Taiga
Steve Barchetti
Abiotic factors
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Climate: The taiga corresponds with regions of
subarctic and cold continental climate. Long, severe
winters (up to six months with mean temperatures
below freezing) and short summers (50 to 100 frostfree days) are characteristic, as is a wide range of
temperatures between the lows of winter and highs of
summer. For example, Verkhoyansk, Russia, has
recorded extremes of minus 90 ° Fand plus 90 ° F. Mean
annual precipitation is 15 to 20 inches, but low
evaporation rates make this a humid climate.
Abiotic continued

Soil: Podzolization
occurs as a result of the
acid soil solution
produced under
needleleaf trees. The
main soil order
associated with the taiga
is spodosol.

Subclimaxes: Edaphic
conditions result in
sometimes extensive,
persistent patches of
vegetation other than
spruce and fir:
Biotic factors

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Bogs (muskeg)
Pine forests
Larch forests

Fauna: Fur-bearing predators like the lynx (Felis
lynx) and various members of the weasel family (e.g.,
wolverine, fisher, pine martin, mink, ermine, and
sable) are perhaps most characteristic of the boreal
forest proper. The mammalian herbivores on which
they feed include the snowshoe or varying hare, red
squirrel, lemmings, and voles.
Adaptations

The taiga is susceptible
to many wildfires. Trees
have adapted by growing
thick bark. The fires will
burn away the upper
canopy of the trees and
let sunlight reach the
ground. New plants will
grow and provide food
for animals that once
could not live there
because there were only
evergreen trees.
Interactions

Taigas are relatively low
in animal diversity
because of the harsh
winters. Some taiga
animals are able to cope
with the cold winter
environment, but many
migrate south to warmer
climates during the
winter and others go into
hibernation.
Human Interactions

Large-scale clear cutting, plantation forestry, introduction
of exotic tree species, soil sacrification, ditching, and use of
pesticides or herbicides have led to habitat loss. Largescale industrial forestry, or logging, is the greatest
important threat effecting the boreal forest. The wood is
used in the "pulp factory" for pulp and paper. Other threats
to the Taiga are oil and gas exploration, road building,
mining, human triggered forest fire, and climate change.
Animals of the Taiga are being hunted and trapped for their
fur which decreases their population greatly. Hydroelectric
power has ruined the water system. Many fish have
mercury poisoning. The Taiga is being destroyed equal to
that of the rainforest.
Locations

Taiga is the Russian word for forest and is the
largest biome in the world. It stretches over
Eurasia and North America. The taiga is located
near the top of the world, just below the tundra
biome. The winters in the taiga are very cold
with only snowfall. The summers are warm,
rainy, and humid. A lot of coniferous trees grow
in the taiga. The taiga is also known as the
boreal forest. Did you know that Boreal was the
Greek goddess of the North Wind?
Bibliography
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http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSE
S/GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm
http://www.ri.net/schools/West_Warwick/ma
nateeproject/Taiga/pands.htm