Boreal Forest

What is the Boreal Forest?

• Boreal means Northern.• The Boreal forest is the forest in

the north; almost like a continuous belt around the world

• Boreal forest refers to the southern part of this biome, while taiga describes the more northern areas of the Arctic tree line.

"Taiga." Wikipedia. 7 Feb 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga>.

SLW. "Introduction." Taiga or Boreal Forest. October 1996. 7 Feb 2009 <http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/

GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html>.

http://www.borealforest.org/world/images/world_boreal_forests.jpg

Type of plants

Most of the plants in this habitat are trees.

• Conifer, Taiga, Pine, Fir, Spruce, Cedar, Redwood, and Larch.

• The conifer tree is a triangular shape. This allows the snow to build up on it’s branches, but the snow is able to slide off without damaging the tree

• Willows and Birches are strong enough to survive.

Ganeri, Anita. Forests. wayland, 1996.

http://www.euronet.nl/users/e_wesker/jpg/48.jpg

http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t054/T054365A.jpg

http://cs.metrostate.edu/~ics2251sp702/Project4/taigaforest.jpg

The Species of Animals Species of animals

• Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, Birds and Insects.

Regardless fur or feathers, an insulating layer keeps an animal's body warm in winter, and cool in summer.

• Caribou has dense coats of hollow hairs provide great protection from the cold, and also help them stay afloat as they cross lakes and rivers.

• Wolves have excellent fur insulation, enabling them to hunt on the coldest days.

• Ptarmigan and Grouse grow thick layers of down.

"Boreal Forest life." ADF&G. 7 Feb 2009

<http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=ecosystems.boreallife>.

Cornish, Jim. Boreal Forest Animals. October 1996. 7 Feb 2009 <http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/artsmarts/boreal_animals.PDF>.

The Types of Mammals

• Some boreal forest animals like Brown bears and black bears, marmots, and jumping mice avoid the challenges of winter by spending the cold season in hibernation.

• The largest mammals: the moose, elk, woodland caribou and black bear

• Smaller mammals: the pine marten, red squirrel, beaver, snow shoe hare, weasel, mink, skunk, wolf, coyote and lynx

"Boreal Forest life." ADF&G. 7 Feb 2009

<http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=ecosystems.boreallife>.

http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Taiga-wolves-175870_800_600.jpg

http://www.ericwilsonwildlifeart.com/BigCats/Tigers/TaigaTigerL.jpg

Birds, Reptiles and Insects

Most of the bird species;• Avoid the winter difficulties by migrating: they arrive

in spring to nest and feed during the brief boreal summer, then go back toward the south in fall for better climates.

The most common type of Reptile is the snake But in wetlands there are salamanders and frogs are

common Wood frogs and many species of insects hibernate so

deeply that their bodies actually freeze."Boreal Forest life." ADF&G. 7 Feb 2009 <http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=ecosystems.boreallife>.

Human Activities• The trees in the boreal forest have been harvested

for many years because of the collapse of the soviet Reunion

• The biggest threat to the Boreal forest today is the exploration and development of oil and natural gas reserves from Alaska to Canada to Russia

http://www.borealbirds.org/images/woodpiles.jpg

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/boreal.htm, http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Forests/2ColumnSubPage/241112.html

Abiotic Factors

• The harsh climates fall as low as minus 70°C

• Some trees in the boreal forests are very short, due to the very short growing seasons due to the short summers and long cold winters

• Long, cold winters; short, mild summers; moderate precipitation; high humidity; acidic, nutrient-poor soils

"Boreal Forest." teachers'domain. WGBH. 7 Feb 2009 <http://www.teachersdomain.org/assets/wgbh/tdc02/tdc02_doc_biomesummary/tdc02_doc_biomesummary.pdf>.

Ganeri, Anita. Forests. wayland, 1996.

"Taiga." Wikipedia. 7 Feb 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga>.

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