1. Presented By Ronnie Kurtz, Bohrvon Liu, Aveek Sarker
Biome Presentation
The Taiga & Boreal Forests
Presented By
Ronnie Kurtz, Bohrvon Liu, Aveek Sarker

2. Physical Characteristics
Boreal forest refers to southern part of biome
Taiga refers to edge of boreal forest where forest gradually gives way to tundra
Stretches in a band around the world between 45 ° and 65 ° North

3. Physical Characteristics
World’s largest terrestrial biome
Characterized by coniferous forests
Forests grow slowly
Tolerate weathered, nutrient poor soil
High bird/mammal diversity
Dominant trees: pines, hemlocks, spruce, cedar, fir
Extreme cold and short summers

4. Climate & Temperature
Dominated by cold arctic air brought by winds from Arctic circle
Because of earth's tilt, the taiga is turned away from the sun in the winter.
Less of the sun's radiation reaches the ground to provide heat

5. Climate & Temperature
Harsh continental climate with very large temperature range between winter and summer
Winter lasts 5-6 months with temperatures varying from −50 °C to 30 °C (-58°F to 86°F)
Average winter temperature is 26°F
Eight or more months of temperatures average below 10 °C (50°F)

6. Climate & Temperature
Summers are short and generally mild, rainy, humid, and short
Temperatures during the summer range from 30 °F to 70 °F
Average summer temperature is 50°F

8. Rainfall
Relatively low precipitation throughout the year ranging from mm annually
Average precipitation during the summer is inches ( mm) and is mostly rain
Average precipitation during the winter is inches ( mm) and is mostly snow

9. Types of Organisms & Adaptations
Snowshoe Rabbit
Lives in forest areas where the ground is covered with undergrowth in the higher parts of North America.
Has large rear feet and the toes can spread out to act like snowshoes
Their feet also have fur on the bottom, which protects them from the cold and gives them traction in the snow
In the summer its fur is rusty, grayish brown but is turns pure white in the winter helping it avoid predators

10. Types of Organisms & Adaptations
Gray Wolf
Lives in the Siberian Taiga
Coats are made up of wooly fur to provide insulation and long guard hairs to keep out moisture.
Large paws have fleshy pads and claws for traction and can spread to provide better support in snow
Have a sense of hearing twenty times sharper than a human's
Reflective retina, called a tapetum that enhances their night vision

11. Types of Organisms & Adaptations
Wolverine
The wolverine is powerfully built and is well adapted to living in the cold.
Has very strong jaws that can bite through frozen meat and bone.
Its paws are very large with long claws.
The wolverine's fur is thick and a glossy dark brown

12. Types of Organisms & Adaptations
Black Spruce
Can grow to be twenty-five meters tall
Grows many pinecones
Enjoys poorly drained soil
Able to survive in the colder climates because of its layered twigs, waxy pine needles, and rough bark

13. Types of Organisms & Adaptations
Siberian Spruce
Conical shape promotes shedding of snow and prevents loss of branches.
Narrowness of the needles reduce surface area through which water may be lost
Thick waxy coating that is water proof and protects the needles from drying winds.
Dark green color of the needles helps the foliage absorb maximum heat from the sun and begin photosynthesis sooner

14. Types of Organisms & Adaptations
Other Animals/Birds- Black Bear, Bald Eagle, Bobcat, Lynx, Grizzly Bear, Owl, Red Fox, Otter
Other Plants- Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Red Cedar, Jack Pine, White Fir, White Poplar, White Spruce

15. Coyote -> Moose -> Conifer Trees
Food Chain- Taiga
Coyote -> Moose -> Conifer Trees

16. Red Tailed Hawk -> Snowshoe Hare -> White Spruce
Food Chain- Taiga
Red Tailed Hawk -> Snowshoe Hare -> White Spruce

17. Food Chain- Boreal Forest
Great Horned Owl -> Spruce Grouse -> Bog Birch

18. Food Chain- Boreal Forest
Canadian Lynx -> Ground Squirrel -> Grasses

19. Keystone Species-Taiga
Siberian Tiger
Top of food chain, hunts deer and boar
Without, deer and boar become slow, small, and overpopulated, and damaging
Have potential to destroy habitat, overgrazing areas and trampling and dangerously compacting soil

20. Indicator Species- Taiga
Siberian Tiger
Typically poached, so presence is indicator of health in the face of human activity
As they are endangered, also an indicator of overall special diversity and prominence in biome

21. Keystone Species-Boreal Forest
Scots Pine
Lichens and mosses, grow on the trees themselves.
Red squirrels, mice and voles live on pine seeds and deer feed on pine seedlings and saplings
The trees also attract various insects that are eaten by birds
Scots pine plays an important ecological role even when it is dead: a decaying Scots Pine provides habitat for 15 times more beetle species than a living tree.

22. Indicator Species- Boreal Forest
Red Tailed Hawk
At top of food chain, depends on health and prominence of organisms below
Presence is good indicator of level of toxins introduced in environment, as toxins tend to get more concentrated in upper levels of biome

23. Human Impact- Taiga Unsustainable hunting of animals such as tiger
Depreciating special diversity and harming overall health of environment
Introduction of hydroelectricity plants, leading to: loss of terrestrial habitats, wildlife and habitat disturbances, shoreline erosion, altered aquatic regimes and increased mercury, carbon dioxide and methane releases from flooding

24. Human Impact- Boreal Forest
Clear-cutting of forests for uses such as toilet paper and copy paper
Less than 8% is protected by governments, opening rest to be used at will
Destroys environments and habitats, depreciating presence of organisms and livelihood of biome
Exploitation of fossil fuels, such as gas and oil, are damaging environment
Leads to air pollution, summarily contributing to considerable damage to both species and the soil that fuels the ecosystem

25. Human Impact- Boreal Forest
High demand for fossil fuels are pushing exploration and development into areas once thought impossible to exploit
As the planet warms the southern reaches of the boreal forest will become warm enough for deciduous trees to outcompete the conifers and replace them