The Taiga
Charcteristics/ Description
The taiga has many characteristics including a cold temperature, moderate precipitation, and coniferous trees. The taiga is located near the top of the world on a map, just below the tundra biome. The main seasons in the taiga are winter and summer. The spring and autumn are very breif. It can either be hot and humid or very cold in the taiga, depending on the season.The winters in the taiga are very cold with only snowfall. The winter is the harshest, coldest season.The summers are warm, rainy, and humid. The average temperature is below freezing for six months out of the year. The winter temperature range is -54 to -1° C (-65 to 30° F). Temperature range in the summer gets as low as -7° C (20° F). The high in summer can be 21° C (70° F). The summers are mostly warm, rainy and humid. They are also very short with about 50 to 100 frost free days. The total precipitation in a year is 30 - 85 cm (12 - 33 in) . The forms the precipitation comes in are rain, snow and dew. Most of the precipitation in the taiga falls as rain in the summer.
Climatograph
This climatograph of the taiga shows the precipitation campared to the temperature. It shows how the summers are the rainiest and warmest season. The winters are cold and get less precipitaion. The temperatures in the summer are comfortable; the temp. in the winter is very cold. The animals and plants abilities reflect these temperature differences. They must be hardy for the winter and be able to live in warmer areas.
Animal Adaptations
Animals in the Taiga need to be able to hunt or find food in the cold. This can mean fur, claws, and teeth. Blending in with the snow also helps.
1. The Gray Wolf (pictured below)
1. The Gray Wolf (pictured below)
2. Red Fox (pictured below)
3. Bobcat
4. Long-eared Owl
5. Wolverine
4. Long-eared Owl
5. Wolverine
Plant Adaptations
All of the trees in the taiga are coniferous, and therefore use cones for reproduction. They are hearty to the cold and wind. Some trees are also tall so they don't really have to compete for sunlight. This also creates habitats for animals.
1. Balsam Fir
1. Balsam Fir
2. Jack pine (pictured below)
3. White Fir
4. White Spruce
5. Siberian Spruce
4. White Spruce
5. Siberian Spruce
Keystone Species -The Gray Wolf
The gray wolf if what is called a top predator keystone species. It regulates the population of all the species below it. If the wolf was not there, grasses and vegetables could be overeaten by herbivores and the whole ecosystem could destroy itself.
Indicator Species -Reindeer
Reindeer are the indicator species for this biome. Their populations become unstable when faced with a threat, and they are some of the first animals affected. These animals serve as food for predators.
K-Strategist- The Black Bear
The black bear is a very large animal, weighing 220-594 pounds. They have claws for climbing trees. The length of this bear's body is usually 5-6 feet from nose to tail and 32-38 inches from paw to the top of its shoulder. They live in most of North America.
The female black bear reaches sexual maturity at age 4-5, while the male reaches maturity 5-6 years after birth, they usually have 2 or 3 young. Their mating season is in the summer and they will give birth to their young in January or February. The cubs are blind at birth and weigh 8 to 11 ounces. The males do not help raise the cubs, but leave to mate again like most other bear species. The Mother bear can be quite territorial if it involves her cubs. She cares for her cubs after they are born. The average black bear lives up 25 years. These bears hibernate and eat plants, berries, fruits, and animals.
The female black bear reaches sexual maturity at age 4-5, while the male reaches maturity 5-6 years after birth, they usually have 2 or 3 young. Their mating season is in the summer and they will give birth to their young in January or February. The cubs are blind at birth and weigh 8 to 11 ounces. The males do not help raise the cubs, but leave to mate again like most other bear species. The Mother bear can be quite territorial if it involves her cubs. She cares for her cubs after they are born. The average black bear lives up 25 years. These bears hibernate and eat plants, berries, fruits, and animals.
R-Strategist- Snowshoe Rabbit
The snowshoe rabbit adult weighs around three to four pounds and can be fifteen to twenty inches. Its 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, except for its eyelids and the tips of their ears. This helps it to hide from predators. They have three to four litters a year with one to eight in each litter. After they are born, these rabbits care for the young for a short period of time. The Snowshoe Rabbit can run up to 27 mph and jump 10 feet in one hop. It is an expert at escaping predators like the wolf, bobcat, or lynx. The Snowshoe Hare is a herbivore that likes to eat grass, clover and other greens in the summer, and bark, twigs and buds in the winter. Since they are herbivores they are mainly prey.
Environmental Problems or Threats
Interfering with wildfires does't allow the forest to regenerate itself. Also, many dead trees accumulate on the forest floor and this affects the entire ecosystem. Deforestation and pollution is also threatening the wildlife. Taking away the trees and expanding urban civilization causes stress on the animals also.