BIOME: TAIGAGianna Oms-Rosell and Tianyu Tang

A taiga is also known as a boreal forest and a snow forest.

Location Taigas are located on high northern latitudes, between tundras and temperate forests.

Soils Soils in taigas are lacking in nutrients, due largely to the cold weather which hinders development of soil and the ways in which plant matter can contribute. Spodosol is created when plant matter is not able to contribute to nutrient development. Soil is also acidic due to falling pine needles

Temperature•Avg. yearly temp: 32 F•Avg. summer temp: 50 F (low: 20 F, high: 70 F)•Avg. winter temp: 26.6 F (low: -65 F, high: 30 F)

Rainfall• Avg. rainfall: 12-33 inches yearly

• Most precipitation comes in the summer months, and during the winter it comes in the form of snow.

Climatogram

Nutrient Flow

Nutrient Flow (cont’d)•The largest store of nutrients in taigas is in litter, due to decomposition of leaves from coniferous trees, however slow.

•Biomass in taigas is low because of the small amount of undergrowth and few plant species.

•Soil is lacking in nutrients because of leaching (runoff) and slow breakdown of rocks.

Characteristic Animals• The brown bear is

one of the most abundant animals found in taigas.

• The largest animal that can be found in the taiga is the wood bison.

• One of the endangered species living in taigas is the Canadian lynx.

Characteristic Animals

• Roe deer can be found in more southern areas of taigas.• The Siberian tiger can be found in Russian boreal forests.• The white throated sparrow migrate to taigas in the summer.

Characteristic PlantsBecause of high temperatures, the taiga does not support many varieties of plant life. • Since boreal forests

are largely coniferous, they are dominated by spruce, fir, and pine trees.

• Ferns are also found growing on the forest floor.

• Cranberries and cloudberries are found in most areas of the taiga.

Biodiversity/Habitats/Niche• Despite the harsh conditions in the taiga, from extremely cold temperatures

to nutrient poor soils, there’s a very large range of species that can be found. There are over 85 mammal species, 130 fish species, over 300 bird species, and around 32,000 different species of insects. However, because of deforestation and climate change, biodiversity in the taiga is beginning to decrease.

• An example of a niche in a taiga is that of a moose which eats aquatic plants helping to regulate their population while also acting as a food source for predators such as grizzly bears and grey wolves.

• Another niche in a boreal forest is the grizzly bear which eats berries and by doing so, disperses their seeds which helps them grow.

Energy Flow: Food PyramidIn the taiga, energy begins through the variety of trees found and moves on to primary consumers. Primary consumers in the taiga biome include deer, different rodent species (squirrels, beavers, North American porcupine), and the estimated 32,oo0 insect species. Secondary consumers include raccoons, river otters, owls, and other rodent species. Tertiary consumers include the Eurasian lynx, the Siberian tiger, and the wolverine. 90% of energy is lost at each level of the food pyramid.

Taiga Food Web

Taiga Food Chain

Biomass Pyramid

Gross Primary Productivity/Net Primary Productivity

• A boreal forest’s net primary productivity is 3500, between a temperate forest and a savanna.

• Productivity from the taiga makes up 6% of the total net primary productivity from all the biomes.

• It makes up 13% of total producer biomass from all the biomes.• The gross primary productivity is 3,800 – 7,000 kilocalories

Photosynthesis• In a taiga, it is necessary for many plants to have retention of

foliage, which is its ability to keep its leaves in the winter.• Because of retention of foliage, growth and photosynthesis are

able to occur as quickly as possible in the short growing season which only lasts about three months.

• Also, because of their dark green color, many trees in the boreal forest are able to absorb maximum energy from the sun to aid in photosynthesis.

Succession• Succession in taigas occurs in many different ways.• One example of succession in the boreal forest is muskeg, a soil

characteristic of taiga consisting of decomposing plants and water at its surface. Muskeg is considered synonymous to bog land and it occurs and develops over time.

• Another example of succession occurred in Canada in the summer of 1992, where forest fires devastated the boreal forest. However, seeds were dispersed and the vegetation that was once destroyed eventually regrew, altering the landscape.

Succession (Photos)

Human Impact• There are many industries that claim to be dependent on the boreal forest that

have caused great damage. Some of these industries include logging, fur trapping, and oil exploration.

• Through logging, deforestation occurs and impacts the world in a multitude of ways. Deforestation is occurring in Mongolia, where there is a high demand for firewood and construction timber, yet only 8% of Mongolia is covered by forests.

• Fur trapping in Russia’s Siberian boreal forests has put many species at risk of extinction, the most notable being the Siberian tiger. Yet, in areas near taigas, fur trapping is an important part of both the economy and culture.

• In Canada, oil extraction is a major threat to its boreal forest, and more than 30% of the Canadian Boreal Forest is reserved for current and future development.

• In Alaska, there is also a large amount of oil and gas exploration in the Yukon Flats.

Human Impact (cont’d)• However, one of the most significant forms of human impact on the taiga is

climate change. • The boreal forest in itself already plays a significant role in global climate

through the carbon cycle and despite human interference, it is one of the most intact forest ecosystems in the world.

• Climate change creates a bleak future for boreal forests with rising temperatures leading it to move northward slowly.

• Along with a shift in location , forest fires will become more frequent.

Human Impact (Pictures)

LDC and MDC • In LDCs and MDCs human impact on the boreal forest is handled differently.• In Mongolia, where deforestation is occurring at a rapid pace, sustainability of

the forest is a concept that is largely ignored.• However, throughout Canada and the United States the Taiga Rescue

Network gives a strong voice to aboriginal groups and organizations that strive to see the taiga survive.

• Poverty plays a major role in these key differences between countries. Long term sustainability is not important when one is looking for short term survival, and if this survival depends on the logging industry in Mongolia, then it is difficult to regulate. However, in an affluent country where access to resources is readily available, long term sustainability is something that can be attained.