Shannon Rigsbee
Caroline Gilmore
Treacy C.
What and where are boreal forests?
• Coniferous forest consisting of spruces, pines and
larches, also called taigas and snowforests
• Found in Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Norway, Sweden,
Iceland, Finland, United States, Canada, United
Kingdom
Precipitation and Temperature
• Temperature: between -5 and 5° Celsius
• Average Rainfall: between 20 and 200 cm
Common Animals
Invasive Species
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Nutria
Muskrat
Raccoon Dog
American Mink
Common Plants
Plant Adaptations
• Evergreens: don’t have to use energy making new leaves,
better in less sun
• Needles protect against wind and drought
• Dark needles absorb heat better
Food Web Example
Ecological Services
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Water filtration
Oxygen production
Rebuilding of soils
Hold back floodwaters
Absorb carbon from atmosphere
Animal Adaptations
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Thick fur coats
Hibernation
Long thin legs (snow)
Migration
Larger than in other regions
Symbiotic Relationships
• Commensalism (Tree and squirrel)
• Mutualism (Fungi and algae)
• Parasitism (Caterpillars and leaves)
Keystone Species- Scots Pine
• Lichens and moss grows on the tree
• Animals such as Red Squirrels and
Mice eat seeds
• Attracts insects eaten by birds
• Provides habitat while decaying
Unique Species- Wolverine
• In weasel family
• In western USA, Canada, Alaska
• Considered to be rare and vulnerable
Endemic Species- Black Bear
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5-6 feet in length
Up to 25 years old
Have 2-3 cubs in January/February
Thick coats for hibernation
Mainly eats plants but can eat carcasses, small mammals and insects
Indicator Species
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Moss
Lichens
Pinecones
Lynx
Siberian Tiger
Elk
Threats to the Biome
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Logging
Mining
Road building
Caribou hunting