Ecology: Taiga

What is the taiga?

The largest land biome and forest in the world.

How much of the Earth's land does the taiga cover?

About 17%.

What percentage of the world's forests does the taiga account for?

27%.

Where is the taiga located?

Mostly in northern Canada and Russia.

What type of trees are found in the taiga?

Coniferous trees.

What is the climate like in the taiga?

Very cold in winter, short summers.

What is the boreal forest?

The southern part of the taiga where trees can grow.

What is the angle of incidence for solar radiation in the taiga?

Low.

How are the seasons divided in the taiga?

Short, moist summers and long, cold winters.

What is the temperature range in the taiga?

From -65 to +70 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the average precipitation in the taiga?

6-40 inches (15-100 cm).

What is the role of fire in the taiga?

It is a major factor in maintaining the biome.

Why is the soil in the taiga thin?

It was scraped by glaciers during the last ice age.

What is permafrost?

Frozen soil that prevents deep root systems.

What type of soil does the taiga have?

Highly acidic soil with a pH around 5.

Why is the taiga soil infertile?

Due to the slow decomposition of coniferous needles.

What makes the taiga soil hard and compact?

The absence of earth-churning invertebrates.

What is muskeg?

A soil type characteristic of the taiga, synonymous with bog land.

What is peat?

Plant litter in stagnant water that forms acidic soil.

Why does plant litter in stagnant water not decompose quickly?

Low oxygen and cold temperatures slow decomposition.

What is the dominant flora of the taiga?

White Spruce Tree.

What limits plant life in the taiga?

Precipitation and temperature.

Name some deciduous trees found in the taiga.

Birch, alder, aspen, larch.

Describe the White Spruce tree.

75 ft tall, 2 ft in diameter, needles concentrated on upper side of branches, diamond-shaped needles, lives 600 yrs.

Describe the Balsam Fir tree.

Medium-sized, 40-60 ft tall, 1-1.5 ft in diameter, shallow root system, dark green leaves with white undersides, purple cones, major food for deer and moose.

What is the role of Balsam Fir in the ecosystem?

Food source for deer, moose, squirrels, etc., and its resin is used for mounting biological specimens.

What is the Drunken Forest?

A forest in Manitoba, Canada where the peat is not very firm, causing surrounding trees to sway.

What is the climate of the taiga like?

Cold with long winters and short summers.

What is the soil like in peat?

Highly acidic and low in nutrients.

What type of cones does the White Spruce tree have?

Bigger cones with flexible cone scales.

How tall can the White Spruce tree grow?

Up to 75 ft.

What is the lifespan of the White Spruce tree?

Up to 600 years.

What is the bark of the Balsam Fir tree like?

Resinous, smooth, and gray.

What is the typical shape of the Balsam Fir tree?

Broad base with a narrow top.

What is Black Spruce?

Picea mariana, a coniferous tree in the Taiga.

What are the characteristics of Black Spruce?

Usually 20-40 ft tall, diameter less than 1 foot, grows in poor soil with cold climate, common in wet soils & bogs.

Describe the branches and needles of Black Spruce.

Shorter branches than most conifers, sharp needles 1/2 in long with 4 sides.

What is the bark of Black Spruce like?

Rough, thick, gray-brown in color.

What are the characteristics of Black Spruce cones?

Cone length is .5 to 1 in, cone scales are brittle at maturity.

What is the significance of Black Spruce cones for birds?

Pinecones are a major food source for birds in the Taiga.

What is Jack Pine?

Pinus banksiana, a coniferous tree in the Taiga.

What are the characteristics of Jack Pine?

70 ft tall, reddish bark when young, gray bark when older, long and slender branches with needle leaves.

How does Jack Pine adapt to snowfall and cold weather?

The long and slender branches help the tree adapt to snowfall and cold weather.

Where is Jack Pine commonly found?

In semi-cold regions of the Taiga.

What are the characteristics of Jack Pine needles?

Needles are in bundles of 2, 1-1.5 in long.

What is the significance of Jack Pine needles and pinecones?

They are food sources for rodents and other animals.

What is the fire requirement for Jack Pine seeds?

They need fire to release their seeds.

What type of sites does Jack Pine prefer?

Drier, warmer sites at high altitudes.

What is Tamarack?

Larix, a coniferous tree in the Taiga.

What are the characteristics of Tamarack?

Clumps of needles, usually 50-75 ft tall, cones are .5-.8 in length.

Describe the needles of Tamarack.

Flattened and triangular in cross-section, blue-green in color, 8-1.3 in length.

What is the bark of Tamarack like?

Gray to red-brown, thin and scaly.

Where is Tamarack commonly found?

In a wide range of damp boggy habitats, sometimes in loamy soils.

How does Red Spruce differ from Black Spruce?

Similar to Black Spruce, but cones are slightly bigger and the tree occurs in drier and better-drained soil.

What are Larch Forests?

Forests dominated by Larix larichina, which grow in thin, waterlogged substrate in level areas with permafrost.

What is the under story of Larch Forests composed of?

Shrubs, mosses, and lichens.

What is Douglas Fir?

Pseudotsuga menziesii, a coniferous tree that forms forests in the Rocky Mountains and is common in mixed conifer and broad-leaf forests of North America's Pacific Coast.

What is Scotch Pine?

Pinus sylvestris, the most widespread light conifer in Europe.

What is Clematis?

The only climbing plant that lives in the Taiga.

What is the symbiotic relationship between Alder and fungi?

Fungi live in Alders' roots and fix nitrogen from the air, providing a place for the fungus to live.

What are some shrubs found in the Taiga?

Alders, wild roses, junipers, raspberries, and honeysuckle. Shrubs are typically below 13 ft in height.

What are herbaceous plants?

Plants with soft, non-woody stems.

Name some examples of herbaceous plants.

Twinflowers, Starflowers, May lilies, and common wood sorrel.

What is the typical height of herbaceous plants?

Below 2 ft.

What is the role of taiga in water filtration?

Filters millions of liters of water.

What is the function of taiga in carbon storage?

Stores large amounts of carbon.

What is the contribution of taiga in oxygen production?

Produces oxygen.

What is the impact of taiga on soil rebuilding and nutrient restoration?

Rebuilds soils and restores nutrients.

What types of habitats do bogs and marshes in taiga provide?

Habitats for large numbers of species from fish to birds.