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