Taiga or Coniferous Forest
• Where is the Taiga?• Russia, Canada, Alaska, Northern United
States• Description:• Evergreen Forest• Cold temperatures• Mountains
Weather
• Temperature• -65 to 30 °F• Precipitation• 40 inches per year, mostly snow• Weather patterns• Rain, snow, cold • Only 2 seasons
Plants
• Black spruce• Balsam Fir• Douglas Fir• Black Pine• White spruce
Plant Adaptations
• Needles stay green all year• Survive cold climate• Waxy needles• Grow close together• Thick bark and sap to prevent burning in
wildfires
Animals
• Bald eagle• Black bear• Fox• Wolverine• Gray wolf• Insects• Lynx • Snow shoe rabbit• Moose• Elk• Siberian Tiger
Animal Adaptations• Fur• Hibernation• Burrowing• Nest on cliffs• Large feet to walk in snow• White fur or feathers to blend in
Humans and Biodiversity
• Humans do live in the taiga: Coldest inhabited place on Earth
• Biodiversity rating is about a 3
Abiotic Factors
• Cold temperatures• Snow and rain• Wildfires• Storms
Food Chain
• Plants –Snowshoe hare• Lynx
Other Interesting Facts
• World’s largest biome• Taiga is Russian for “forest”• Prone to forest fires from lightning storms