined the water system. Many fish have mercury poisoning. The Taiga is being mercury poisoning. The Taiga is being destroyed equal to that of the rainforest.destroyed equal to that of the rainforest.  

LocationsLocations

Taiga is the Russian word for forest and is Taiga is the Russian word for forest and is the largest biome in the world. It stretches the largest biome in the world. It stretches over Eurasia and North America. The taiga over Eurasia and North America. The taiga is located near the top of the world, just is located near the top of the world, just below the tundra biome. The winters in below the tundra biome. The winters in the taiga are very cold with only snowfall. the taiga are very cold with only snowfall. The summers are warm, rainy, and humid. The summers are warm, rainy, and humid. A lot of coniferous trees grow in the taiga. A lot of coniferous trees grow in the taiga. The taiga is also known as the boreal The taiga is also known as the boreal forest. Did you know that Boreal was the forest. Did you know that Boreal was the Greek goddess of the North Wind? Greek goddess of the North Wind?

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.radford.edu/http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html biomes/taiga/taiga.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm taiga.htm

http://www.ri.net/schools/http://www.ri.net/schools/West_Warwick/manateeproject/West_Warwick/manateeproject/Taiga/pands.htm Taiga/pands.htm