Boreal ForestBrady Seeley

Basic Description

• Also know as taiga• Covers over 11% of earth’s land area• Dominated by trees and occasional lakes and

rivers• Very dense forests

Location, Location, Location

• Located between latitudes of 50⁰ and 65⁰ N

Climate

• Winters are long– Over 6 months

• Immense temperature difference in some places

• Precipitation: 200 mm – 600 mm– Droughts are rare

Soils

• Low fertility• Acidic• Low temperatures impede decomposition• Permafrost in more extreme areas

Biology - Plants

• Dominated by conifers with some deciduous trees– Spruce– Pine– Larch– Aspen– Birch

• Little vegetation underneath canopy except for small shrubs

Biology - Animals• Larger mammals– Caribou– Reindeer– Wolf – major predator– Various bears– Moose

• Smaller mammals– Lynx– Wolverine– Snowshoe hare– Red squirrel

Human Influences

• Early humans lived off of boreal forest animals– Hunting and eventual domestication of reindeer

• Historically human intrusion light• Threats:– Deforestation

QUIZ!!!

• What is another name for the boreal forest?

• A) Tundra• B) Taiga• C) Temperate forest• D) All of the above

ANOTHER QUIZ!!!

• What is the biggest threat to the boreal forest?

• A) Drought• B) Wildfires• C) Deforestation• D) Rudolph creating panic among the reindeer

Work Cited

• Molles M C. Life on Land. In: Kemp M J, editor. Ecology: Concepts and Applications. 5

volumes. New York (NY): McGraw-Hill; 2010. Vol 5th: 572 p.