Land Biomes- Taiga/Coniferous Forest

also known as the boreal forest

largest terrestrial (land) biome on Earth

Taiga has 2 seasons- summer and winter

winter lasts for 9 months

summers are short and don’t get very warm - around 50 degrees Fahrenheit

precipitation is in the form of dry powdery snow

taiga also called coniferous forest because of conifer trees (cone bearing) that grow there

conifers are also known as evergreens because they keep their leaves year round

evergreens have thin waxy needles as leaves that hold water all year

evergreens are cone shaped which helps snow and ice slide off in winter

soil is poor due to the pine needles that cover the forest floor, as well as the long, cold season which keeps decomposer from breaking down dead plant matter

fires are common in the summer and help to remove dead or old trees to make way for new ones

plants in taiga include pines, furs, spruces, short stubby grass and bushes

animals include moose, wolves, deer, and many kinds of fish and insects (play a role as decomposers), brown bears