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The Taiga By: Carolyn Wu
What is a taiga? The taiga is known as the boreal forest. This is the largest land biome in the world. The taiga spreads in the northern latitudes, covering up Canada and north of Europe and Russia. Taigas aren’t found in southern hemispheres because there isn’t enough land mass to create a taiga climate.
Climate • Cool summers and cold for rest of the year. • Freezing cold temperatures last six to seven months. • Usually rains during summer. • Average annual rainfall- 12-33 inches • Temperature can change from one extreme to another.
Plants • Conifers (pine trees) • Grass • Conifers adapt in a taiga environment because they lose less water and shed snow easily by their conical shape. • Not many variety of plants because of poor soil.
Animals • Estimated about 85 species of mammals, 130 species of fish, and 32,000 species of insects. • Mammals including bears and rabbits hibernate during the winter. • Many insects, a part of a bird’s diet. • Majority of mammals are herbivorous, which is one who eats only plants, such as moose and deer.
Types of Taigas • Two types of taigas: closed canopy forest and sparse taiga. • The canopy forest has spaced trees and mossy ground with shrubs and wildflowers. • The sparse taiga has farther-spaced trees and lichen covered ground.
Interesting Facts • World’s oldest trees can be found in taigas, one of them is about 4,600 years old! • The taiga covers 11% of Earth. • The trees have thick bark, which protects it from mild fires. • The conifer’s bark is used to produce paper. • Indians have lived in North America taigas for centuries.
