Boreal Forest

Climatogram

(temperature ON RIGHT and precipitation ON LEFT)

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Boreal Forest (Taiga)

Latitude or angle of Insolation
(variation in day/night)8 HOURS OF SUNLIGHT

6 HOURS OF NO SUNLIGHT

The sunlight in taiga biomes is one of the few sources of energy for plants since the taiga soil does not many nutrients in it.

During the winter, the nights are longer and the climate is colder. It slows down growth.

Importance?

TIME?

THE RANGE IN LATITUDE IS Boreal forests, or taiga, represent the largest terrestrial biome. Occuring between 50 and 60 degrees north latitudes, boreal forests can be found in the broad belt of Eurasia and North America: two-thirds in Siberia with the rest in Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada.

Proximity to Coastline

(impact of major ocean currents and prevailing winds)

Ocean currents are close to Taiga biome, however ocean currents could melt the ice found in it and change the temperature of the environment.

OCEAN?

WIND?

Prevailing winds control how much rainfall a place can get. Taiga winds blow from east to west, from 30-60 degrees in latitude.

Topography/Altitude

● In Alberta, the altitude ranges in elevation from about 150 m

near the Alberta-Northwest Territories border, to over 1,100
m near the Alberta-British Columbia border.

Biodiversity

Taiga have low-biodiversity. This includes:

85 species of mammals

130 species of fish

32,000 species of insects

300 species of birds

More than 20 species of plants

Major Plant Adaptation

Some major plant adaptations:

Shallow rots systems.

The slender, conical shapes
of many boreal trees helps
them shed snow.

Ex: Siberian fir, Purple pitcher
plants, and Black spruce.

Siberian fir Purple pitcher plants

Black spruce

Major Animal Adaptations:

Some major animal adaptations includes:

Thick coats of hair ( most animals)

Caribous have dense coats of hollow hairs
that not only provide superb protection from
the cold but also help them them stay afloat
as they cross lakes and rivers.

Ex: Snowshoe hare, Red crossbill, Caribou

Caribou

Snowshoe hare

Red crossbill

Keystone Speicies (Taiga)

Beaver, Canadian lynx, bobcat, and wolverine

A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.

Multiple Select

What is a bioindicator? (Choose definition and example)

• Small Mammals such as mice or voles

• living organisms such as plants, planktons, animals, and microbes, which are utilized to screen the health of the natural ecosystem in the environment.

• Bald Eagle

• Indicator that the biome is not in the right place

Multiple Choice

MORE BIO INDICATOR SPECIES

• The northern goshawk

• T-Rex

• Bald Eagle

• Fire Ants

Endangered Species in the Boreal Forest (Taiga)

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Endangered due to over hunting and deforestation as well.

Wolverine

Endangered due to over hunting and deforestation from logging

Grizzly Bear

Endangered due to habitat loss.

Woodland Caribou

Open Ended

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Wolverines require deep snow to dig dens for their young. As highly effective scavengers of carrion, these animals are a vital part of their ecosystem.

WOLVERINE

​Their dam building prowess traps sediments, processes nutrients, and creates lush wetland and floodplain habitat which not only filters water but provides incredibly diverse habitat for other wildlife.

BEAVER

Poll

WHICH ONE IS COOLER?

• BEAVER

• WOLVERINE